computer help

[bigjim]

Hi
just installed a new hard drive into my wifes laptop. Installed XP. Cannot get online. laptop has wireless card installed and in device manager it states it is working ok. I have reset modem and restarted computer but to no avail. I have also attached ethernet lead between modem and computer and still cannot get online. I've installed these before but I must be missing something somewhere but cannot think what. Anybody any ideas?

Jim

[diapason0]

You probably need to set up the connection using the password etc for your internet connection. I'm with BT and I've got a credit card size plastic card with all this info on it.
N

[bigjim]

thanks Dia but I don't think thats it. I'm on Virginmedia and I'm sure the last comp picked up the modem automatically.

[karlt]

Yeah, it will. Does the network card get an IP address? (type IPConfig at a command prompt)

[gaz]

.

[Redvee]

Drivers for wireless card or Ethernet card?

[uphillbothways]

There are a huge number of possibilities, most fairly difficult to diagnose remotely, but I can make a few suggestions. Firstly, make sure that you've installed XP Service Pack 2 or later, otherwise any troubleshooting is a fool's errand. Older versions of Windows XP aren't compatible with WPA encryption, which has been the standard wireless security protocol for several years. If you have an older XP install CD, you can download Service Pack 2 and copy it across on a USB stick or CDR.

The wired networking is a bit of a puzzle, as that's usually pretty foolproof. Did you connect to the right port on your router? Have you changed any settings on your router, perhaps disabling DHCP? Are you sure you have the correct drivers installed? Go to Start>Connect To>Show all connections to see your network connections, right click on the relevant connection and select "status".

What other computers are connected to your router? Do they use a wired or wireless connection? Try comparing the network settings on that computer to those on the laptop.

[karlt]

SP2's not supported any more, so going online with it is - erm - risky. Go for SP3. IIRC, you need SP1 on first to install SP3.

[nez]

Most routers have a setting which will only allow specified local MAC addresses to connect. You'd better make sure this isn't set - this is on the router's own software, not in Windows.

[bigjim]

Thanks for info.
Looking at Device manager I find that
Ethernet contoller
network controller
PCI device
SM bus controller
video controller
video controller [vga compatable]
None of the above seem to be present on the new HD. They all have a yellow question mark against them. I've managed to download the w/lan card driver on to a pendrive using other comp from Dells support site but unsure if I need the other items and how to get hold of them.

Jim

[karlt]

Thanks for info.
Looking at Device manager I find that
Ethernet contoller
network controller
PCI device
SM bus controller
video controller
video controller [vga compatable]
None of the above seem to be present on the new HD. They all have a yellow question mark against them. I've managed to download the w/lan card driver on to a pendrive using other comp from Dells support site but unsure if I need the other items and how to get hold of them.

Jim

Did the laptop not come with a recovery disk?

Drivers from Dell are quite easy - put the service tag no. (from the bottom of the machine) into here: http://support.dell.com/support/downloads

A lot of those items will be fixed when you install the chipset drivers, so start with those.