Hey, thanks for your input. I redid it with the chipset driver first and it fixed some other issues I was having, but not the issue with the wireless network card, and I still have Network Controller listed as uninstalled under Device Manager. I do have my wireless card driver installed. Any more suggestions?
Please help. I am in this same boat. I reformatted, and everything works except the wireless. I did what you said, and installed the chipset driver first, and then did the rest. But the included drivers disc from Dell did not include one specifically for the wireless chip.
It recognizes the network controller (listed with a question mark). I right clicked and uninstalled, and upon reboot it would find the hardware and run the wizard. Since I have no specific driver to install, I tried to have it automatically find the driver through Windows Update, but that didn't work either. So now I am stumped. The internet works through the ethernet, but not the wireless. I even made sure it was Enabled in the BIOS.
If anyone has any ideas, please help me out. Thanks!
My fix was actually pretty easy after I installed the chipset drivers first. Previously I thought I had the Dell wireless card, but it turned out I had the Intel one. So check which one you have and make sure you are installing the correct driver. I would also recommend getting drivers off of the Dell website for your model instead of trying to figure out which ones you need off the CD. It is under Network Drivers.
I'm sorry, I was trying to give the number from memory. It is actually an Inspiron 5160.
I looked up the service tag on the website in order to get the drivers, but there are several drivers listed for wireless. How do I know which card I have?
You need to determine if you have an Intel wireless card or a Dell wireless card (despite the fact that several Dell cards are listed on the download site, if you are in the U.S., they all use the same driver). To find out which card you have, go to the Dell Support site, enter your service tag information, then click on the link for Warranty. A window should open and there should be a tab to click on for original configuration. The listing will be rather cryptic, but you should be able to determine if the wireless card is an Intel Card or a Dell card.
M4479 CARD (CIRCUIT), WIRELESS, MINI PCI CARD, 1350, BROADCOM CORPORATION
Does this mean that I need to download the "Broadcom 440x 10/100 Integrated Controller" driver? None of the components in the list say anything about Dell or Intel.
pizza125
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April 15th, 2006 19:00
bacillus
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April 15th, 2006 19:00
volcano11
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April 15th, 2006 20:00
Yes, the order matters. The chipset drivers must always be installed first. After the chipset drivers are installed, the order doesn't matter.
Steve
volcano11
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April 17th, 2006 00:00
Uninstall the wireless driver, reboot your computer, then reinstall the wireless drivers now that you have the chipset drivers installed.
Steve
pizza125
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April 17th, 2006 00:00
slush278
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April 24th, 2006 17:00
pizza125
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April 24th, 2006 18:00
volcano11
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April 24th, 2006 21:00
slush,
It would help tremendously if you told us which model computer you have.
Steve
slush278
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April 25th, 2006 13:00
Volcano, it is an Inspiron 6100.
Pizza, thanks, I will try the website. Don't know why I didn't think of that before.
Will update again after latest attempt.
volcano11
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April 25th, 2006 14:00
slush,
I don't think there is such a model as the Inspiron 6100. Are you sure this is correct.
Steve
slush278
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April 26th, 2006 17:00
volcano11
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April 26th, 2006 17:00
You need to determine if you have an Intel wireless card or a Dell wireless card (despite the fact that several Dell cards are listed on the download site, if you are in the U.S., they all use the same driver). To find out which card you have, go to the Dell Support site, enter your service tag information, then click on the link for Warranty. A window should open and there should be a tab to click on for original configuration. The listing will be rather cryptic, but you should be able to determine if the wireless card is an Intel Card or a Dell card.
Steve
slush278
5 Posts
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April 26th, 2006 19:00
Okay, from the original configuration it says:
M4479 CARD (CIRCUIT), WIRELESS, MINI PCI CARD, 1350, BROADCOM CORPORATIONDoes this mean that I need to download the "Broadcom 440x 10/100 Integrated Controller" driver? None of the components in the list say anything about Dell or Intel.
volcano11
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28K Posts
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April 26th, 2006 19:00
Broadcome makes the cards for Dell. If you are in the U.S. use the following driver:
http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/download.aspx?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs&releaseid=R115321&SystemID=INS_PNT_P4_5160&os=WW1&osl=en&deviceid=8041&devlib=0&typecnt=1&vercnt=5&formatcnt=1&libid=5&fileid=152055
Steve
slush278
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April 27th, 2006 16:00
WOW! It worked! Thank you so much. I really really appreciate it.
It's nice to have the computer back to normal now. Thanks again for everyone's help, especially you, Steve.