Windows 7 - Onboard lan doesnt exist/device manager

I dual boot/installed win 7 about a month ago and i never noticed this problem because ive been using wifi since i installed win 7. but recently i decided to hook my pc to the lan using ethernet, and for some reason its not showing up in the network connections, no link led, and of course my computer isnt online unless im using the WIFI. the driver is not even in device manager, no yellow exclamation point or nothing. it almost like i dont an intergrated nic period

ive reasearched this problem on google and tried a few solutions. really nothing has gotten me anywhere so i figured id come on here to see if anyone would be kind enough to help me

thanks in advance

Hey SC and welcome

do you have any "unknown" devices (they have yellow triangles) in device manager? one of them is probably the NIC, and without a driver iwont work especially if it isnt gigabit.

Let us know

kenn J++

thank you ziggy

nope i do not see any unknown devices in device manager

Is it enabled in your bios?

Welcome to Windows 7
If you would be so kind and fill out your system specs please, also we need your motherboard make and model. Is Nic onboard?
Depending on the Nic, driver support for Windows 7 has been slower for some motherboards.

AMd athlon 3600+ dual core, 2 gigs of ram, 120 gb hard drive

the make and model of the motherboard is Nforce4m-a and yes the nic is onboard.

i have an extra nic in one of my drawers, maybe ill just attach one to an open pci slot if all else fails

ok i found the problem

i checked my bios because of slithernet's question and onboard lan was in fact disabled, idk how that happend. but thanks to all who replied (kudos to you slithy )