Link to home
Start Free TrialLog in
Avatar of stokesydel
stokesydelFlag for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

asked on

Windows XP - How/where to download and install drivers?

I have just fitted a new hard drive, and installed XP (sp3)

In Device Manage, "Other Devices", including Ethernet, etc… all have a big yellow question mark next to them.  

Without these drivers, I can't access the Internet - to download and install…  but..
I do have another old machine with Internet access.

My idea is to download the drivers from presumably Microsoft site, (or maybe they're on the Windows disk I intalled?)  and then transfer them, using maybe a USB stick to the machine I'm working on - i.e. the one with the new hard drive installed.

ARe there any sites with instructions to do this - and am I looking at the correct solution?

This happened before, and I took it into a shop - they fixed it in minutes… so it can't be THAT difficult ..  :-)

Help!

Nichollette
Avatar of ☠ MASQ ☠
☠ MASQ ☠

You just need the chipset drivers for your make/model/motherboard

If you can post those details  I'm sure someone will find you a download link in minutes :)
you need to get the drivers from the manufacturer's site which is likely where the shop folks got it before

for example, if it is a dell system, you can go to support.dell.com and put in the service tag, select windows xp and go through the driver list that matches your hardware

and yes, you would download to a usb drive and connect to that machine to install from
highly unlikely the drivers are on the xp media - unless the system is 10+ years old :)

windows update does have some drivers (though a bit limited); though at a minimum you need to manually get the network driver going for internet access
As noted above, if it's a commercial system (Dell, HP, etc.) you should go to the manufacturer's website and download the drivers for that system.

If it's not from a major OEM, then you'll need the motherboard make/model -- and you can go to the motherboard maker's site and download the drivers.

In general, the two key drivers you need to install are the chipset and the network adapter.   Once those two drivers are installed, Windows Update will most likely find the rest for you (although you can also download and install those manually if they're readily accessible).

Note that in the (unlikely) event they aren't available, there ARE other fairly easy ways to find the specific drivers you need -- but first try the above ... it's fairly certain you'll find the drivers very easily like that.

If you need any help doing that, just post the make/model of your motherboard or the exact OEM model # if it's a Dell, HP, etc.
Avatar of stokesydel

ASKER

Sounds good.. can I download on my Mac, and transfer from that machine, onto the USB key?

Thanks,
Nichollette
Ok, I've downloaded this to the iMac, put it on the USB key, put THAT in the Dell computer  - but how do I navigate to the drivers folder, or wherever it should be installed?

The Dell site reckoned there were 6 drivers could be missing.  

This is the appropriate driver, I think.


Broadcom 57XX Gigabit Integrated Controller, NetXtreme Gigabit Ethernet PCI-E ULD, NetXtreme Gigabit Ethernet PCI-E, v.v8.1.4, A02
(Diagnostics Utility) Recommended 6/17/2005 v8.1.4, A02
Previous Versions
Description
Broadcom Advanced Control Suite Windows Diagnostic utility.


Thanks,

Nichollette
You should see a few Dell Icons on the USB sticks.  If you double-click on them they should try to unpack - confirming where they are going to be put - usually in C:\Dell choose the Unzip option rather than the Run WinUnzip button and once unpacked each installer should automatically launch.

Start with the Chipset drivers and then the Ethernet.
The only driver you really need is the network adapter => once you have internet access, you can download the remaining drivers directly on the Dell system.    In fact, Windows Update will likely "know" about everything else you need.

Doesn't hurt to get the chipset, audio, and video drivers while you're at it -- but I'd do that directly from the Dell after installing the network adapter.

As for what you've already downloaded ... You don't need the downloads for diagnostics or "utility" => you only need the DRIVER.

What's the model of your Dell ?
you posted 3 possible internet cards   - but you need only 1 as said.
Best post the model of your Dell, nicholette

here is how i solve this problem :
if you have  unknown devices in device manager, you can use this procedure to identify them :

1-visit the motherboard manufacturers support site, for downloading drivers
2- use windows update >optional updates to find them
if the lan is NOT running :
3-Start>Programs>Accessories>System Tools>System Information.
Now select  "Components" and highlight "Problem Devices".
All hardware devices with a driver problem will be listed here.
Make a note of the first line of the PNP Device ID line of the entry. It will show a Vendor number and a Device number (VENxxxxDEVxxxx) both four digits long.
Look up those numbers here:   http://www.pcidatabase.com/index.php

This will tell you the manufacturer and the chip number.  
Check the manufacturer's website first or google them - or post them here

If your LAN is running, you can also use windows update> optional drivers, or  use slimdrivers : https://www.slimwareutilities.com/slimdrivers.php
It's an Optiplex GX520, Nobus.

The numbers are Ven14e4 and Dev 1677

I've looked them up, and here's what I find..

0x1677      
Chip Number:      BCM5751
Chip Description:      NetXtreme Desktop/Mobile
Notes:      

http://download.lenovo.com/ibmdl/pub/pc/pccbbs/thinkcentre_drivers/q4etn04ws17.exe

Now, I've looked at the above address, and it's busy downloading a very large file…


How am I doing so far?

Tks..
SOLUTION
Avatar of nobus
nobus
Flag of Belgium image

Link to home
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
Start Free Trial
Don't forget - I can't hook the Optiplex up to the internet… because there are no drivers… so putting my ID tag in from my other machine - will that not just refer to the drivers for my "other machine"?

It looks like I need my hand held here… when I look up

http://www.dell.com/support/drivers/us/en/19/Product/optiplex-gx520,

It lists four sets of drivers.  ARe you saying I need the first three on the list?

Tks!
yes - that is after your lan is running.
you now put the downloaded driver on an usb stick, to transfer it to the pC -  then run it
then use the ID tag, or download s  i posted

you need the 3rd one  (the first 2 are for controllers
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
Link to home
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
Start Free Trial
Well, thanks to you all for persevering with me!  

Garycase - Thank you for defining the precise drivers - I found they unpacked and installed themselves ok.

Nobus  - Thank you for guiding me, and teaching me the process in general.

It was all worth it!

Nichollette
tx for feedback