Dell Inspiron 8100 Network Card

[xwb]

I inherited a Dell Inspiron 8100. I had to add memory to it (it came with the wrong memory chip). Everything works fine except for the network. The OS doesn't see the network at all.

The base has screws marked P, M/K and K. I took off the one marked M to replace the memory.

Even if I open it up, I don't really know what to look for to find out what the network problem is. Any ideas what I should be looking for?

 

[G0AOZ]

I'd have expected the network adaptor to be in-built onto the motherboard, so you'll not see anything removable relating to it.

Check in the BIOS to see if there's anything that relates to enabling or disabling the LAN function.

When you say "The OS doesn't see the network at all", I assume you've looked in Device Manager to check for devices not currently provided with a driver?

You could try resetting the BIOS back to defaults, but failing that, maybe add a PCMCIA network adaptor to get on the LAN.

ROGER - G0AOZ.

 

[goombawaho]

^^^^ He means PCI network card, not PCMCIA.

There should be a BIOS setting called Onboard LAN (or similar) with a setting either Enabled/Disabled.

 

[G0AOZ]

Well I said PCMCIA because I thought this was a laptop...?

ROGER - G0AOZ.

 

[wahnula]

If it's yellow-! in the Device Manager then enter your Service Tag into the Dell site and try to re-load the driver. If it's an aftermarket add-in card (my Inspiron 4000 had an add-in modem/NIC combo card from eBay, never could find the right LAN driver) you might not be able to find drivers. The card is a mini-PCI and plugs in under one of the removable panels, at least it did on the c. 2001 Inspiron 4000.

One of my all-time favorite devices is my Linksys USB 100-TX USB-to-LAN adapter. It not only works great for getting drivers after clean installs (XP SP2 has the driver built-in) but makes a darn good full-time LAN connector. You are limited to the speed of the USB bus, but it's better than nothing.

Tony

Users helping Users...

 

[goombawaho]

My bad!!!!!! I swear I read that as Dimension 8100. I should put my glassed on apparently. So, a laptop it is.

 

[xwb]

Yes it is a laptop. The BIOS says the network is switched on but neither W2k nor WXP seem to be detecting it. I tried a PCMCIA wireless card - that seems to work OK but I'd prefer to get the onboard network going if that is possible.

One of the removable panels has slots for plugging something in but nothing in there. Presumably that is what you're talking about. Looks like I don't have a network or a modem.

There is no yellow !. It detects a 1394 network but that's about it.

I'll have a look in my local store - see if I can find a 1394 cable.

 

[G0AOZ]

Couldn't immediately see the manufacturer's blurb on this model. However, if the BIOS mentions the network and the machine has a "populated" RJ45 socket, then chances are it really has got that device on board! Maybe it's been killed stone dead after lightning previously hit the LAN or something...

ROGER - G0AOZ.

 

[xwb]

I've just downloaded the manual - the removable slot thing is a mini PCI slot so that's probably not it.

Looks like the network/modem bit has been fried.

Thanks for your help - I guess I'll have to live with a PCMCIA wireless card.

 

[goombawaho]

If it has a mini PCI slot, you can purchase a new card to go in there - even a wireless card if you want to.

 

[xwb]

Problem with mini-PCI wireless card - I have to find another laptop with a mini-PCI slot if I wish to reuse it when I junk the laptop.

With a Cardbus card, I can just slot it into another laptop. This is the only laptop I've seen with a mini-PCI card. I think I'll stick with the Cardbus wireless.

Terminology wise is PCMCIA 16 bit and Cardbus 32 bit or does PCMCIA cover both 16 and 32 bit?