Help Installing Ethernet Adaptor Driver on Dimension 3000

Question

Hello, I recently reformatted the hard drive on my Dimension 3000.  I am now getting an error because the Ethernet adaptor driver is not installed, so I am unable to get on the Internet.  I did not receive a disk with an ethernet adaptor driver, so I downloaded every possible driver available based on my service tag number.  I already searched other posts and they all say 'Download the driver from the Dell web page', but give no further details.  I am driving myself crazy trying to get this driver installed........I burned every driver file to a disk and was hoping the proper driver would be found if I searched drive E.....no luck.  Should the computer be able to automatically detect the correct driver regardless of the storage location?  Do I need to manually install the driver and choose the proper file?  On top of this, none of the drivers I downloaded said 'ethernet' in the name.  There was one available under the 'network' section which I assume is the correct one but I am not sure.  How do I know which Ethernet adaptor driver I need?  From what I can tell, it seems that Intel® Pro/100 M Ethernet Adapter is the standard one used.....but again I am clueless. Any help would be appreciated.  Thanks!

ieee488 · Answer

After re-installing Windows, you need to install in order the Desktop System software (if required), the chipset driver, then all the other drivers.

Download the drivers to a USB flash drive at a computer with internet access

How do I know which Ethernet adaptor driver I need?

Enter your service tag number at support.dell.com, and it will tell you what you have and what you need

Susie_2009 · Answer

Hello,

Please disregard this post. I am a complete idiot!! I just now realized that the downloads are executable files you have to run.....I thought it was the actual driver! Dummy me!! Thanks for the quick replies though. :-)

Networking, Internet, & Bluetooth

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