Reinstalled Windows and no internet...

buz · Jan 6, 2012

So, shit happened, computer crashed, had to reinstall Windows.

After that, I installed all the drivers and whatnot that are on the disc that came with the computer.

No internet.

I searched around online, and it occurred to me I might have installed the drivers in the wrong "order". So I tried doing it "in order" except...there's nothing that says "system software" and I don't know what the hell that means (which is what you're supposed to install first), unless that means Windows...anyway...I did the rest of it in order...still nothing. Doesn't pick up on the wireless connection. No idea what to do now...uuurghhaa. Do I have to somehow uninstall all the drivers and then try doing it "in order" again?

Computer problems make me sad.

lordzapharos · Jan 6, 2012

Hey, I actually work as an IT, so maybe I can help.

Are you working with Windows 7? Laptop, desktop? Type/distributor (Dell Alienware M15x, etc.)?

Are you having trouble connecting to a specific network, or are there "no connections available?"

Are you trying to access a network you have purchased, or are you trying to access a network in a public area?

General Advice (assuming Windows 7):

If you are using a wired connection (i.e. you have an ethernet cable plugged in your computer), something's wrong with your modem or internet service provider (ISP).
If you are using a wireless connection and you have "no connections available," it is possible you are either (1) missing the driver for your wireless chip, (2) the driver needs to be updated, or (3) the wireless chip is turned off. To check if the chip is enabled, go to the Network and Sharing Center, click on "Change Adapter Settings" (left pane), and right-click on the Wireless Network Connection icon. If you have the option to "Enable," click it and the chip will turn on.
If you cannot connect wirelessly to a network you have purchased, you may need to reboot your router or reconfigure it.

When you reinstall Windows, you generally have to set up your internet just like you did when you first bought the computer. The order in which you install drivers generally does not matter (and they're usually installed automatically, anyways...).

And yes, "System Software" would likely refer to the Windows OS itself.

buz · Jan 6, 2012

Hello. Thanks for responding.

This is a little Dell netbook (Inspiron 1012) running Windows 7.

The internet I'm trying to connect to is home internet; I'm using it now on another computer and it's in good shape. Netbook cannot find any connections; there is no response whatsoever from the wireless chip/adapter/whatever it is that is supposed to detect networks.

When I click 'change adapter settings' nothing comes up (a no items match your search kind of thing). When checking the boot options on startup, it said the wireless was enabled.

I'm assuming that I have somehow not installed the driver for it. I've installed everything on the disc that had the drivers and 'backup applications', and tried to search for other ones online, including on the Dell website, but nothing has elicited a response...currently I'm thinking I'll keep trying out drivers on the internet until I get sick to death of it and buy a new netbook. But it would be cool if I didn't have to do that since I really need to finish getting my teeth drilled and fix my car and and and...

Charles Farley · Jan 6, 2012

well . . for a simple start check your device manager.

Go to control panel from the start menu

Change the view by to small icons

run device manager

open network cards with the arrow

look for any question/exclamation mark,

buz · Jan 6, 2012

Okay...under network controller it says the drivers are not installed for the device. However it doesn't say what the device is, exactly...which has left me with some problems as to what driver to search for...

I'm sorry for being computer-dumb, thank you for responding

Charles Farley · Jan 6, 2012

Right click and let windows search

use the let windows use internet to search option . .

buz · Jan 6, 2012

The offending driver is the driver for the internet. No internet, no update.

No search.

(I'm using the internet now on a different computer)

Charles Farley · Jan 6, 2012

Right.

Windows should have the driver needed if you let windows pick

buz · Jan 6, 2012

It doesn't...tells me it can't find the driver.

It might be pertinent to mention that the computer did not come with a reinstallation disc for Windows; I had to go buy one...so...this ain't the Windows it came with. It did come with the drivers, though (or so the disc says) and I have attempted to install those...

Charles Farley · Jan 6, 2012

ok use the properties option .. it will tell you what is up

buz · Jan 6, 2012

Under properties:

Device type: Other devices
Manufacturer: Unknown
Location: PCI bus 7, device 0, function 0
Device status: The drivers for this device are not installed

Driver Provider: Unknown
Driver Date: Not available
Driver Version: Not available

Value: Network controller

Resource settings: This device isn't using any resources because it has a problem.

Charles Farley · Jan 6, 2012

What other network cards are in the device manager?

The ones that came with the dell?

buz · Jan 6, 2012

In the device manager, the only other things with "network" in the name are bluetooth devices, which are apparently functional.

Is there supposed to be something there that isn't...?

PEBKAC2 · Jan 6, 2012

I would go to the dell site using your other machine, search for the network drivers for your netbook, put them on a thumb drive or burn them to cd/dvd, and then try installing them on your netbook.

Deleted member 42 · Jan 6, 2012

Don't laugh--have you done a complete restart and then tried?

<seriously, a Total Restart is the deep secret of tech support>

Kateness · Jan 6, 2012

Medievalist said:
Don't laugh--have you done a complete restart and then tried?

<seriously, a Total Restart is the deep secret of tech support>

Trufax: Tech moron that I am, if restarting doesn't fix it, I am helpless.

Restarting is supposed to fix all problems. Regardless of what shit I did to cause it.

Charles Farley · Jan 6, 2012

You can go into your registry and enable the device by changing the values from 0 to 1 .. but that takes another set of steps . . are you cool with that?

lordzapharos · Jan 6, 2012

Yep, sounds like you just grabbed the wrong reinstall disc, and it doesn't have any of the pertinent drivers for your specific build, just the raw OS.

Go to http://www.dell.com/support/drivers/ (the Dell driver page), navigate to your product (Inspiron Mini 1012, Windows 32-bit), and download R228532.exe -- it's the driver for your wireless card and is around 73 Mb. Put it on a flash drive, install it on your machine, and that should fix the internet issues.

You may also want to download and install all of the other drivers, just to be safe -- you might be missing some others as well.

By the way, stay out of the registry unless you know exactly what you're doing. From the way you described it, the device is enabled anyways; it's just the driver that's missing, so editing the registry wouldn't accomplish anything.

Keep us notified!

Charles Farley · Jan 7, 2012

Zapharos, you got all that information from unknown device?

Charles Farley · Jan 7, 2012

lordzapharos said:
Yep, sounds like you just grabbed the wrong reinstall disc, and it doesn't have any of the pertinent drivers for your specific build, just the raw OS.

The reinstall disk has the drivers for the specific hardware it comes with. Unless Dell forgot this.

The drivers for the raw(as you put it) OS come on the windows install disk not the driver install disk.

backslashbaby · Jan 7, 2012

Charles Farley said:
The reinstall disk has the drivers for the specific hardware it comes with. Unless Dell forgot this.

The drivers for the raw(as you put it) OS come on the windows install disk not the driver install disk.

Ahem

:

buzhidao said:
It doesn't...tells me it can't find the driver.

It might be pertinent to mention that the computer did not come with a reinstallation disc for Windows; I had to go buy one...so...this ain't the Windows it came with. It did come with the drivers, though (or so the disc says) and I have attempted to install those...

Charles Farley · Jan 7, 2012

Proves my point . . thanks.

Buz .. is the comp you purchased new or second hand?

lordzapharos · Jan 7, 2012

Charles Farley said:
Zapharos, you got all that information from unknown device?

Yes, the problem is with the Wireless Card specifically, although the other wireless drivers might also be required. The Wireless WLAN 1397 Half Minicard (4312bg) comes standard on all Inspiron Mini 1012 laptops (the entire Mini series, actually, if I'm not mistaken), so unless buzhidao bought a custom build, that's the wireless device he is using.

Charles Farley said:
The reinstall disk has the drivers for the specific hardware it comes with. Unless Dell forgot this.

The drivers for the raw(as you put it) OS come on the windows install disk not the driver install disk.

I stand corrected. My Alienware bundled it all together.

Torgo · Jan 7, 2012

Have you got an enabled Ethernet connection? You could connect the laptop directly to the router with an Ethernet cable (should be a squarish port round the back about 1cm on each side) and then ask Windows to search for the driver online from the Device Manager. It's worth a go.

Charles Farley · Jan 7, 2012

lordzapharos said:
I stand corrected. My Alienware bundled it all together.

Because second hand dealers always follow the rules . .. right

Reinstalled Windows and no internet...

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Deleted member 42

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