Use your Dell Service Tag number to get the most specific driver for your Ethernet LAN now. Confirm it is the make/model that is listed in Device Manager under Network Adapter.
Probably the Broadcom if those are what is offered for your Service Tag. But confirm in Device Manager.
Device Manager shows
Broadband Netlink Gigabit Ethernet
I put service tag in the site but it only shows BIOS, doesn't mention the ethernet...
It shows
Dell Studio XPS 8100 System BIOS, A05
n/a
View details
S8100-A05.EXE | Non-Packaged (5 MB)
BIOS|Release date 18 Nov 2010|Last Updated 03 Nov 2011|Recommended
Version A05
There should be a dropdown menu to choose specific drivers. It would not only show the BIOS. The Service Tag should refine all of the drivers that are installed on your build. If not go back to choosing it by model number.
Anyway the Broadcom was in the list you showed earlier. That should be it.
This is the broadband driver
Broadcom BCM57780 LOM, v.12.2.2.2, A00 Driver Details | Dell US
So no point in downloading the other 2 network drivers?
The other 2 are
Atheros Wireless 1525 WLAN Mini Card Desktops, v.8.0.0.376, A02View details
R290807.exe | Hard-Drive (7 MB)
Dell Wireless 365 Bluetooth Module Application
This package provides the Dell Wireless 365 Bluetooth Module Application and is supported on Inspiron, Latitude, XPS Desktop, Vostro, Precis...
View details
R235168.exe | Hard-Drive (62 MB)
Network|Release date 08 Jan 2010|Last Updated 19 Dec 2013|Recommended
Version 6.2.0.9603,A03-1
So save that broadband driver into my usb flash drive right? I could just drag it to the usb or would i have to do that similar thing with the isofile?
Why would you download the wireless drivers? Two of them say wireless.
I asked you to twice now to check what the make and model of the Ethernet adapter is in Device Manager. This will confirm if its that Broadcom device.
If you're sure you have the exact model chosen, or the Tag number, then that should be it.
broadband netlink gigabit ethernet driver is is the name of it under device manager
the one i downloaded is
Broadcom BCM57780 LOM, v.12.2.2.2, A00 Driver Details | Dell US
It says dell xps 8100 on it so i assume its the right one.
Well i figure whats the issue of downloading the other 2 drivers even if its wifi...
So i could just drag that ethernet driver file from my downloads folder to the usb flash drive just like that then right? I know with the windows 7 iso file, i couldn't do that so just want to make sure.
Okay i did that.
So now at step 8, i see mention windows 7 installer. So since im going to be using the windows 7 isofile from the usb flash drive as oppose to the windows 7 cd, so basically right now just put the usb drive into it and run it from REMOVABLE DEVICE?
At the moment, i have the windows 7 isofile and the xps 8100 broadcom ethernet driver on it.
And i have no documents on my dell xps that i need anymore so i want to wipe everything off. Also this will be the first time i am going to wipe everything off including the old windows folder b/c i think after 10 plus times doing this, each time it still had that old windows folder.
If you had the windows.old folder then the install isn't as clean as you can get.
Did you test Dell Diagnostics via F12 key at boot to see if it will run and the condition of your hardware? This tells you if you should save the Dell Utility partition. I've now written this 3 times awaiting your reply.
Yes, you can even add the driver and other files to the Win7 installation flash stick as long as you don't touch the files it put in the root. That is a massive image file which requires special tool to write to stick.
Yes the thing is everytime i had done this, i didn't do it right b/c i didnt know how to clean it completely. Also last time i tried to do it and follow instructions, but there was an issue where i was following a step but i couldnt do it and thus the old windows file didnt get deleted and thus computer isn't wiped fully.
No i did not do that. Im going to do it right now the f12 but can you tell me what im suppose to look for when i do this? Will type what i see on it on the other computer as right now im using the desktop that i want to wipe out fully first.
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