nic

i picked up a cleaned pc have reinstalled using dell's reinstall disk for os MS XP installed all my programs but can not initialize a internet connection. there is intel's PROset icon in the task bar but nothing in the tree. this is the only disk i do not have. it looks like the adapter is wired in the board because there is no card do I need to just buy a new card? thanks JWS

 

did everything you suggest - under device manager there is nothing for network adapters - no yellow or read checks - this machine was installed in a business which had a LAN/Server and all I can think is somehow the this file was deleted during their cleaning process = and just maybe the plug that i am plugging into is not ethernet but something else - it is hardwired into the Mother board - and I find nothing in the software tree for PROset chip set. Any other thoughts because this is way above my head now. Thanks JWS

 

You said you reinstalled the operating system using a Dell CD.... was it included with the computer? Is it for that particular model? If the OS disc is from a different model, that would explain a lot. If you performed a clean install (meaning you completely erased/formatted the hard drive) then there is no reason why it shouldn't connect to the internet through the ethernet port as long as you configure Internet Explorer to use the ethernet port. Here's how:
1. In the Control Panel, open Internet Options.
2. Click the Connections tab; click the Setup button.
3. The "New Connection Wizard" will open, click Next.
4. The top circle should be checked; click Next.
5. Check the middle circle; click Next.
6. Check the bottom circle; click Next.
7. Click Finish.
The New Connection Wizard will close and you should be able to launch Internet Explorer and get online. However, if you did NOT perform a clean install of Windows, there may be some lingering settings left over from the PCs pervious environment and the TCP/IP settings may be wrong for your situation....