Upgrading to XP on D640 yields a ?Network Controller

joey1023,

There's no Latitude D640 model. Assuming it's a C640, most likely what's missing is the Intel Mobile Chipset software, which you can download from Dell Support here.

Devices that are integrated on the motherboard aren't correctly recognized unless XP natively supports the Intel chipset, or if it doesn't, until the correct Intel Chipset software is installed.

If you don't have a C640, please check the machine model number again and post back.

Jim

joey1023,

The standard network controller in the C640 is the 3Com 3C920 - that's what's in mine. Is the network driver you've downloaded the one that's described as the " 3Com 3C920 Integrated LAN"? I checked the XP reinstall guide (mine's running Win2K) and didn't see any signs of a "Dell System Software" download for the C640, so if removing the NIC driver, installing the chipset driver, rebooting, and reinstalling the NIC driver doesn't do it, I'm not sure what will! Are there any error messages displayed after you install the NIC driver?

Jim

joey1023,

So whatever this mysterious "network controller" is, it isn't the 3Com builtin NIC! Strange! I didn't think the modem devices were flagged as "network controllers" if their drivers were missing, and besides you said you'd replaced that one. I don't think a missing driver for the "Dell Access Direct" button would produce an error like that. Is the BIOS current? It looks like the most recent one is A10, dated 01/14/2004. Is there anything more in the system or application event logs about the thing? Does anything revealing show up of you right-click on the mystery device in the Device Manager, and look at its properties?

Jim

No errors at all.  I'm using the c640 right now to access the internet, it does not freeze shut down or cause any problems.  I did all of the service packs using it directly over the internet.  The only sign of trouble is the ?Network Controller.  I have nothing else in the c640.  It is a stock model with no frills.

I forgot to mention that the 3com driver is in fact what I downloaded and installed after the Intel Chipset update.  All of it, plus the video and modem drivers came from the Dell c640 XP download page.

joey1023,

On my C640, PCI bus 2, device 3, function 0 is described in the (Win2K) Device Manager as a "Texas Instruments PCI-1410 CardBus Controller". I found it in the Device Manager by selecting View/Resources by Connection.

I found the following reference to it in the file "c:\winnt\inf\pcmcia.inf":

PCI\VEN_104C&DEV_AC50.DeviceDesc="Texas Instruments PCI-1410 CardBus Controller"

That file is copyrighted by Microsoft, so at least as far as Win2K is concerned, it's a supported device. The entry is present in the same file in all three Dell Win2K systems we have: a C640, a C840, and a Precision Workstation 650.

I haven't been able to find out whether this device is supported under XP. The fact that it's not being recognized obviously isn't causing problems, but it would be nice to know what's going on. Since you did a fresh install, it's not likely that this is an artifact resulting from an upgrade installation from the prior operating system.

On the slight chance that resetting the BIOS defaults might bring the device out of hiding, you might try that. That's done by pressing "Alt-F", as described in this Dell Support article.

Maybe someone will recognize this problem if you post in the Latitude/General Hardware board.

Jim