Windows 7: Think im missing ethernet driver?

Hey guys, so I purchased windows 7 and uploaded it onto my old computer and Im having a problem trying to get the computer to recognize a connection. Just an fyi, im not too computer savvy, but if you dumb things down and walk me through stuff I can find more info out. This was a custom built computer about 4 years ago, so some of the stuff is outdated im sure!


First, I had XP installed working great on the same desktop less than a year ago, but had to get rid of it, so I used Linux as a temporary solution till I saved some money for Windows 7. At both times I never had an internet problem. My internet comes from a dsl line and my desktop gets the connection straight from the modem.
Windows says there are no connections available even though all the lights on the modem are on and I should be able to connect.

Ive tried different ethernet cables and im even using the modem right now on a friends laptop so it is NOT the modem or the connections.


Im thinking its a missing driver issue but im not sure how to identify what driver I need, are they called ethernet drivers? I turned my printer on in Windows 7 and it immediatley recognized the drivers and works great, along with my mouse and keyboard.


Anyone have any ideas for what to look for under device manager to see what I need to download? Im kinda assuming its a driver issue since it worked with XP and Linux but not 100%sure.... thanks!

Stealth, welcome to the forums
I think you are on the right path, it looks like you do need the correct drivers.
There is an entry "Network Adapter" in device manager, first try to update the driver from there, otherwise let us know what adapter you have and maybe we can help

Im not sure where "network adapter" is but I tried updating the driver and it would not work.

Welcome to Seven forums first off it would really help to have all your system specs filled in especially your motherboard. This way we could easily locate what your network adapter is and find a driver. If you know how to go to device manager. I just open the start menu and right click on my computer then manage. device manager will be on a list. open it and Copy and Paste a shot of it. if you can expand network adapter . You can right click on the network adapter>then properties>then details tab> you'll see a drop down menu click it, the first on the list will be hardware id. click on it. You'll see a hardware Id string, Copy and paste the hardware id string and we can find a driver from their. Thanks. Fabe

Thank you for your help! Here is a shot of device manager but I did not see the "Network Adapter" tab under device manager, unless it is somewhere else?

What motherboard do you have? And any other system hardware you can fill in to your system specs including which version of Seven 32 or 64 bit will to help to locate your sound device and your Ethernet driver. As I posted above you can show us the hardware id strings of the devices missing drivers by right clicking on that device>properties>details tab>drop down menu>first on list should be hardware id>Copy and paste that for each of the devices needing drivers and we can try and locate them from their. You MB has an SIS based chipset and an Athlon Xp cpu with an AGP slot so this means it's a few years old so all the information you can provide will be helpful. Thanks. Fabe

Stealth. Welcome to SevenForums
Your gonna need to find the make and model of your motherboard. This can be done easy enough with a program dl from the net. Plenty are free to use and do the job. I used speccy and got a picture of my specs for motherboard. course you will need another pc to google the web then download to a usb drive. Another way of course is to open your case and look at the board. The network adapter is showing up as unknown in your device manager because your correct driver is not installed. Get your numbers and someone here will glad to find you a driver. Finding and installing drivers for a new install is the first step to becoming not a newbee. Good luck to you

You read my mind! I was just searching for some software to locate that info right now

Also Software Info for Windows

CPU-Z

Vista Forums Sysinfo


These will all help us know about your hardware

Thank you guys! You have been more than helpful.

Here is a screen shot you asked for! Anything else let me know!