can I install hardware without wizard?

[Guest]

dell dimension 2400 winxp sp1

i am trying to reinstall my ethernet controller. nc100 v 2.1 ethernet by
linksys,according to the manufacturer, the win2000 driver will work with xp,
but when i direct the wizard to it, it won't take. is there any way I can
'force' it to use the older driver? or other ideas?

tia,
Brian

 

[Guest]

You can go to control-panel,then select,add new hardware.Or,open system
properties,device mgr.,expand the tree for the device,R.click on
it,properties,
driver,then select the driver you want installed.You can also select,update
driver,then click the box "let me select" then select manually.

 

[Brian Belge]

thanks Andrew.

but that is what I have been doing. when go Ethernet controller in device
manager and click update driver, the add new hardware wizard automatically
comes up. then I point the wizard directly to the driver I want and it
still says "cannot install hardware" that is why I was wondering if there is
a way to load the driver without opening the wizard. any more ideas?
thanks,

Brian

 

[Brian Belge]

oops my bad. it wasn't the linksys Ethernet that the wizard is detecting.
its the Ethernet that came factory installed in the pc when I bought it from
dell. any ideas on getting the wizard to recognize that? the hardware
wizard has also been unable to install the sm bus controller either. it has
been a few weeks since these 2 items have done this. I have been disabling
them in device manager as a work around. but why wouldn't the machine
recognize its own factory installed hardware? ideas appreciated as always.
ty.

 

[Guest]

Go into the BIOS (check manual for how to open your BIOS) and disable the
onboard Ethernet adapter. Usually under Integrated Peripherals. That should
keep XP from trying to install it. Then your new adapter should install
without a problem.