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7 Posts
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30048
October 14th, 2011 19:00
Dimension E521 Network Card Issues
I'm regretting that I agreed to fix my mother's computer now.
After a long time of running the most popular Operating System, with the most popular commercial Virus Scanner, and the most popular Browser (those should read as: most likely target for every virus writer out there) and installing every program of dubious source found on the Internet, opening every email that used Powerpoint to show simple pictures (and run macro viruses), and otherwise incautiously use the computer, my mother and stepfather had a mess of a system. The last straw was when, after taking forever to load Windows XP, you couldn't do anything because the mouse and keyboard didn't work at all.
I ran Ubuntu Linux off a CD and they used that for a bit. That gave them a chance to back up their files. They also had a restoration disk that came with the computer. I used this disk to completely format their hard drive and reinstall Windows. (I saw during the process that they have a recovery partition on the hard drive, but I have no idea how to access it.) In any case, the restoration worked fine... mostly. While they now have a brand new install of Windows XP (the OS that came with the computer - it's kind of an old one) the OS isn't recognizing their network card.
I used my computer to download the latest Broadcom drivers from the Dimension E521 support page on this site, and transferred them on a flash drive to my parents' computer, but the drivers don't take! The associated program claims there are no Broadcom network cards on the computer. The OS recognizes an Ethernet card, and inspection inside the case reveals that the only one present is the on-board one, but it can't identify it or load drivers.
So for now they are back to using Ubuntu off the CD, under which everything (including the network card) works. So I know it isn't a hardware issue. However, they aren't big fans of Linux and want to go back to using Windows. Without the network card, though, they have no Internet connectivity. I'm not sure this is a bad thing for them, but they disagree.
Can anyone help me figure out what's wrong, and how to fix it?
shesagordie
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October 15th, 2011 09:00
pilgrim82
You were using the Broadcom 440X 10/100 Integrated Controller Rev: A02 driver, that can be downloaded from HERE
Bev.
shesagordie
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46K Posts
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October 14th, 2011 22:00
pilgrim82
After installing XP, did you install the drivers and applications in the following order?
Desktop System Software
Chipset
Video
Network Interface Card [NIC], aka Ethernet.
Audio
Then all other drivers and applications.
Bev.
pilgrim82
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October 15th, 2011 08:00
Just tried that; everything worked, except the network card driver. Checked again, and it works under Ubuntu Linux still, so it has to be a software side issue. But the driver program that came from Dell simply does not recognize it as a Broadcom network card.
pilgrim82
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October 16th, 2011 17:00
I was using the other driver, as it has a later release date and higher version number; I will try the A02 one and let you know how it goes. Thanks!
pilgrim82
7 Posts
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October 16th, 2011 18:00
That did it! Thanks so much for your help. Now to d/l a bunch of updates, install some decent antivirus, etc. etc.
shesagordie
12 Elder
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46K Posts
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October 16th, 2011 19:00
pilgrim82
Happy to have helped.
Bev.