Ninehigh
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| posted on 24/8/11 at 03:09 PM |
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How to find a network
We've bought a second hand laptop, and are thus looking for some drivers so we can get onto the internet and pick up other drivers for the
soundcard and such.
The problem is windows xp is giving NO information on what the network adapter is (just that it has no driver) and the manufacturer's website
has shut off the drivers section because it got used.
Aside from copying Vista to it (which neither of us really wants to do) has anyone got any suggestions?
Failing all this I'm going to have to pay £10 for a cd with them all on (has anyone heard of doing this?)
Thanks in advance!
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ko_racer
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| posted on 24/8/11 at 03:29 PM |
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what is the laptop make and model?
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RichardK
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| posted on 24/8/11 at 03:30 PM |
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You can get the device id from device manager but sometimes even that says unknown, also I have a had a bit of success installing and running everest
free edition which can give you a pointer.
Cheers
Rich
Gallery updated 11/01/2011
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Ninehigh
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| posted on 24/8/11 at 03:37 PM |
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It's a "High Grade" W812ui1.. Yeah the problem is that the device manager doesn't say what it is..
I shall try the everest
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mookaloid
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| posted on 24/8/11 at 03:43 PM |
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If it has a PCMCIA slot someone might be able to lend you an ethernet or wireless card which has a known driver which you can install to get it on the
'net.
Or just thought maybe a USB wireless dongle might be the easiest one to borrow.
Then you can get onto windows update and hopefully that will find the right driver automatically.
"That thing you're thinking - it wont be that."
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MikeFellows
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| posted on 24/8/11 at 03:44 PM |
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it will have a device ID that is unique.
goto device manager
right click the device (providing you know which one it is of course, if you have 10 unknown devices your going to have to do it for all)
click the details tab at the top
use the dropdown and select Hardware ids
google the data it returns (it could have 3-4 device id's depending on the hardware)
should help you out
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monkeyarms
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| posted on 24/8/11 at 06:18 PM |
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If you dont need windows specific software then I would try Linux.
It comes with most software you will need including generic drivers that work on older hardware.
You can even try it from the CD/DVD without making changes to the computer.
Download Linux mint
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britishtrident
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| posted on 24/8/11 at 06:26 PM |
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Aida32 is very good at identifying hardware.
[I] “ What use our work, Bennet, if we cannot care for those we love? .”
― From BBC TV/Amazon's Ripper Street.
[/I]
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Ninehigh
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| posted on 24/8/11 at 07:21 PM |
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Might have to give the linux a go... it keeps finding a corrupt file immediately after installing windows...
On the plus side I've found a lot of details about the motherboard and the like 
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britishtrident
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| posted on 24/8/11 at 08:39 PM |
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Mint linux is probably the most painless
http://www.linuxmint.com/download.php ----- download the standard Gnome edition DVD version and burn the ISO to a DVD
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stevebubs
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| posted on 24/8/11 at 09:52 PM |
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what make and model is the laptop??
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Ninehigh
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| posted on 25/8/11 at 08:58 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Ninehigh
It's a "High Grade" W812ui1.
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James
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| posted on 25/8/11 at 09:49 AM |
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If you find the MAC address of the network card then you can look up the manufacturer on various sites online. Did it myself recently.
There's a good chance it's printed on the back of the laptop.
But in absence of finding this easily I'd have thought a USB wireless dongle and drivers on CD or USB stick.
HTH,
James
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"The fight is won or lost far away from witnesses, behind the lines, in the gym and out there on the road, long before I dance under those lights."
- Muhammad Ali
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ChrisW
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| posted on 25/8/11 at 09:53 AM |
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Try SIW. It's a free download (although the free link is hidden) from here: http://www.gtopala.com/
It's very small so you can put it on a USB memory key and run it from there. It should help you ID the hardware.
Chris
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McLannahan
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| posted on 25/8/11 at 10:05 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Ninehigh
quote:
Originally posted by Ninehigh
It's a "High Grade" W812ui1.
HiGrade driver website is often down but the hardware HiGrade use is common enough so we will find the driver for it somehow!
Could you double check that model number though - It should have a name too - Notino, Ultinote sort of thing?
Gateway probably make a clone of this laptop too and their support site/drivers are much better.
So if you could gather anymore info from the laptop and post it we can see if Gateway offered the same model with their own badging (likely) or we can
match up the driver using Aida or Everest.
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Ninehigh
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| posted on 25/8/11 at 10:28 AM |
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Well I persume this is a replacement case because we have:
W812UI1
Canada ices-003
Canada NMB-003
Some information on the US standards that the modem will comply with
And a S110 XF.
There's a mention of Arima and Delphi D40 if they're any help?
A little googling reveals something, Bliss 701M series?
[Edited on 25/8/11 by Ninehigh]
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McLannahan
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| posted on 25/8/11 at 10:52 AM |
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Gateway MX drivers might work then - The Arima model was also made for them...
http://support.gateway.com/us/en/product/default.aspx?tab=1&modelId=3161
It's quite a common cheap chipset driver the Mavell Yukon and annoyingly difficult to detect/identify. The Marvell Yukon site is also quite
patchy but they do make an all-in-one driver that will work with all of their cards.
Try that first and see how you go?
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Ninehigh
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| posted on 25/8/11 at 02:47 PM |
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All was looking good. Drivers got installed and I had network connection!
Then it needed a reboot and crapped it's pants again 
Just as a thought, it's dual core. Does that mean I'll need 64 bit versions or does that not matter?
[Edited on 25/8/11 by Ninehigh]
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Ninehigh
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| posted on 25/8/11 at 07:48 PM |
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Un-be-smegging-lievable!
As a last try before it went off to "the guy" I tried ubuntu.. So I stuck it on the memory stick and plugged it in. 2 beeps and 30 seconds
later Ubuntu shows up in high-res, full colour with a jingle and a "wireless networks are available"
Under a minute later I'm connected to the net and laughing.
Now all missus needs is something to play video.. We used VLC as it just did it all.. Any recommendations?
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monkeyarms
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| posted on 26/8/11 at 07:21 AM |
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VLC is available with Ubuntu. You just go to the software centre and search for VLC.
http://www.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/features/ubuntu-software-centre
It should sort it out for you.
"Mint" has video player & codecs already built in, hence my recommendation
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Ninehigh
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| posted on 26/8/11 at 07:30 AM |
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I was going to use mint, but I went with the smaller one as my image burning software appears to be pretending to burn the disc then complaining when
a blank disc doesn't match the iso file (durr) so I had to use the usb stick.
On the other side having vlc on it would be great as we recognise it
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