Ethernet Controlller Help.

I have a Dell Dimension 4550. I finnaly got the big upgrade from dial-up to cable internet. I'm on it through USB. I want to use it through the ethernet cable, so my brother can use it through the USB port. Therefore, both computers could share the highspeed becuase he doesn't have an ethernet card. The man who set up our cable said I couldn't do that till I got my ethernet Controller driver re-installed becuase I dont have any installed on my computer. In my device manager i have a yellow question mark next to ethernet controller so I know thats the driver i'm missing. Anybody know where I can get this driver. If you can't tell i'm not the most expirecenced pc user, so take it easy on me. Thanks your help. If you need more information, just ask.

 

what is your operating system?

Windows 98, windows 2000 or windows XP

 

Windows XP Home

 

click on start. then run and type this in followed by pressing enter

devmgmt.msc

once the dialogue box pops up, see if there is anything listed under networking adapters or if there are any yellow question marks.

 

Under network adapters I have a Mortorola SURFboard USB Gateway. The Yellow Question mark I have is next to Other Devices and and its the Ethernet Controller. Thats the one the guy told me to fix.

 

click here

then click on the download now link by the blue and white arrow in the middle of the page.

Choose your destination for the download and when it's finished, run the file. I'm betting this is the right driver, if not it will say something like this driver was not intended for this device.. if so, then it will install and may ask you to reboot.

The installation will first open a dialogue box as to where to extract the files. select an extraction desitation (can be same as download destination if desired)... and once it extracts it will run the install automagically.

 

Ok I just installed it and a screen came up telling me what to do. It says:

To reinstall the NIC driver for Windows XP, perform the following steps:

1. Click Start, Right-click the My Computer icon, click Properties.

2. Click the Hardware tab, click the Device Manager button.

3. Click the + next to Network Adapters. Right click on the appropriate network adapter, click Properties.

4. Click on the Driver tab, click the Update Driver button.

5. Select Install from a list of specified location (Advanced), click Next.

6. Click Don’t Search, I will choose the driver to install, click Next

7. Click the Have Disk button.

8. Verify that A: is entered in the Copy manufacturer’s files from box or use the Browse button to point to the directory the driver was extracted to. (i.e. c:\dell\drivers\….)

9. Click OK to install the driver.

10. Verify that Intel® PRO/100 M Network Connection or Intel® PRO/100 VE Network Connection is highlighted.

11. Click Next, click Finish.


Should I do that? I installed it and I still have a yellow question mark next to me ethenet controller driver.

 

yes, sometimes the installers from dell are different. Follow those steps and report back.

 

ok I cant do the "have disk" part. When I go to browse and go the file its looking for. which is Neti557x.inf my computer tells me the specified location does not contain information about your hardware. Any ideas?

 

I'm trying to give it this file and its being rejected.

C:\DELL\drivers\R52043\WinXP\Neti557x

 

just to clarify, are you pointing the driver update dialogue box to the location on your hard drive where you extracted the drivers to? or are you pointing it to the A(floppy) drive?

 

im pointing it there
C:\DELL\drivers\R52043\WinXP\Neti557x
so my hard drive.

 

Its asking for a .inf I dont know what kind of file that is. But under properties of the file im pointing it to it says its a Setup Information file. Am i pointing it to the right type of file?

 

in this folder
C:\Dell\Drivers\R52043\WinXP

there is a file called SETUP.EXE.. close out of your driver update dialogue boxes if you haven't already and then run that setup.exe file..

 

DUDE I love you man! You just saved me alot of grief. it works now, Thanks alot!
-Patrick

 

ok, now the last thing
unless you've purchased TWO IP address from your cable ISP then only one machine is going to get an IP address from the modem.

2 options.
1. Purchase extra IP
2. Get a router and another network card so you can share without having to buy an extra IP.