Cannot find driver for Network Controller

[SpydaMan]

I re-installed XP on a Dell Inspiron 600m laptop, did not have the driver cd, so I used Windows Update to obtain what I needed. The only one I cannot find is for the Network Controller. In device manager it shows up with the yellow question mark. I also tried the Dell website, but not of the drivers there seemed to work.

Can someone help me find the proper driver???

[mikeL]

did you try using your service tag number when looking for downloads on dells site.

[SpydaMan]

Originally Posted by mikeL did you try using your service tag number when looking for downloads on dells site.

I used the service tag and it gave me the same list as if I didn't use it.

[glc]

Do you have the Resource CD that came with the laptop?

[SpydaMan]

Originally Posted by glc Do you have the Resource CD that came with the laptop?

The only cds I was given (not my laptop, just helping someone) was for XP, 2 for various programs that they do not use, and one for Dell Wireless something or another. I installed that thinking it was on there, but it is just some program for use with the wireless.

I can get all needed drivers with Windows Update except for the Network Controller.

[kilgoretrout]

From Device Manager, see if you can identify the the make and model of the network adapter in question. Post that info here. However, if none of the Dell drivers for your nic work, the device may be defective; it's pretty easy to blow a nic. Also, it's not clear whether you are talking about a wireless card or a standard nic. Please clarify.

[SpydaMan]

Originally Posted by kilgoretrout From Device Manager, see if you can identify the the make and model of the network adapter in question. Post that info here. However, if none of the Dell drivers for your nic work, the device may be defective; it's pretty easy to blow a nic. Also, it's not clear whether you are talking about a wireless card or a standard nic. Please clarify.

Device manager does not give me any info at all. This is a wireless card, sorry for the vague details.

[glc]

There are a lot of possible wireless adapters that were used in the 600m. What you could try to do is open the access port for the mini-PCI card and see if you can visually identify which one you have. If you can read a Dell part number off the thing, Google should be able to give you a clue.

Note - no driver is going to install if the wireless is not turned on with the hardware switch.

[SpydaMan]

Originally Posted by glc There are a lot of possible wireless adapters that were used in the 600m. What you could try to do is open the access port for the mini-PCI card and see if you can visually identify which one you have. If you can read a Dell part number off the thing, Google should be able to give you a clue. Note - no driver is going to install if the wireless is not turned on with the hardware switch.

I will look into the access port when I get home. Also, can you tell me more about the hardware switch, where it is, etc.?

[kilgoretrout]

I looked at the 600m manual online and didn't see a hardware switch for the wireless card. Newer laptops almost always have one but older ones generally do not.

However, the manual does describe a system restore procedure that should restore the laptop to the same condition it was in when it left dell, including having a wireless driver installed. Here's the relevant part from the manual:

Use Dell PC Restore by Symantec only as the last method to restore your operating system. PC Restore restores your hard drive to the operating state it was in when you purchased the computer. Any programs or files added since you received your computer—including data files—are permanently deleted from the hard drive. Data files include documents, spreadsheets, e-mail messages, digital photos, music files, and so on. If possible, back up all data before using PC Restore. NOTICE: Using PC Restore permanently deletes all data on the hard drive and removes any applications or drivers installed after you received your computer. If possible, back up the data before using PC Restore. To use PC Restore: 1 Turn on the computer. During the boot process, a blue bar with www.dell.com appears at the top of the screen. 2 Immediately upon seeing the blue bar, press Ctrl-F11. If you do not press Ctrl-F11 in time, let the computer finish restarting, and then restart the computer again. NOTICE: If you do not want to proceed with PC Restore, click Reboot in the following step. 3 On the next screen that appears, click Restore. 4 On the next screen, click Confirm. The restore process takes approximately 6–10 minutes to complete. 5 When prompted, click Finish to reboot the computer. NOTE: Do not manually shut down the computer. Click Finish and let the computer completely reboot

Not all dells came with that symantec restore utility but if this one did, the above procedure is worth a shot.

[glc]

It's the little button or the Fn key that turns on the wireless light.........

All Dells manufactured after 7/2004 have the restore utility.

[SpydaMan]

Originally Posted by glc It's the little button or the Fn key that turns on the wireless light......... All Dells manufactured after 7/2004 have the restore utility.

I tried the restore utility several times and it did not come on for me. I also pushed the fn key but the light did not come on. Since I just installed XP again last night I am doing Windows Update now to get everything up to date. When done I should have all drivers again except the Network Controller that I am having trouble with.

[glc]

I looked at the 600m manual online and didn't see a hardware switch for the wireless card.

You missed it. It's Fn + F2. Page 42. Controls both the wireless and optional Bluetooth power.

Spyda, go to the 600m support page, there's a link to view system configuration. Enter the service tag number and you can see everything it shipped with.

You are going to need more than just Windows Update to install all the correct drivers for everything. You need the Dell site to get the best ones.

[SpydaMan]

Originally Posted by glc You missed it. It's Fn + F2. Page 42. Controls both the wireless and optional Bluetooth power. Spyda, go to the 600m support page, there's a link to view system configuration. Enter the service tag number and you can see everything it shipped with. You are going to need more than just Windows Update to install all the correct drivers for everything. You need the Dell site to get the best ones.

Once the Windows Update is complete I will head to the Dell website. Would it help for me to display the service tag here???

[SpydaMan]

Here is a list of what Dell says it came with. I deleted the lines with a quantity of zero...

1 2N345 ASSY,PLMRST,NBK,600M
1 3N691 ASSY,HNG,CNTR,CVR,600M
1 6M871 ASSY,CBL,COAX,LCD,D-FMLY
1 H3270 LCD,XGA,SPWGB,14.1,SMSNG.V2
1 X8957 ASSY,BASE,NBK,M9,32M,600M,CR
1 1M722 KYBD,87,US,ENG,S-PTG,D-FMLY
1 5U092 ASSY,ADPT,AC,65W,LTON,WW
1 F2951 KIT,CORD,FLAT,3F,D3W/3P,P65,US
1 C4816 PRC,80536,PMD,725,PGA,B1
1 Y1338 BTRY,PRI,11.1V,6C,CYLD,SANYO
1 Y0231 MDM,56K,INT,MDC,D480,V2
1 K5827 ASSY,CDRW/DVD,650MEGB,SMSNG
1 8267R CON,HDR,2X22,F,2,S,G,35K,TH,CS
1 C8579 HD,60GB,9.5MM,5.4K,WD,SCRP,ULD
1 T1613 KIT,SW,OFCBSC-2K3,OEM,ENG
1 H8412 KIT,SW,OVPK,WXPHSP2,CDWD,ENG
1 N8757 KIT,DOC/DSK,SW,PDVD,5.3.1012
1 K3444 CRD,NTWK,MPCI,INTEL2200,NA
2 6G648 DIMM,256,333,32X64,8K,200
1 Y4330 LBL,REG,MPCI,INTEL2200,GNRC
1 F0281 LBL,INTEL,INSIDE,CENTRINO
1 3Y220 LBL,REG,MDM,D480,D-FMLY
1 63PDH SCR,M2.5X5,PHH,TF,BCS
1 0R931 TRAY,W/BZL,HD,600M
4 5X488 SCR,M3X3,KSH,MS,BLO
1 U7670 LBL,COA,WXPH,V#2004
1 W7504 SHP MTL,EDCP,NBK,MNSTR,RTOP
1 X7077 SHP MTL,BOX,NBK,MDS,RHT
1 6800D SHP MTL,BAG,20X14,ESD
1 R5976 TSH,21DY,RTN,POLICY
1 3X761 KIT,SCR,SCTY,PORT,WW
1 9T447 LBL,REG,NBK,APCC/DAO
1 P5982 TSH,LGL,TERMS,COND
1 X4474 GDE,PROD,INFO,PORT,AMF/BCC
1 N8855 PLCMT,GETS,I600M,CR,DAO/EMEA
1 6337P LBL,SVC TAG/EXPRESS CODE,LATC
5 4911U SCR,2.5X6,KSH,MSCR,CPS
4 4270E SCR,M2X3,KSH,MS,BLO
1 0N401 BZL,LCD,14.1,INSP,600M
1 9J060 LBL,MS,WXP,DT
9 3R690 SCR,2.5X8,#1- KSH,MSCR,CPS
1 0N409 ASSY,CVR,LCD,NBK,600M
6 6R933 CVR,BZL,BUMP,BII
10 1428U SCR,M2X5,MSCR,FPH,NPL
1 T7295 KIT,CDSK,RN,7.3,LE
1 2Y899 SHP MTL,BOX,ACC,MODULES
1 9U149 SHP MTL,BOX,NBK,SML,NO-FILLER
1 00009 INFO,GNRC,PN
1 2N403 HTSNK,PGA,NBK,B2
1 Y2455 KIT,CDSK,AOL9.0,BUDROM,ENG,DAO

[kilgoretrout]

1 F0281 LBL,INTEL,INSIDE,CENTRINO

If it has a "Centrino" logo pasted on it anywhere, it has an intel wireless card of some sort. Intel used the Centrino label in marketing an integrated system for mobile devices that maximized battery life. Centrino systems always used only intel wireless adapters AFAIK. You can see the available drivers from intel here along with useful tools to identify the intel components on your system:

http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Prod...D=955&lang=eng

Given this:

1 K3444 CRD,NTWK,MPCI,INTEL2200,NA

I'm guessing you probably have this intel wireless card:

http://downloadcenter.intel.com/filt...5&submit=Go%21

[SpydaMan]

Originally Posted by kilgoretrout If it has a "Centrino" logo pasted on it anywhere, it has an intel wireless card of some sort. Intel used the Centrino label in marketing an integrated system for mobile devices that maximized battery life. Centrino systems always used only intel wireless adapters AFAIK. You can see the available drivers from intel here along with useful tools to identify the intel components on your system: http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Prod...D=955&lang=eng Given this: I'm guessing you probably have this intel wireless card: http://downloadcenter.intel.com/filt...5&submit=Go%21

YOU ARE A GENIUS!!!!!! I downloaded this and it automatically detected the wireless. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!

[glc]

There you go - the Intel 2200 driver from Dell would have worked too. That was one of the many I saw there for the 600m.