New XP connection to internet

Greetings,

This ought to be an easy one, but I am missing something.

I am combining old computer parts and some HDs and finally made a working 'puter for my mom. In testing it here at my house before delivery to hers, I am having a hell of a time with what should be a simple task: connecting to the internet, or our home network...I just want to get online (and get the Sps, and Chrome, etc) and I must be missing something hiding in plain view.

The Wizard does not seem to be doing the trick, or, I am just making the wrong selections. I have the network name (if that's even needed), and the SSID and password for the router...I am wired straight into the router, not using a wireless connection...(maybe I need to restart the router - what am I missing?)

Can some kind person please give me detailed, step-by-step instructions, or point me to some?

Thanks a million in advance,

~drcarl

DETAILS:

• Fast Comcast connection
• Belkin AC750 router
• "new" computer running XP Pro
• Other "old" computers accessing the web through router, one running XP and one running Win 7
• Both "old" 'puters access printers through the router

 

Please delete.

 

Checked Device manager and, funny thing, they all have a yellow "?" You're brilliant! (duh)

I know the NIC works because I had Ubuntu accessing the web earlier.

System also tells me now that it's got Windows XP Pro SP-1 onboard.

So, now, instead of burning a CD on my machine with drivers for the Gigabyte GA-965P-DS3 MoBo, I searched for them with Ubuntu on the XP machine and d/loaded them into a folder in a known location.

I hope I found what I need on the Gigabyte site.

I'm glad I found you. er, you found me...

 

Any clues on the correct next steps are invited. It's a 32 bit system. I found and installed the network drivers, but that's not the issue. The "?" are on these:

[-]? Other devices
---------?PCI device
---------?PCI Simple Communications Controller
---------?SM Bus Controller
---------?Video Controller (VGA Compatible)

 

Installed all the drivers I could find. I get intermittent internet connection in IE. See attached error message when trying to install Chrome. Also, please see attached screenshot of what Device Manager reports

Help?

..

 

Now I am starting to suspect it might be an Intel driver...but I don't yet know how to find the right one....

I found this Gigabyte FAQ - but it is not directly related to MY MoBo...so, how do I find the right one?

Q: Why does it show an error on a "PCI Simple Communications Controller" in device manager?

A: This is due to Intel Management Engine (Intel ME) driver has not been successfully installed. Please click here to download driver from Intel official web page.​

 

Dear plodr,
(or whoever can help)

Here are some photos I took of the screen with details provided by speccy.

I also took one of the disk arrangement as shown by Windows Explorer.

I am bringing a gift computer back to life for my 83 year old mom (whose Mac turned into a brick recently). I took a nice computer that was a gift to me and was missing a hard drive, and added a couple of 80 GB SATA drives to it and finally got XP Pro SP-1 to install. Not understanding partition choices, I may have botched things up.

Windows did (finally) install, but it's on the D: drive. I had a problem for days trying to get the computer to even "see" the SATA drives until I followed some advice I found to I "change the disc setting in BIOS to “manual” and tick “LBA”." I have no idea what LBA is, yet it worked.

Since there is really nothing (no data) on the computer, I am extremely tempted to disconnect one of the drives (to be added later), leaving only one drive, and to do some kind of low-level format (if I could just learn how to do that properly), then install XP on that drive (hopefully it would be labeled "C:"), and then I'd go forward from there.

I realize I still may need to monkey with it to update all the relevant (and irrelevant?) drivers in order to get it online so that I can update everything and install a very minimal number of programs.

If everything hangs together (and the 'puter works for a while) I'd upgrade her to Win 7. I read this online and hope that this issue can be addressed later. I'd address it now if I knew how. Looking forward to Win7, here's what I found:

"Some operating systems, notably Windows Vista and Windows 7, do not configure themselves to load the AHCI driver upon boot if the SATA-drive controller was not in AHCI mode at the time of installation Intel recommends changing the drive controller to AHCI or RAID before installing an operating system"
​

I am thinking I botched things up somehow and would like to wipe everything clean and begin fresh.

Right now, I will "put down the mouse and step away from the computer" with an appreciative heart, hoping that there might be your ideas and suggestions here in the morning.

Regardless, thank you for all you do.

Best,

~drcarl


.

 

Thanks ploder. I am going the low-level format with HDDShredder route. I, too, thought about changing the drive letter myself within XP, and about moving/changing partitions with something like Partition Magic (I think it was called.)

Ubuntu as able to get me onto the internet. The now evaporating, pulverizing, and disappearing copy of XP was the one with problems. At least Ubuntu and Speccy let me know the NIC card worked, and the internet was still there.

Again, thanks

[stay tuned for updates as they occur! - lol]

 

sorry for butting in here...but why not install win 7 on this computer your specs show it is capable of running 7 and with support from MS ending for xp next month you might as well dive in...it's a bit of a learning curve going from xp to 7 but if your mother only uses the internet for facebook or games she wouldn't need to worry too much about how the system works...but getting back to the problem at hand...I would take out 2 of the hard drives and just use 1 for now...Do you have a legal product key for xp? If you do you can download a copy of window xp sp3 iso from http://deny120025.wordpress.com/2012/12/10/file-iso-windows-xp-vista-7-and-8/ ...burn it on slow speed using imageburn here http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/imgburn.html after you have burnt the disk set your computer to boot from the dvd...once the install has loaded all the drivers it will search for any other windows partitions...if it finds any you can delete them (make sure you save all software keys, bookmarks, pictures, etc. or anything on the drive you want to save)...then go ahead and delete all found partitions until you have 1 partition that is raw...you can go ahead and hit enter it will ask if you want to use the whole disk or you can set how much of the drive you want to use...whatever size you chose will be your partition where xp will live...if you are only using a portition of the drive then the rest of the drive will say unallocated space...make sure you have the partition you are using for the windows install highlighted and press enter...widows will format the drive and then copy files to that partition...your computer will reboot when done and xp will continue to install...windows will ask a few questions while it installs but it should take 39 mins...once done it will reboot again and load the desktop...from here you can go to the device manager and see what drivers need to be installed...most likely you'll need network drivers and video drivers and of coarse chipset drivers...hopefully you downloaded these drivers already and have them handy...I would install the chipset drivers first...then video and then audio remember to reboot after each install...once you have those drivers installed take another look in device manager for any other yellow exclaimation marks or red Xes...if your network card is showing a yellow exclaimation mark you can install the driver for that now...reboot and see if you have a connection to the internet...you may have to unplug your router for it to find your computer...just unplug it for 30 seconds and then plug it back in...you may have to reboot again...once windows has loaded and you are back at the desktop check once again for any yellow exclaimation marks in device manager...if there are still drivers needed...at this point it might be a good idea to set a restore point...Navigate to the Start -> Programs -> Accessories -> System Tools program group and choose System Restore.In Restore point description box, type a description for the restore point. Use a description that is easy to understand.I use the word "old" for my first restore point. Now download and use slim drivers https://www.slimwareutilities.com/slimdrivers.php this program will search for outdated or absent drivers on the system...from there you can let slim drivers download and install the drivers...okay...now that we have that done check the device manager and see if anything else needs updating...if all drivers were installed correctly and you are satiafied then you can create a second restore point and name it "new" I hope this helps and remember a member here is like being a gold member anywhere...

 

ploder/kench - THANK YOU...all comments are excellent. I am excited because I especially treasure the SP-3 d/l option (I do have a legit XP key). I suspect the missing NIC drivers might be there!?! (And, I did remove one of the drives; I can add it back later. And CMOS got screwed up again; MoBo battery pull did the trick)

The XP instal is really kind of "for me." I am likely afflicted with a touch of OCD and want to make sure the machine itself is sound before putting even another $10 toward a copy of Win7, or ANYthing. Mom is going to have a bit of a learning curve. [many jokes go here]. Going from an iBook to a PC could be painful for most people; probably less so for mom because she didn't understand that much i the first place. ~lol~? I think she filed everything on her desktop.

After a few years online with a no-button mouse, it's going to be fun to watch her with a 5-button UID. "Hey mom, I'm getting you a UID!" "Oh, you don't need to, I am WAY past menopause." I swear I'm going to FORCE her to learn how to "select/copy/paste" and to understand the virtual clipboard.

At least I'll be able to solve most of her problems by accessing her machine from my desk 2.5 miles away. Keeps me from having to see her so much (joke). [I think I'll attach a couple of her pics; one recent, one from the past]

I fundamentally agree that starting her off on Win7 would be better than putting XP between the iBook and Win7 experiences...that may still happen. She's never "seen" XP so there's nothing to unlearn there...though there might be. First I have to get this beast working, and that means getting the internet connection up and running.

Tech Update: One 80 GB SATA drive erased and installed. XP Pro SP-1 installed on C: - one big main partition (and the small system one). Device Manager shows the "?" as noted previously.

Plan: Get and install SP-3 while smiling that I am not on a 56K dial-up connection. From what I have read elsewhere, there is a strong possibility that the driver that's holding-up the currently non-existent internet connection for the XP may be present in SP-3!

Learn what a "chipset driver" is and how to find the ones I need. Maybe I can trick SlimsetDrivers into listing what drivers the XP machine needs, then take this shopping list over to MY machine and find the needed drivers online, then shuttle the downloaded drivers back over to the XP on a thumb drive. Oh, no! The SlimDrivers install file might need an internet connection to install! That's the problem {*falls to his knees and prays the driver is in SP-3*}

[announcer voice: "stay tuned for updates as they occur"]

Thanks

PS - full disclosure: OH-kayeeee....the pic with mom and the hydrangeas IS a few years old. She was only 80 there, not 83.

 

UPDATE: Even with second and third options in CMOS disabled, machine refused to boot from CD with SP-3, but that's OK. I ran it from within XP Pro SP-1 and everything seems to go smoothly, although I was not offered any partition options. SP-3 is installed and appears happy.

Still no internet connection and the yellow "?" (now with a little "!", too) remain.

Others ?
--? audio device on high definition audio bus
--? ethernet controller
--? PCI simple communications controller
--? SM bus controller
--? Video controller

Now figuring out how to get drivers...

 

Current Screen Shots (thank you Speccy)...current problem is figuring out how to scan for needed drivers with NO internet connections.

The Cloud and other internet-based services are unreachable by the XP machine...and my MoBo and Win7 machine, well...you know...

(Maybe what I need is an "offline installer" for SlimDrivers - but that does not exist, from them, anyway - hold the phone - found something from them)

 

GOOD news - Details tomorrow. Hint: chipset drivers from Gigabyte...one by one...then SlimDrivers....Nice!

 

Glad things are moving along for you one thing though...speccy is good for a monitoring program but what you need is a program that will tell you everything you need to know about what is under the hood...you can try this program http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/belarc_advisor.html ...also here is your netwok drivers https://downloadcenter.intel.com/detail_desc.aspx?agr=Y&DwnldID=18717 ...and here you'll find more stuff http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=2456#dl

 

UPDATE/RECAP: On the Gigabyte site, I Found what I believe are the chipset and other drivers. I attempted to follow the readme instructions that came with the file, but they fell apart at some point (I admit that I really did not want to have to go find a floppy somewhere). I downloaded the drivers into individual folders and found ".EXE" files which I ran followed by a restart after each one.

InstallShield did the heavy lifting and ran installs for
"Chipset - Intel INF installation"
"LAN - Marvell Lan Driver" and
"Audio - Realtek Function Driver for Realtek Azalia audio chip"

I am tempted to run another set I found there: "SATA RAID - AHCI Gigabyte SATA2 RAID Driver" but I have AHCI Disabled in CMOS and weird things happen when it's enabled ... maybe because this driver is missing?

We got rid of some of the "?", but are STILL not online. I am beginning to think I may want to remove my head from my body, at least the top half, after this many DAYS working on a soon to be unsupported system – well, the hardware will be useful if the MoBo and the drive are OK. I must be crazy. Why don't I just go to Craigslist with $150 of mom's money?

Then it occurred to me that, in my weariness, I might not have tried to connect to the web after the last restart - it was becoming a blur. I tried, and it appears that not only will the 12 ga. shell stay in storage, but I also HAVE A CONNECTION! YES!

SlimDrivers followed and updated many drivers. ALL of the yellow "?" are gone.

Windows did about 133 updates. At some point I defragged...

I installed some of my standby programs like CCleaner, and some others...I am pretty careful about declining offers bundled with great programs. Still, I see this morning that there is crapware in there! TONS of it! OMG! OK, so now come the Malwarebyte's AntiMalware and SuperAntiSpyware, Combifix, a JunkwareRemovalTool - and I am shocked at what I "allowed" to be installed. Gone now. I hope. Maybe a three letter agency is interested in me HAHAHAAHAHAA

Thanks for the reminder about Belarc Advisor; I'd forgotten about that one.

Oh, great. Twice now the display goes to black as if there is nothing being fed to the monitor. It's not the screen saver either. It's like a system hang. Nothing in the event viewers. I think it’s a couple of NVIDEA “extras”, one is called nVIEW (for multiple monitors). Now, I notice a stupid nView button in the MSE menu bar and MSE is all in red...hung. nView Uninstalled. Now the annoying menu bar button is no longer in the MSE menu bar.

All appears clean...and working...at least for now. I'll run the AntiBadWare programs in complete, full-scan mode.

THANKS to y'all - I am back online and able to patch things up.

Whew!

A couple of remaining issues....questions...

Should I still run “PRO2K3XP_32.exe for 32-bit editions of Windows XP.” found on the Intel site here?

Should I run the SATA Driver EXE file “SATA RAID-AHCI GIGABYTE SATA2 RAID Driver”
from the Gigabyte page for my board? I think sometime in the not too distant future, Win7 is going to need some kind of SATA drivers...something about

Can I uninstall NVIDEA’s Physx System Software 9.13.1220? Mom is not a gamer and just wants to read emails.

THANK YOU for helping me get my life back....lol

~drcarl

 

OK - I am confident the equipment works, so Win7 x32 is going in to replace XP SP-3. BUT WAIT!

The nice vendor reminds me to have all needed drivers on my usb thumb drive so that during (or after?) the Win7 install, these drivers can be installed... so... here's my question... what drivers?

I went to Gigabyte here and got the drivers listed. Win7 x32 Audio, and the two SATA2 drivers (one SATA is for pre-install, although I don't know how to do that).

I suspect there might be some chipset drivers, or Network Adapter Drivers for Windows 7, or some others over at Intel -- but I can't find them. Obviously, I'd like to get everything up and running as smoothly as possible including online connectivity (because online is where all the solutions are like HERE! lol)

kench gave me a link to some drivers here but those were for XP when we were dealing with getting XP going.

Can someone (kench? ploder?) link me up and point me to the drivers? (and give me any clues about when and where to install 'em?)

TIA

PS - rudimentary system specs are up in post #18

 

PPS - Here's a bit more: Marvell Yukon 88E8056 PCI-E Gigabit Ethernet Controller (PCI Slot 8, (PCI bus 4, device 0, function 0) (driver ver 11.45.4.3)

 

Looks good. I'll read the readme more slowly after a bit. I wonder how you arrived at that link (so that it's for sure relevant to Mom's MoBo or CPU or whatever? Everything I entered got me "nothing found" messages. Well, when I put in the name of her CPU links displays but then I got confused.

I hope the chipset drivers and whatever is on the install disc will get her online and that we wont need another Win7 version of Network Adapter drivers

I just hope we can get online...

Thanks!