Ethernet Not Detected???

Question

I have been using my inspiron 5150 for years and I decided to give it to my fiancee. I format the laptop and reinstall everything when it shipped here.   All looks fine but no BoadCom Ethernet card?? Under Device manager, only the 1394 Network Adapter is listed.   I have been doing a lot of research the whole entire day and install all kinds of drivers.   I was up using the internet right before I format the HD. What could be the cause?   I right click on Device Manager and do a new hardware scan and nothing came up.   If it's bad or damage, is it replacable? I read on other forums that it's onboard?? What can I use to have the laptop on the internet again?   I will take any alternative solution to get access to the internet.

volcano11 · Answer

Did you install the chipset drivers as the first drivers installed after reinstallation of Windows? Without the chipset drivers, Windows will not be able to recognize or install drivers for many other devices. Once the chipset drivers are installed you need to install the drivers for your network adapter, video adapter, audio adapter, and modem.

Steve

Leon Bui · Answer

Steve,

Yes, I did install the chipset driver and all the other drivers for audio/video or multimedia. I do not have any exclamation mark in the Device Manager nor any question marks either.

Even without the chipset driver, shouldn't the NIC card be detected? It might not have the right driver for it to function properly but shouldn't at least show up in Device Manager?

I tried using USB for LAN connection but it didn't seem to work either. I installed the USB driver for my modem, I got an IP but no DNS Suffix or default gateway. I couldn't ping any sites.

I reinstall the chipset driver like three times already. My Device Manage looks okay it's just missing the BoadCom Eithernet Network Adapter.

What are the chances of that being bad right after formating???

Is it replaceable? or any other alternative ways of connecting to the net?

Leon Bui · Answer

Steve,   I know what you mean when the chipset driver wasn't installed. Nothing showed up or detected by Windows in the Device Manager. After the chipset was installed, a lot of exclamation marks showed up under Device Manager but I already installed the drivers for those devices.   I have installed the chipset driver like 3 times already and each time it require a reboot. Do you think because I didn't do the chipset right after installation that the NIC card doesn't show up?   Since I have nothing on the system now, it won't hurt to do it again. Should I do a repair or a new installation (formatting)??   About a PC network card, where would I put that on the inspiron 5150? I have a wireless card that I used to use for college but I do not have a wireless router at home.   The USB cable is for cable modem. I have the disc from my ISP and I installed the drivers for it but it doesn't seem to pull an IP. Could it be because since the modem have 2 output; 1 for USB another for Ethernet???   I have the Ethernet hooked up to the router and the USB to my laptop, will that work?

volcano11 · Answer

'Even without the chipset driver, shouldn't the NIC card be detected?' - No, since Windows needs the chipset drivers to know what is on the motherboard.  So, without the chipset drivers, Windows will not know what is present.  It still sounds to me like you didn't install the chipset drivers first.  While it is possible that the network card is faulty, the chances are low that it would become faulty at the same time you decided to do a new installation of Windows.  Since the network adapter is integrated on the motherboard, the only way to fix it if it is faulty is to replace the motherboard.  The alternative, if the network adapter is bad, is to use a PC card network adapter.    Since the network adapter is not even showing up in Device Manager, I would advise you to start over and this time try installing the drivers in the correct order.   As for the USB connection not working, are you connecting to a cable modem or a dsl modem?   Steve

volcano11 · Answer

Since I have nothing on the system now, it won't hurt to do it again. Should I do a repair or a new installation (formatting)??  I would remformat, reinstall Windows, then install the chipset drivers before attempting to install anything else.   About a PC network card, where would I put that on the inspiron 5150? In the PC Card slot on the side of the computer.    The USB cable is for cable modem. I have the disc from my ISP and I installed the drivers for it but it doesn't seem to pull an IP. Could it be because since the modem have 2 output; 1 for USB another for Ethernet???  Note that whenever you change the connection on a cable modem,  you need to do a complete reset of the network every time you make the change. To do this, shut everything off. Wait about 5 minutes. Turn on the modem first, and wait another 5 minutes. Then turn on the device that is connected directly to the modem either through ethernet or through  USB).   I have the Ethernet hooked up to the router and the USB to my laptop, will that work?  No that will not work.  Again, when you change the connection you have to do the complete network reset.   Steve

volcano11 · Answer

Try downloading and installing the drivers from the following site:

http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/type.aspx?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs&SystemID=INS_PNT_P4_5150&os=WW1&osl=en&deviceid=2966

If this doesn't work, then yes, the PCMCIA slot is the slot on the side of the computer and you can install an PC Card ethernet adapter there.

Steve

Leon Bui · Answer

Steve,

I just reformatted the HD and reinstall the OS. I put the Drivers, Utilities... disc in and install the chipset.

Afterward, I did all the drivers update.. still no Ethernet detected. If the NIC card is bad shouldn't it at least show up and say it's damage or not working properly?

I guess my other alternative would be the PC card for ethernet. The slot that's on the side is call PCMCIA right? I just want to buy the right NIC card for it.

thanks for the fast reply to my posts.

dallascowboyswo · Answer

Check to see if ethernet contoller is enabled in your bios. F2 at boot enters setup. Sounds like it is disabled. If it has the ability to disable the operating system will not recognize the ethernet card until it is enabled.

Inspiron 5100
Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 2.66GHZ
512 MB RAM
32 MB MOBILITY RADEON 7500C
40 GB Fujitsu HD
QSI CDRW/DVD SBW-242
Broadcom 440x 10/100 Integrated NIC
Dell Wireless 1350 WLAN Mini-PCI card
BCM V.92 56k Modem
SigmaTel C-Major Audio
Bios ver. A29
Win XP Home SP2
pur. Jan 2004
ZoneAlarm Pro ver 5.1.011.000
Norton SystemWorks Premier ver 9

Leon Bui · Answer

I already went ahead and order the ethernet PC card for the 5150. When I get home from work today I will check the BIOS. Does the BIOS set disable by default??

pj_soldier · Answer

Hi,

Has anyone figured out how to rectify this problem to check if the hardware ethernet card is working or not?

my internal BIOS don't have this utility to show if it is working or not?

Dell inspiron 1420

Much appreciated if anyone can advise.

PudgyOne · Answer

pj_soldier,

What operating system is on the Inspiron 1420? 32-bit or 64-bit?

What do you see in the device manager? Any yellow exclaimination marks or red x's?

Any recent changes that you did to the computer, like reinstall the operating system? The Desktop/Notebook utility and the chipset drivers need to be installed first, or the rest of the drivers will fail to install.How to Install Drivers in Microsoft® Windows® on Dell Systems You should be able to start here if you recently reinstalled the operating system.

If this just happened, did you try using system restore and go back to when the ethernet card was working? Is the ethernet card factory installed or was the card installed by you? I installed an ethernet card in the back of my desktop a long time ago and when I reinstalled the operating system, I didn't have it working. Then remembered that I purchased it ans installed it. Inserted the drivers disk and it started working.

Rick

Networking, Internet, & Bluetooth

Ethernet Not Detected???

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