Win XP Pro - How to install drivers if i don't know motherboard make?

I have my dads old computer.

I have just re-formatted it due to several virus and BSOD

I have installed XP Pro. Its all up and running but i need to install mainly a ethernet driver so i can get on the web and download updates.

The problem is, i don't know what Mobo is inside and i have no ideas how to look for drivers. The Ethernet driver needs to be installed so i can access the web via my broadband.

Is there any way i can find out what mobo it is? or a program to tell me?

Thanks

Dan

Yes there are some programs to detect hardware but if your eyes are good (or you have a magnifying glass [I am old]) look at the motherbaord and you will see a couple of small(!) square chips, usually nearest the back. Typically one is audio and one is Ethernet. Most common are Realtek or Broadcom (or maybe Intel if it is an Intel chipset board). Note the brand and number of the chip. You wil see something like "RTL8111". Once you have that, just Google for that and add "+driver +XP" (minus quotes of course) and you'll have it. Same for audio chip driver.

pebbly said:

dannyboy2005 said:

I have my dads old computer.

I have just re-formatted it due to several virus and BSOD

I have installed XP Pro. Its all up and running but i need to install mainly a ethernet driver so i can get on the web and download updates.

The problem is, i don't know what Mobo is inside and i have no ideas how to look for drivers. The Ethernet driver needs to be installed so i can access the web via my broadband.

Is there any way i can find out what mobo it is? or a program to tell me?

Thanks

Dan

download the free version of speccy Speccy - System Information - Free Download that will tell you the mobo then we will take it from there :)

After i made this thread, i downloaded speccy.

It says i have "Dell Computer Corp. Model: 0G1548"

Upin a google search i found that the 0G1548 came from a dell dimension 2400.

So far, even on the dell website, i'm having problems locating a Ethernet driver

http://support.dell.com/support/down...&catid=&impid=

"So far, even on the dell website, i'm having problems locating a Ethernet drive" Yep. Sometimes it's easy and sometimes not. YOu might just see if you have a chip with RTL8102 on it. I kinda think that may be the one they used on that model. If so, easy enough to find the driver for that chip.

dannyboy2005 said:

After i made this thread, i downloaded speccy.

It says i have "Dell Computer Corp. Model: 0G1548"

Upin a google search i found that the 0G1548 came from a dell dimension 2400.

So far, even on the dell website, i'm having problems locating a Ethernet driver

Drivers & Downloads

The driver would be in the Network section. The only one that I see there is for an integrated Broadcom 4401 NIC:

http://support.dell.com/support/down...1&fileid=84196

It dates from 2003.

Dell computers usually have a "Service Tag Number" on a sticker on the case or listed in the BIOS. If you can find that you just input it on the Dell support page and you'll be taken to a page with the specific drivers for your model.

pebbly said:

try these Drivers and Downloads install in compat mode Compatibility Mode :)

Spot on!

These were the ones i required.

Unfortunately, the computer seems to have some hardware malfunction and even though its a clean install of XP Pro, it keeps restarting its self, not even loading into windows and computer keeps beeping.

Now, i'm not sure if its because i left the computer on all night, downloading windows update and the computer perhaps turned its self off after half hour, corrupting a critical file needed for XP during the download and this has corrupted the start up?

I'm thinking its a hardware problem. My dad said his computer used to do this before i looked at it.

Thanks for the link though.

Have you had the side cover off and looked inside? If not now is the time to open it up and give it a good cleaning. Once you have all the dust bunnies out I would re-seat your RAM and any add in cards like video, sound etc. Also have a look at the power cables and IDE or SATA cables and make sure they are plugged in correctly. Leave the side cover off and then try powering it up. Check the fans, especially the one on the processor and video card, to make sure they are working. Overheating will cause a PC to shutdown. BIOS beep codes are a sign of a hardware fault. The pattern, long or short, how many, and in what order can tell you what might be causing the problem. They are specific to the BIOS on the motherboard so you may have to do some digging to figure out what they mean.

EDIT: When touching the internal components take care to avoid electrostatic discharge. Touch the metal case of the power supply before touching anything else and don't do this while standing on a carpet if you can help it.