Network Controller Problem

Hello, I'm working on a Dell laptop for my Aunt and I have a problem.

I had to reformat the laptop and I erased all of the drivers, I have recovered and installed all of the drivers for things like audio and video, however, when i go into the Device Manager their is a little yellow question mark next to the "Network Controller". I assume that this is why I cannot get the laptop to connect to the internet wirelessy. I have tried everything from installing drivers from Dells website, to installing a recommended program called "Unknown Devices" which is supposed to be a program used to discover the drivers that you need for certain parts of the computer, but even this program doesn't know what driver to install. So my question is: is this a driver issue? Or something else, such as a faulty part? I've been pulling my hair out for hours :cry

The Laptop is a Dell Inspiron 6000. If any further information is needed, I'd be glad to let you know.

Thanks in advance!

 

Yes, as you said that's the reason.

Obviously you need to install the correct driver.

Sometimes, with some laptops you also need to install the "firmware" to detect correctly the devices.

I tell you this:

1. Don't trust software "magic drivers or device repair" a lot of that software is fake and come with virus or malware.

2. You have to identify correctly "what device have you installed" because some laptos have different adaptators even in the same line, mark, serie (i hope you caught it, bad english)

3. You have to select the correct version of the driver for the correct Operative System (as i guess you're in Windows XP)

4. Maybe you have to install firmware too.

Now, to solve your problem you could:

1. Download this software to check what is the real name of the WiFi adapter, "Everest".

2. If you can download and install first the firmware of Inspiron 6000 will be good, if you can't no problem continue with this steps.

3. Now, download from the Dell website (try to prefeer Dell website over the rest) the drivers for your operative system, do click here to Download Drivers for Dell Inspiron 6000

4.Make sure that you're installing the driver and not the operative system automatically, sometimes, when you uninstall the device, Windows put his drivers before you install the correct ones.

Is simple to do a manual installation of the driver, but is better to be sure that you have the correct driver, so you could go to the Device Manager right click on the device, propierties > driver > Update Driver and select the option that make you select the device and the driver, is the last one.

If you don't have enough technician knowledge to do the steps before you can tell me:

- Operative system
- WiFi Card name that you're trying to install

And i will help you with that..

 

The Inspiron 6000 should have an Intel Wireless controller in it. It is located under the keyboard if you want to look at it for identification.

If you go to Dell and look up you Service Tag number, you should be directed to the correct driver for the specific device installed in that computer unless it has been changed since the computer was new.

 

You are a life saver! I downloaded and installed that "Everest" program and it told me exactly what driver I needed, for exactly what brand of network controller, or in my case, wireless controller!

Thank you very much!

 

No problem my friend, you can ask for help anytime.

You must say thanks for MG forums to connect people that's the good and usefull internet websites.