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Setting Up A Laptop PC

I did a complete scrub of my laptop's HD. Now reinstalling.

There's a wireless card in there - forget what it's called. Right now, I can't get the wireless internet. Perhaps I need the drivers, but I don't know the name of the device. Can someone help?

What is the model number of your laptop.
What operating system are you installing.
Do you have the original install CD or are you uing a retail version.

ASKER

IBM Thinkpad T40
WIndows XP Pro
I'm not sure about your 3rd question. But I loaded service pak 2 and 3
I have Everest. Probably should ID the piece of hardware, right?

An original install cd would be one that came with the laptop from IBM,
A retail version of XP would be a cd that was bought from a store.

There would be more model number info such as a type number and model on an information label onthe bottom of the laptop.
For example... T40 type 2373-123
Could you post this info.

ASKER

It's Type 2373 - 75u
I had my computer guy install his licenced version. So, no, it's not the one that came with IBM.

ASKER

Still waiting on an answer. I have Everest. How do I indentify whatever is the card that allows for wireless internet (Wifi)? Do I download updated drivers for the MB?

Here are the available wireless driver downloads for your model
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/product.do?doccategoryind=181226&template=%2Fproductpage%2Flandingpages%2FproductPageLandingPage.vm&brandind=10&familyind=117057&machineind=117092&modelind=117107&partnumberind=0&subcategoryind=0&operatingsystemind=53385&validate=true

ASKER

Thank you~ I went to the site and now have the download screen. There are 20 or so files I'll have to download...which is fine. But I still don't know what the WiFi connections hardware is, and which driver to download!

Please clarify!

There is a method for finding this info.
Go into device manager, click on the wireless card, or the unknown "other" device in there.
Go into its properties, click on the Details tab. In here will be a VEN number and a DEV number.
looks like this--> PCI\VEN_168C&DEV_0013&SUBSYS_.................
In the above example the VEN number would be 168C and the DEV number would be 0013
Post these here or go to this site and enter the VEN(Vender) or DEV(Device) number in the appropriate box.
http://www.pcidatabase.com/

ASKER

How can I find the device manager?

Hold the Windows key and press the Pause /Break key
Click on the Hardware tab then click the Device manager button.

ASKER

I'm sorry....can you direct me via control panel?

Sorry, that was just a shortcut method.
Double click on the SYSTEM icon in control panel. Click on the Hardware tab, then click the Device manager button.
In the device manager look for a yellow triangle beside OTHER DEVICES and double click on it to enter the properties. Under the DETAILS tab you should find the VEN and DEV numbers

ASKER

Got there...

The divices are
1) Ethernet
2) Multimedia Audio Controller
3) Network controller
4) Pci Modem
5) Universal Serial Bus Controller
6) Unknown Device
7) Video Controller (VGA Compatible)

WEn to "Unknown Device"
Details
ACPI\IBM0068\5&2890D699&0

So what do I do now?

Looks like you haven't installed the power management driver. That could effect the finding of the wireless card.
Here is the PM driver
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?lndocid=MIGR-4gxpeg

ASKER

OK,,,,, Driver is installed. What now?

Are there any new yellow marks in the device manager?

You may also need the chipset drivers installed as well.
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?lndocid=MIGR-46058

ASKER

OK. both drivers downloaded and installed. No. Ther are no new yellow marks in the device mgr.

Are there any devices showing yellow, if not, then there are no other devices detected by the OS.
What is shown in the network adapter section of the device manager?

According to the specs from Lenovo the wireless card should be the Cisco 802.11b Wireless(MPCI)
The driver is found here.
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?lndocid=MIGR-42683

Also read the installation instructions on that page for the drivers.

ASKER

I'm stumped

ASKER

WHen I go to Dev. Mgr, it does not recognize the Cisco card!!!!!!
What do I do?

There may be an issue with using a retail version of XP rather than the IBM install cd.
There must be a missing component that is not installed yet to allow the wireless card to be recognized.
Or the card itself is not working.
Are there any yellow or red marked components in device manager

ASKER

First, thank you for your quick reply!

The internet was working perfectly. I'm not sure I know what you mean by "yellow or red marked components in the device mgr."

It still just shows the 7 question marks. No mention of the Cisco.

But, again, I have to stress that all was perfect before I did the full-blown disc scrub/install

Yellow Question marks would be what I'm talking about. These components drivers are not installed.
You need to download the appropriate driver for each one and install them.
The reason they are in that situation is due to the XP install cd used doesn't carry those drivers.
If one of the question marks is an UNKNOWN DEVICE this may very well be the Cisco card.

ASKER

But i thought i DID download the drivers, per your instructions!@!
How many drivers do I need to download and which ones?

I think you need your "computer guy" to finish what he started.
It looks as if there needs to be a proper install of XP done here as per this link.
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?sitestyle=lenovo&lndocid=MIGR-50221
here is a link to the Thinkpad t40 drivers.
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?lndocid=MIGR-46258
The supplemental drivers are the important chipset drivers and should be installed

ASKER

I think I did a proper install. I don't have computer guy, per se. There are TONS of files there. Should I download them all? If that's what it takes, no problem! I just want to be as efficient as possible.

BIG QUESTION: Shouldn't I stay away from the BIOS files? I know that for my desktop, which uses an ASUS motherboard, it was highly recommended to stay away from fooling with the BIOS.

Correct, the BIOS files are not needed.

ASKER

Loaded every single file.

Everest recognized the Cisco card

If it makes any difference, Everest says that the current proxy and Lan proxy status are disabled.

ASKER

WEnt to System/Device Mgr/Other DEvices/Unknown.

I hit "reinstall driver", tehn install from specific location, then "don't seach, I will choose driver".

When it asks for Hardware Type, i went to NEtwork adapters. Under manufacture, I went to Cisco and was give 15 choices!!!!

Which one?

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

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ASKER

Great job!!!

Whew, that took awhile. Glad it's up and running.