IBM Thinkpad A20m Ethernet Controller
I have an IBM Thinkpad A20m running WIN2K.
When I plug an Ethernet cable into the network adapter of a (known to be fucntioning) router, I get NO link lights on the adapter.
In looking in Device Mgr. I do not see any entries for Network Adapters. I do, however, see under Other Devices an entry for Ethernet Controller and it has a question mark with a yellow exclamation mark.
I have Googled the Internet to death looking for some software that will get this up and running but now I'm starting question my approach.
Is this indeed a missing piece of software (driver) that needs to be reinstalled.
For anyone who quite naturally be wondering what the history is here goes. It's my wife's laptop and she needed to take it into her work to get it setup for VPN access. It was working like a charm until her Network Administrator got hold of it. Now it's screwed. Can't for the life of me imagine what he did to either disable this or screw it up but nevertheless, all clues seem to point to this problem with the 'Ethernet Controller'.
Thanks All!!!
When I plug an Ethernet cable into the network adapter of a (known to be fucntioning) router, I get NO link lights on the adapter.
In looking in Device Mgr. I do not see any entries for Network Adapters. I do, however, see under Other Devices an entry for Ethernet Controller and it has a question mark with a yellow exclamation mark.
I have Googled the Internet to death looking for some software that will get this up and running but now I'm starting question my approach.
Is this indeed a missing piece of software (driver) that needs to be reinstalled.
For anyone who quite naturally be wondering what the history is here goes. It's my wife's laptop and she needed to take it into her work to get it setup for VPN access. It was working like a charm until her Network Administrator got hold of it. Now it's screwed. Can't for the life of me imagine what he did to either disable this or screw it up but nevertheless, all clues seem to point to this problem with the 'Ethernet Controller'.
Thanks All!!!
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
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Hi mbath,
Install this http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/SOFT-UPDATE.html#DLP
This is IBM software installer. What it does is check your ibm laptop for devices and current driver versions. It gives you list of softare and versions available for download, you select ones you like and download. Its so great, it works for me, i have T40 laptop.
Enjoy.
Install this http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/SOFT-UPDATE.html#DLP
This is IBM software installer. What it does is check your ibm laptop for devices and current driver versions. It gives you list of softare and versions available for download, you select ones you like and download. Its so great, it works for me, i have T40 laptop.
Enjoy.
Mbath,
Thanks for the points. Glad to see you got it working. Sorry I couldn't respond to your last question but looks like you figured that out.
Thanks for the points. Glad to see you got it working. Sorry I couldn't respond to your last question but looks like you figured that out.
ASKER
No problem Scott.
The problem was a little tricky to get my arms around.
The indictator for missing, 'Ethernet Controller' was actually referring to the controller for my Linksys Wireless Adapter. I kept trying to force the drivers for the IBM (RJ45) Ethernet Adpapter onto it, which obviously didn't work.
As a final thought, I popped in the Linksys disk and let the search for THAT Ethernet Controller do it's thing and it worked.
THAT was the driver it wanted. The controller for the wirless adpater, NOT the driver for the regular built-in adapter. (That one drove me nuts).
So, when all's said and done, although I can connect wirelessly, it does appear that I have a dead Network Adapter.
Thanks for getting me going in the right direction.
The problem was a little tricky to get my arms around.
The indictator for missing, 'Ethernet Controller' was actually referring to the controller for my Linksys Wireless Adapter. I kept trying to force the drivers for the IBM (RJ45) Ethernet Adpapter onto it, which obviously didn't work.
As a final thought, I popped in the Linksys disk and let the search for THAT Ethernet Controller do it's thing and it worked.
THAT was the driver it wanted. The controller for the wirless adpater, NOT the driver for the regular built-in adapter. (That one drove me nuts).
So, when all's said and done, although I can connect wirelessly, it does appear that I have a dead Network Adapter.
Thanks for getting me going in the right direction.
ASKER
Have actually tried the majority of your suggested solution so let me see I can clarify where I'm falling short.
First, the exact model number is (you were right) 2628-4AU and when I go to IBMs site and search on networking drivers, I do indeed find an executable that I can extract to my harddrive.
However, there are a slew of folders that extract and I'm confused about which one will contain the contents of the Ethernet Controller that I need.
I see many folders that start with LanDisk (1,2,3,4,etc) but confused as to which one or even if I'm going about it the right way.
thanks!!!