O.T. Can't logon to the Internet:

[magineer02]

I have a Dell Dimension 8200 (Seagate Barracuda 7200 HD 160Gb)
with XP which I just installed, without any issues.

However I'm unable to logon to the Internet. This is the same computer
that was able to logon not more than 2 yrs ago. I've changed nothing
except the HD and the actual Ethernet cord and connected it to the L2
port on the modem instead of the L1 which is where my Dell 8500 is now connected.

I called Verizon and they ran several diagnostic tests and had me reboot
and power off/on but still my computer will not connect and all the tests
showed green as do my indicator lights on my modem (Verizon GT704WGB).
The power, DSL, and Internet indicators stayed solid on the modem while
my Ethernet and wireless indicators flashed. Also my Eithernet plug-in on
back of the computer showed green.

So all the indicators are showing that there's nothing wrong.

After running all the tests we then looked at my device manager which
showed

? 'other devices' (with a yellow question mark)

? and indented below that were Ethernet Controller
? and Multimedia Audio Controller both with yellow question marks.

I think the reason the Multimedia audio controller has a yellow question
mark is because I don't have speakers. Once I do that should go away.

However, according to Verizon, the Ethernet Controller with the yellow
question mark means I need a new Ethernet card and software or drivers
for my existing card. I already checked and I don't have any software disks.

So my question is what can I do to get online with the 8200? Do I need to
buy a new Ethernet card? What brand/make? or did I miss something when
I installed XP and if so can't I go back and repair the installation?


Thoughts/ Suggestions?

Thanks,
Robert

 

[micky]

I haven't done any research before answering, because I have to answer
before the smart guys wake up.

I have a Dell Dimension 8200 (Seagate Barracuda 7200 HD 160Gb)
with XP which I just installed, without any issues.

However I'm unable to logon to the Internet. This is the same computer
that was able to logon not more than 2 yrs ago. I've changed nothing
except the HD and the actual Ethernet cord and connected it to the L2
port on the modem instead of the L1 which is where my Dell 8500 is now connected.

Which *does* access the net, I gather??

I called Verizon and they ran several diagnostic tests and had me reboot
and power off/on but still my computer will not connect and all the tests
showed green as do my indicator lights on my modem (Verizon GT704WGB).
The power, DSL, and Internet indicators stayed solid on the modem while
my Ethernet and wireless indicators flashed. Also my Eithernet plug-in on
back of the computer showed green.

So all the indicators are showing that there's nothing wrong.

Not only havent' I done research, I haven't even walked around to the
back of my computer to see its lights, but shouldn't there also be a
yellow light on the ethernet jack on the computer.

After running all the tests we then looked at my device manager which
showed

? 'other devices' (with a yellow question mark)

? and indented below that were Ethernet Controller
? and Multimedia Audio Controller both with yellow question marks.

I think the reason the Multimedia audio controller has a yellow question
mark is because I don't have speakers. Once I do that should go away.

However, according to Verizon, the Ethernet Controller with the yellow
question mark means I need a new Ethernet card and software or drivers
for my existing card.

They might be right.

I already checked and I don't have any software disks.

You can still probably reinstall the driver from what is in computer.
Go to tab2 or 3 of the Device Manager entry for the ethernet card.

Or you can use the computer that does work along with the make and
model of this card to find drivers online, download them, copy them to
a flash drive or something, and install in the broken computer from
the flashdrive.

So my question is what can I do to get online with the 8200? Do I need to
buy a new Ethernet card? What brand/make? or did I miss something when
I installed XP

I thought you "changed nothing except the HD and the actual Ethernet
cord and connected it to the L2 port on the modem instead of the L1".
So what's this about installing XP? Going back to the first sentence
in your post, the clause about reinstalling immediately follows XP,
and that's what I thought you had reinstalled, not your HDD, but then
you said you'd changed nothing but the HD and the cord???? Please
don't confuse me. I only have so many brain cells left. .

and if so can't I go back and repair the installation?

These things are so complicated, I myself woudn't attempt to say you
missed anything. I'd just try to fix what's broken.

 

[micky]

You can still probably reinstall the driver from what is in computer.
Go to tab2 or 3 of the Device Manager entry for the ethernet card.

It's tab3 fo my ethernet card, called, suprisingly enough, "Driver".

Update Driver starts a genie or wizard or something that will look in
files on your computer included with XP for a driver for your card.
I think if nothing else there is a generic driver that works for the
first ethernet card made, and works somewhat for most cards since
then.

After you install that, or maybe something more specific that works
better, you'll be able to connect to the net and install the most
recent version of the driver for your card. Atlhough iirc, I've never
found a more recent version of any or most drivers.

Or you can use the computer that does work along with the make and
model of this card to find drivers online, download them, copy them to
a flash drive or something, and install in the broken computer from
the flashdrive.

You couldl do that, probably, but it will take more time and you'll
learn less.

What brand/make?

I always thought the '65 Pontiac Catalina convertible was one of the
most beautiful cars made. Don't get a black top, too hot. Wait,
you're talking about a card. Dunno.

 

[micky]

It's tab3 fo my ethernet card, called, suprisingly enough, "Driver".

Tab3 of Properties, one of the options when right clicking on the
Ethernet line of device driver. Not the line with the plus sign,
that is like a folder for all network adpaters, but the line beneath
that, that shows when you click on the plus sign. Hmmm. I guess it's
showing now if it has a yellow question mark.

 

[Ken]

I have a Dell Dimension 8200 (Seagate Barracuda 7200 HD 160Gb)
with XP which I just installed, without any issues.

However I'm unable to logon to the Internet. This is the same computer
that was able to logon not more than 2 yrs ago. I've changed nothing
except the HD and the actual Ethernet cord and connected it to the L2
port on the modem instead of the L1 which is where my Dell 8500 is now connected.

I called Verizon and they ran several diagnostic tests and had me reboot
and power off/on but still my computer will not connect and all the tests
showed green as do my indicator lights on my modem (Verizon GT704WGB).
The power, DSL, and Internet indicators stayed solid on the modem while
my Ethernet and wireless indicators flashed. Also my Eithernet plug-in on
back of the computer showed green.

So all the indicators are showing that there's nothing wrong.

After running all the tests we then looked at my device manager which
showed

? 'other devices' (with a yellow question mark)

? and indented below that were Ethernet Controller
? and Multimedia Audio Controller both with yellow question marks.

Sounds to me like you are missing the driver for the Ethernet function.
Go to
ftp://ftp.dell.com/Pages/Drivers/dimension-8200.html#Chipset

and download the chipset driver for the computer. That should take care
of the missing driver. If it does not, get the Network driver. Of
course you will need to do this on a different computer since your
access to the Internet is not working on that computer.

 

[magineer02]

Hello Ken,

I seem to remember you helping me out before with the 8200, which is one ofthe reasons it's lasted this long. Thanks again.

O.K. here's what I did; I saved, then ran Chipset, then copy/pasted the Chipset .EXE file to a Word document then copied that onto a USB flash drive. When I connected the Flash drive to the 8200 I got a message that a fast storage device was now attached and perhaps wouldn't perform normally but since I was just moving a file I thought it would be ok. In any case, I opened Word Pad on the 8200 and attempted to double click .EXE file with no result.

I then copy/pasted the file to the Run command and it came back saying that
the page could not be displayed for both the Chipset and Network Driver.

Thoughts/Suggestions?

Robert

 

[Nil]

O.K. here's what I did; I saved, then ran Chipset, then
copy/pasted the Chipset .EXE file to a Word document then copied
that onto a USB flash drive.

WHAT??? Are you joking? Why on earth would you paste a program file
into a word processing document?? This is absolutely the WRONG thing to
do.

It sounds to me like you are in way over your head. To save yourself
from aggravation and to avoid ruining your computer, please find a
local friend to help you out with this.

 

[magineer02]

I suppose I should of tried using a disk instead.

Thanks,
Robert

 

[Ken]

I suppose I should of tried using a disk instead.

Thanks,
Robert

Like Nil said, you do NOT need or want to put the file for the chipset
drivers in a word processor document. Simply save the file on a thumb
drive or other media and execute the file after you move it to the
computer needing the driver. It should install all the drivers needed
by the motherboard you have.

 

[Paul]

Like Nil said, you do NOT need or want to put the file for the chipset
drivers in a word processor document. Simply save the file on a thumb
drive or other media and execute the file after you move it to the
computer needing the driver. It should install all the drivers needed
by the motherboard you have.

I'm not convinced he needs a chipset driver.

His network is out, and the machine has some kind of NIC.
Without more feedback, we can't tell which kind of NIC is it.
The possibilities are covered on the Dell download page.
It's either a 3C905C card or some Intel motherboard thing
of unknown type (MAC? PHY? who knows).

The system is old enough, it uses RDRAM (Rambus). There's
a good chance the OS already has a chipset driver in it.
Usually the chipset drivers are thrown in, if they're available
when the CD is released.

Paul

 

[Paul]

The OP wrote that he had just installed Windows XP. It was not stated
whether or not this was from using a Windows XP installation disc or a
Dell recovery disc with XP and all of the utilities included.

The OP also wrote that he has a yellow warning indication for Ethernet
and multi-media audio controller. (There could be more.) I am inclined
to feel that a Dell recovery disc was not used, in which case critical
device drivers not present in the XP installation disc would need to
be reloaded. It should do no harm at re-installing the Dell drivers
that would have normally be included in the 8200's utility disc.

GR

That's what I figure too, there must be a CD of some sort with
the drivers on it.

When I re-installed Windows 7 on my laptop, having the driver CD
was a bonus. I needed a couple things off it, to square things
away. It's always a good idea (even if the drivers are ancient),
to keep a driver CD if the machine can make one for you.

My laptop made:
1) 3 DVD set which is the recovery image of the OS
(full of Acer cruft, Wild Tangent games, some backup utility I don't use)
2) Driver CD
3) Boot CD (WinRE?)

When I reinstalled, I used a DigitalRiver Win7 SP1 image.
Much cleaner. No Acer cruft

Paul

 

[magineer02]

I saved both files on my flash drive and
executed the files on the 8200. The Chipset
'seemed' to load ok although there were areas
where the writing was scrabbled and after I
clicked finish. It was ready to start all
over like in a loop.

I also loaded Network driver then restarted
the computer but I'm still not connected.

Robert

 

[magineer02]

It was a Dell Re-installation Disk that came with the computer.

Robert

 

[micky]

Sounds to me like you are missing the driver for the Ethernet function.
Go to
ftp://ftp.dell.com/Pages/Drivers/dimension-8200.html#Chipset

Why are you pointing him to the chipset driver and not the network
driver?

ftp://ftp.dell.com/Pages/Drivers/dimension-8200.html has 3 of them for
XP,

ftp://ftp.dell.com/Pages/Drivers/dimension-8200.html#Network Skip
diagnostic utility.

 

[micky]

Hello Ken,

I seem to remember you helping me out before with the 8200, which is one of the reasons it's lasted this long. Thanks again.

How about you.....

O.K. here's what I did; I saved, then ran Chipset, then copy/pasted the Chipset .EXE file to a Word document then copied that onto a USB

download not chipset.exe, but R50542.exe, R48857.exe, or R36861.exe,
depending on which one goes with your network card. Look at the chart
and compare it with what it says on the Driver or General tab of
Properties of the Network Card. Or download all 3 and worry about
which one it is later.

(If worst comes to worst, I think you can install all 3, one at a
time, backing out each one that doesn't work before installing the
next, by using Uninstall Driver on the Drivers tab of Properties of
the Network Card. Or maybe it's only necessary to use Update Driver
three times or fewer. )

copy it to a USB drive (without trying to look at it in Word.

flash drive. When I connected the Flash drive to the 8200 I got a message that a fast storage device was now attached and perhaps wouldn't perform normally but since I was just moving a file I thought it would be ok.

Sounds reasonable.

In any case, I opened Word Pad on the 8200 and attempted to double click .EXE file with no result.

Skip Wordpad. The driver is not a novel and you can't read it.

I then copy/pasted the file to the Run command

This sounds maybe okay, but simpler yet is to open Windows Explorer or
a substitute,, find the flash drive, which might be the D: or E: or F:
drive, and double click on the little icon just to the left of the
file name, R99999.exe, for example.

Then let it run, and if it asks questions, try your best to do the
right thing.

Sometimes you can click on the file name, but often the computer
thinks you want to rename the file. Don't rename any file you didn't
name in the first place, like resume.txt . Press Escape iirc and
you'll be back where you were.

(If worst comes to worst, I think you can install all 3, one at a
time, backing out each one that doesn't work before installing the
next, by using Uninstall Driver on the Drivers tab of Properties of
the Network Card. Or maybe it's only necessary to use Update Driver
three times or fewer. )

and it came back saying that
the page could not be displayed for both the Chipset and Network Driver.

Thoughts/Suggestions?

It might be a cold winter.

 

[Ken]

Why are you pointing him to the chipset driver and not the network
driver?

Normally the chipset drivers contain all such devices such as sound and
network chips. He indicated there was more than one exclamation mark in
the device manager, so it might take care of both of them? He does not
seem very knowledgeable about installing drivers, so I thought this
might be the simplest solution. If it does not solve the driver
problem, he can still install the network driver.

 

[micky]

Normally the chipset drivers contain all such devices such as sound and
network chips. He indicated there was more than one exclamation mark in
the device manager, so it might take care of both of them? He does not
seem very knowledgeable about installing drivers, so I thought this
might be the simplest solution. If it does not solve the driver
problem, he can still install the network driver.

Okay, makes sense. A personality difference between you and me, sorf
of.

But I just went to see what else I could learn from that page, not
really expecting to learn much, and the only chipset driver on the
page works with win95, 98, ME, 2000, and nothing else. That might be
his problem.

 

[Nil]

Normally the chipset drivers contain all such devices such as
sound and network chips. He indicated there was more than one
exclamation mark in the device manager, so it might take care of
both of them? He does not seem very knowledgeable about
installing drivers, so I thought this might be the simplest
solution. If it does not solve the driver problem, he can still
install the network driver.

Here is the support page for the Dell 8200:

http://www.dell.com/support/drivers/us/en/19/Product/dimension-8200

I don't see a separate chipset driver available. There are individual
network, display, and audio drivers.

 

[magineer02]

This is what's on the CD:

Operating System
Reinstallation CD
Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition

Also says; This CD is not for reinstallation of programs or drivers

Robert

 

[magineer02]

I never claimed to be computer literate; just bear with me please.

What I did was to follow the link you gave me and put the files on a flash drive:

ftp://ftp.dell.com/Pages/Drivers/dimension-8200.html#Chipset

Then downloaded both the Chipset file and Network Driver file> saved it > then I opened the folder and selected the .exe file > send to > flash drive> then used the flash drive to open/install the files in Start > Run procedure.

As I said, Chipset seemed a bit erratic when installing and seemed to be in a loop. So maybe I need to reinstall Chipset? The Network driver seemed to install ok.

I checked the Device Manager and it still shows (3) yellow question marks in this order:

- ? Other devices
--? Ethernet Controller
--? Multimedia Audio Controller

Thoughts/Suggestions
Thanks,
Robert