Ethernet Controller

I'm having problems trying to find a driver for the ethernet controller. I am running Windows XP on an Acer Aspire 5100. Any help please? This driver has been a PITA for me for the past month or so. I can't even connect to the internet, and I don't know if that has any direct correlation with the driver not working.

 

Welcome to MGs punchxcore.
You can find the driver at Acer support - http://us.acer.com/acer/service.do?...tx1g.c2att92=453&ctx1.att21k=1&CRC=2054404012
I guessed at the XP version. If that is not correct, go to the drop down menu and click on the correct one.
The ethernet controller would be the Lan driver which controls the wired connection.
You would have to download and then transfer the driver to the correct comp and install.
Just as a question, have you tried uninstalling the ethernet controller and rebooting the comp? This sometimes fixes the problem.

 

:confused Very strange.... I just went to the Acer support page and had no problem finding the drivers, but what's weird is, if you select Vista as the OS, it provides a download link for a Realtek LAN driver, but if you select WinXP Home, it provides a BroadCom LAN driver. WTF?!?!?!?!??!!? With this type contradictory information, I can see how the OP is having issues. If you have continued problems, please attach an Everest system report to a future post. Simply read and follow the steps in this thread to create and attach the report.

 

I've attached an Everest report.

My computer actually came with Vista when I got it, but I didn't like Vista so I went back to XP and I've been using it for the past two years. I tried to install the Broadcom driver. And it seemed to work at first, then the next time I rebooted my computer, the ethernet controller popped back up. I am able to connect to the internet on my laptop now, but not sure what I need to do. Also, occasionally my PCI FLASH Memory will pop back up and there is 3 of them, but I think that problem might be fixed now. I also did try uninstalling the ethernet controller and that didn't help.

 

:confused If you can now connect, you don't need to do anything. If it's working, I don't understand why you'd try to uninstall it, as that would only cause a problem. According to the Everest report, you have a Realtek 8139 ethernet controller, and those drivers are built-in to Windows XP and all versions of Windows past XP. As to the PCI Flash driver; if you don't use flash cards (like from digital cameras for example) then it's not a big deal, but, again, the drivers should be available from Acer using the same link posted above by lbmest.

 

I meant that I uninstalled it before it was working, not after. it started working after I installed the Broadcom driver.