ethernet adapter?

Ok, I've been connecting to the internet via usb this entire time. I have the option of connecting via ethernet because I have the port but I dont know if I have an adapter. After being over my sisters house who has the same DSL I do but her connection is a bout 10 times faster than mine, I noticed she is connected through the ethernet.

I wanted to see if I could connect, Im not sure if I did it the right way or if I even have the right equipment because when I disconnected the usb and connected the ethernet, this required that I insert my DSL disk to "update" my connection preferences.I did so but it kept freezing and wouldnt allow me to access the option to change connections, after about the 7th attempt it finally told me that I dont have a ethernet adapter but in my attempts to make the connection first with the usb, I disabled the Broadcom NetXtreme 57xx Gigabit Controller (dont know what this is or if it has anything to do with the ethernet) so that might have a role to play in it maybe?

It was a really big hassle getting it back to usb because I couldnt get it to work the other way and then it just didnt want to work at all.

So my question is ~ Is there something I can use that will tell me if I have an adapter already? or is there a specific way to connect?

Any other info, I gladly provide. Thanks!

 

Start - Control Panel - System - Hardware - Device Manager - Network adapters. Here you should be able to see if that item has a red X or a question mark; if it has a X, means is disabled, so go to properties (right click) and enable it, this should fix your problem. If yo do not have the Network adapter item there, means you do not have one, so buy and install one. Hope this helps.

 

Thanks chapincito but I disabled it myself on purpose. If it doesnt say ethernet adapter, does that mean I dont have one?

 

I just had a thought and I cant edit my old post but would everest work in telling me if I have one or not?

 

the gigabit thingy would be your ethernet adapter. when you plug the ethernet into your pc, does a light come on?

everest will answer that question. it may be a driver issue. try looking for drivers for the ethernet adapter, once everest tells you which one you have.

 

Just enable the Giga and leave alone the USB.

Both adapter can live togather you do not need to disable one or the other.

Ethernet is much better than USB.