How do I setup internet on new hard drive?

I replaced the harddrive in my gateway laptop and I used the recovery disc to install windows xp on there.

Usually when I used the recovery disc with my preinstalled harddrive, it came with other programs and installers.

When I used the recovery disc for the new hard drive, only certain programs showed, is this normal, there were no AOL or other programs? Is this right?

My main issue is trying to connect to the internet? I'm not sure if I'm suppose to download drivers, but can someone help me setup the internet connection, I don't know what to do and I'm really confused. Please help. I'm typing this from my other laptop and I really need to get the gateway laptop fixed. Please help.

 

A few too many variables to help you at this point.

What type of internet service? (DSL/Cable/Dial up)
Who's the provider? (AT&T/Comcast/Charter/Verizon)
Wired or wireless?

 

I'm going to guess that your LAN and Wireless adaptor drivers need to be installed at this point.

You shouldn't need AOL or anything like that - just click on IE and see if you can connect to the internet when you have an ethernet cable plugged in (to your router, of course).

If you do need these drivers, then use the internet to download them and transfer them and install them to the rebuilt computer.

Good luck.

 

thanks for your advice guys. I tried using the ethernet cable, but there is no connection? I have no clue now, do i need to download the driver. I have another laptop where I can download the drivers?

I don't which one is right though. I downloaded gateway from the website,
link is here: Gateway Support Drivers & Downloads

but most of them said drivers already there overwrite?

 

vgnbookhelp,

what is the exact model of your Gateway notebook?

 

my gateway model number is MX6958

 

For that model...

Intel ProSet Wireless Driver for XP
Marvell Ethernet Driver for XP

And the main download page for all drivers.

 

Since it's a fresh install, I'd suggest downloading all the drivers to a flash drive, as well Service Pack 3 if necessary and installing those all before connecting to the internet. The first thing you do after that is get the remaining Windows Updates.

Download details: Windows XP Service Pack 3 Network Installation Package for IT Professionals and Developers

 

woofer00,

good point! +rep...

Another point to keep in mind: if your internet is over cable (vs. DSL lines) then DO NOT CONNECT to the internet until you have an A/V program installed - with the sharing/networked protocol that cable uses - any virus on any other persons computer in your neighborhood is instantly on yours - as soon as you plug in your ethernet cable (or you enable your wireless).

 

I think I'm doing the install wrong. I downloaded the drivers, but when I unzip it says overwrite and I click yes for all of it. But there is still no internet connection, and when I connect the ethernet cable to the laptop, there's still nothing. The service pack 3 installed, and it asked to go to the internet to install additional devices, but when the ethernet cable was attached, nothing happened.

Can someone give me a step to step on how to do this?

 

vgnbookhelp,

When you run these zipped files all that happens is that they get unzipped to:

C:\cabs\D00516-002-001

You need to go to device manager, double click on the hardware you want to install a driver for and choose update driver. Then, choose the options that will let you point to the directory above.

Good luck.

The point here is that 'running' the exe you downloaded does not install the drivers for you - it simply unzips them and you have to manually update each device so that it is using the proper drivers.

BTW, the example I'm using here should be the LAN network driver - not the wireless.

Again; wish you all the best sorting this out.

 

I think we all skipped a very early troubleshooting step - did you try a different ethernet cable? Can you check to make sure the connection is live with another computer?

 

the computer I'm typing from now is using the same internet connection and it works.

tilleroftheearth has it right I believe with his post.

I have a problem installing the drivers, because well I don't know which device goes with which device installed on the laptop, and also, when I try to update and find the folder to install, im just doing trial and error for now, but so far i haven't been able to install anything yet.

i know this is a pain, but can anyone give me specific step by step info on how to locate and update the driver?

 

I don't have an XP system to play with right now, but try this:

In Device Manager, select one of the devices with the yellow exclamations and double click it.

Select Update Drivers.

Select From Specific Location

Either browse or type in C:\cabs

Make sure the search subfolders option is selected.

If it doesn't find anything for that particular device - no problem - just try another device with the yellow exclamation mark and see if it will install those drivers.

Just remember that I'm just guiding you (very roughly) to what you want to be doing. The actual dialogues may not be worded exactly as I'm describing, but try to get the gist of my message into your mouse clicks.

Basically, you will simply point all your uninstalled devices to C:\cabs and if there is any drivers in that folder that match your hardware, they will be installed.

Why did I choose the C:\cabs file path? I didn't - the drivers linked in a previous post unzip to that path by default.

Good luck.

 

Gateway Support Drivers & Downloads

So i found the drivers here and i figured out how to run them, but i can't find the ethernet controller or the modem audio sync?

Can you identify which one of the downloads contain these?

 

The ethernet controller is on reply #7 on page 1.

However, you may not have the Marvell controller - so simply try another one from this site (and be sure it is for XP not Vista).

See:
Gateway Support Drivers & Downloads


Glad you figured out how to install/update the drivers!

Oh! Another possibility is if you have the wireless working (and you can now connect to the internet), then you may want to click Update Drivers and allow it to search on Windows Update for the drivers that the above link doesn't provide.

 

I was able to install everything I believe. Thanks so much for your help, this is such a relief.

Does it matter the order in which I install? Will it affect laptop use later? I got the internet and was able to download drivers from windows update? Is that fine?

 

The Windows Update updates should be good enough - especially if you didn't get any specific drivers from the manufacturers website.

The order of drivers does matter, but as long as the computer is fully functional now, I wouldn't worry that it should be an issue in the future for you.

Now, all you need to do is install your programs and data that you use regularly.

Cheers!