Need help connecting via broadband on XP SP2

Ok, first off. It is connected through a wired router, I have roadrunner. My CPU didn't have a Ethernet card, so I took my friends from his broken CPU. I know the card and router are working, but my CPU wont establish the connection. Help...

 

Welcome to MajorGeeks!

What error messages are you getting on the computer? Also check the Device Manager to make sure the NIC is installed properly.

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not getting error msg, just won't connect. How do you get to device manager?

 

Start - Control Panel - System - Hardware - Device Manager.

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What do I do after that?

 

In device manager, do you have any exclamation marks by network devices?

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can't find network device

 

Make sure the NIC is installed properly. You might want to try a different slot if you can.

Also, how do you know the card works? Are there any lights on the back of the card?

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yes, the LEDs on the card are lighting up. I do have one more open slot though, so I'll try that...

 

It didn't work!!!??? My CPU won't read the NIC, no matter what slot I put it in...

 

Just to clarify, you have no yellow mark by network devices in the Device Manager. Odd. I would try the NIC in another computer or try a new NIC in yours.

I am running out of ideas!

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Ok, I just got a usb ethernet adapter. I plugged it in and it seems to be working, but every time I try to connect to the internet it always tries to dial-up, but I have broadband... I went to connections and noticed that I don't have a Local Area Connection at all... Could this be the problem?

 

Alright, drop the previous topic. I got the USB adapter properly installed and it's working!!! But now my local area connection says it has little or no connection and I still can't get online. What do I do now????

 

On your previous question as to installed NIC not working. When you were in the Device Manager, did you open your Network Adapter section that was there, so it could list the different NIC's. Sometime you have to open that and tell it which adapter to connect to, either the onboard one or the PCI one. You'd also need the driver for the PCI one if your computer doesn't recognise it.