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Question

Cant get driver for Network controller

Oct 21, 2012 11:11AM PDT

Bought a used Dell Inspiron 1501 and it had kubuntu OS on it, so I removed it and installed XP home edition. Now I cant connect to my wireless network, and I assume its because there is no driver for my network controller, or the ethernet controller. I have gone to the Dell site and downloaded drivers, but nothing works. Is the network controller driver different than the driver for the wireless card? When I go to the Dell wireless WLAN card utility and try to open it, nothing opens. It really shouldn't be this hard, what am I missing? (other than the drivers)

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Sounds proper.
Oct 21, 2012 11:44AM PDT

XP has serious install issues. Not only must you deal with getting it up to SP3 but your post revealed nothing about the drivers you install BEFORE the WiFi and you didn't tell us if you installed Dell's Quickset app to turn on the WiFi.

Are you "winging it" on the install? (guessing?)
Bob

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Winging It
Oct 22, 2012 10:32AM PDT

Yes, I guess you could say I'm winging it. I thought that if I installed xp I would at least be able to use ethernet to upgrade and resolve any problems, but no.
I didn't kknow about Quickset, so thank you for that, however it did not resolve the problem, it says its enabled. As for the driver I installed, I went to the dell site and downloaded drivers for the inspiron 1501, one was for the network card itself, thats why I asked if the network controller and the wifi card had different drivers. And the other driver was for the Broadcomm integrated controller.
Still lost

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Let's look at an example XP install.
Oct 22, 2012 1:07PM PDT
http://forums.cnet.com/7726-7587_102-2699006.html

Notice we install XP Sp2 or better then MOTHERBOARD DRIVERS then a special MS UAA from Microsoft and later drivers from the LAN and WiFi. Helper apps are then added.

I can't guess the exact install for your machine but most follow this regimen.
Bob