Bought used Dell laptop, how to re-install windows for a clean setup?

[JohnnyScience]

Now I just ran these instructions per dell's driver page:

Install

1.Double-click the new icon on the desktop labeled R302627.exe.
2.The Self-Extracting window appears and prompts you to extract or
unzip to C:\DELL\DRIVERS\R302627. Write down this path so the executable (I.e.
Setup.exe) file can be found later.
3.The Self-Extractor window appears.
4.Click OK.
5.After completing the file extraction, if the Self-Extractor
window is still open, close it.
6.Click the Start button and then click Run.
7.Type C:\DELL\DRIVERS\R302627 in the Open textbox and then click OK.
8.Follow the on-screen installation instructions.

I'm getting a setup error - no compatible hardware found. The software you are attempting to install is not supported on this system. The software will not be installed & setup will exit.

 

[gregrocker]

Double check your tag number. Is it clearly readable? Put it in again to make sure you have the correct model. Then look under both tabs for Tag Network drivers and Model Network drivers.

Otherwise if necessary we can trace the wireless adapter make/model.

Did you try plugging it in by wire to see if it will load the ethernet driver?

 

[JohnnyScience]

Yeah the windows tag is readable & I'm pretty sure the tag # is correct since it allowed me to finalize the windows install. I entered it in wrong the first time & fixed it & it finished the install so I'm pretty sure it's right - but where do I double check at?

Yes I for sure have a dell inspiron N5040

The ethernet won't work yet either as it needs a driver too. When I plug a cable in nothing happens & it wont let me update anything.

 

[JohnnyScience]

Digging through some things I was able to get it to search for hardware, came up with a Conceptronic 54mbps USB adapter but said it encountered a problem installing the drivers.

Does that name help us figure out what hardware I have so maybe we can download a different driver for it?

I hate computers.

 

[JohnnyScience]

Still digging now it's the Conceptronic 802.11n PC card

Yet it's still telling me device can not start

 

[gregrocker]

The service tag is inserted on Dell Driver Downloads page to have it customize driver choices for your exact hardware. Is your tag number definitely DM83MP1?

If so then trace the exact wireless and ethernet device using the method given here: Hardware Identification

Then post back the make/model of each, or google them for Win7 driver.

 

[JohnnyScience]

Network adapters Conceptronic:

Under Vendor:

0x168C Atheros Communications Inc.

Under Device:

0x00000100 (256) {4D36E968-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318} 0x1002 ATI Technologies Inc. / Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
0x002B Riva TNT2 0x10DE NVIDIA Corporation
0x002b Winmodem built into NEC Versa VXi 0x115D Xircom
0x002B Atheros AR5B95 Wireless LAN 802.11 a/b/g/n Controller 0x168C Atheros Communications Inc.
0x168C PC/VEN_10EC&DEV_8168&SUBSYS_04021028&REV_03\4&16QA3B3A&0&00E5 0x168C Atheros Communications Inc.

What's the next step?

 

[JohnnyScience]

The ethernet:

Vendor:

0x10EC Realtek Semiconductor Corp

Device:

0x 8136 Realtek 171 High Definition Audio 0x10EC Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
0x8136 Realtek 10/100/1000 PCI-E NIC Family 0x10EC Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
0x 8136 Realtek 10/100/1000 PCI-E NIC Family 0x1179 Toshiba corporative
0x01179 pci communication device 0x1179 Toshiba corporative

 

[PaulSoebekti]

Just an example of what a N5040 has listed under Device Driver.

Google the mfr model and connect to their site (not 3rd party sites like Free Drivers etc.)
Make sure you pick the 64 bit version (when available).

Paul

 

[gregrocker]

I've never had a Hardware Identification trace fail to narrow it down to one device.

If you want to post back the Hardware ID string from both drivers we can try it for you.

 

[JohnnyScience]

Ok so I found & installed this:

0x002B
Chip Number: E017105B
Chip Description: Atheros AR5B95 Wireless LAN 802.11 a/b/g/n Controller
Notes: http://download.wireless-driver.com/driver/Atheros/Atheros_wifi_921470-win7.zip


It installed successfully but I still can't seem to find or install the driver when I search in device manager?

 

[gregrocker]

What devices are missing drivers in the Device Manager (shown with a !)? This is important to know what we need.

What appears under Network drivers in Device Manager and what is their status?

Try installing the Dell chipset: Drivers and Downloads | Dell [United States] The ReadMe doesn't say Ethernet driver is included in chipset but it might be required if there's a Wireless PCI-e card.

You never replied: Is your Dell Service tag number definitely DM83MP1? This matters a lot.

Waiting here for your replies to help you.

 

[JohnnyScience]

What devices are missing drivers in the Device Manager (shown with a !)?

What appears under Network drivers in Device Manager and what is their status?

Try installing the Dell chipset since the ethernet isn't posted separately it may be included: Drivers and Downloads | Dell [United States]

You never replied: Is your Dell Service tag number definitely DM83MP1? This matters a lot.

Waiting here for your replies to help you.

Yes that is my service tag #.

The only things that have the yellow ! are:

Network adapters - Conceptronic 802.11n PC-Card (V1)

Other Devices - Ethernet Controller & PCI Simple Communcations controller

I'm going to try running that chipset driver now & get the ID string. (thought I did that earlier, sorry)

I'm downloading them to a usb on my main computer, opening & extracting them on the laptop & then going into the extracted file & running the setup.

What else should I be doing beyond that?

I've also restarted the computer a couple of times.

 

[JohnnyScience]

That wants me to install a trial version of Driverhive when I try to download the driver? Is that correct? Then it's asking for an email address to send a registration code to?

Since I can't get online on the laptop it won't be able to send me a registration code

 

[gregrocker]

No, click on the tiny link in the middle of this page - not the Downloads buttons which are ads. It says exactly this: Wireless_LAN_Ralink_3.0.2.0_W7x64W7x86_A.zip (7,71 Mb)

Rightclick Extract and then rightclick Setup to Run as Admin, or browse into the file from the Conceptronic device listing in Device Manager>Driver>Update Driver>Browse.

Nine out of ten of these drivers downloads pages are tricks to install driver finder crapware. This is the only one I see that looks legit.

If it fails keep working on the other paths.

 

[JohnnyScience]

No, click on the tiny link in the middle of this page - not the Downloads buttons which are ads. It says exactly this: Wireless_LAN_Ralink_3.0.2.0_W7x64W7x86_A.zip (7,71 Mb)

Nine out of ten of these drivers downloads pages are tricks to install driver finder crapware.

Ok that's installed now, tried to update drivers in device manager & search computer but it's still not pulling anything up?

How else can I force the computer to find the proper files? Try something in Run?

 

[gregrocker]

Locate the folder where driver installer unzipped the driver, rightclick .exe to Run as Admin. If this fails browse into the folder from Device Manager>Network adapter>Driver>Update Driver>Browse.

If you installed the driver, did it show wireless networks to connect to in the System tray?

What is shown when you left click on the connection icon in the System tray?

See if you can rightclick the icon to run Troubleshooter.

 

[JohnnyScience]

No networks are showing up, when I run trouble shooter it detects the wireless card but says there is a hardware issue.

I know for a fact the wireless works as it was working when I did the partition re-install so I know it at least works.

I'm so damn frustrated. All I wanted a laptop to do was connect wirelessly. I don't understand why every other driver installed & these didn't and are being such a pain in the ass.

What could I try next?

 

[gregrocker]

Are you going to post the Hardware ID strings as you said?

This is just a trial and error process now since Dell doesn't put the correct network drivers on the Downloads page, or it isn't being installed correctly.

Try the Vista driver at the top here: http://www.qxdownload.com/drvs-Conceptronic-802_2e11n-PC_2dCard-_28V1_29.html.

What changes in Dev Mgr when the chipset is installed? Reboot and check.

 

[JohnnyScience]

I thought I provided the hardware ID strings here? This is what I get when I follow the tutorial

Network adapters Conceptronic:

Under Vendor:

0x168C Atheros Communications Inc.

Under Device:

0x00000100 (256) {4D36E968-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318} 0x1002 ATI Technologies Inc. / Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
0x002B Riva TNT2 0x10DE NVIDIA Corporation
0x002b Winmodem built into NEC Versa VXi 0x115D Xircom
0x002B Atheros AR5B95 Wireless LAN 802.11 a/b/g/n Controller 0x168C Atheros Communications Inc.
0x168C PC/VEN_10EC&DEV_8168&SUBSYS_04021028&REV_03\4&16QA3B3A&0&00E5 0x168C Atheros Communications Inc.

What's the next step?

The ethernet:

Vendor:

0x10EC Realtek Semiconductor Corp

Device:

0x 8136 Realtek 171 High Definition Audio 0x10EC Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
0x8136 Realtek 10/100/1000 PCI-E NIC Family 0x10EC Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
0x 8136 Realtek 10/100/1000 PCI-E NIC Family 0x1179 Toshiba corporative
0x01179 pci communication device 0x1179 Toshiba corporative