Drivers needed

[Thisishardwork]

For the last few years I've been using my trusty Pavilion a6330f with a wireless network card. Now, however, I need the slot that is taking up so figured I'd remove it and hook back up to the cable internet. Unfortunately, while the lights on the back a flashing green and orange like they're supposed to, I cannot get connected to the internet.

I have tried connecting the internet cable directly to the modem and tried through the wireless router also but neither is providing internet access to my PC.

The little icon is showing on the task bar with the red circle/white x in it. I figure it may be drivers that are needed but I cannot seem to find them on the HP website.

Can anyone tell where I can get drivers for the LAN card from, please? Somewhere trustworthy?

Thanks.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

There are no W8/8.1 drivers for the ethernet controller your PC has.

If the ethernet adapter needs a driver, there will be a device in the device manager labeled as an Ethernet Controller, and it will have a little ! mark next to it.

You can purchase an external USB to RJ-45 ethernet adapter.

Something like this...

https://www.amazon.com/UGREEN-Ethernet-Adapter-Nintendo-Chromebook/dp/B00MYT481C/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?hva...

You can try the W7 Nvidia chipset driver which installs the ethernet controller driver if there is an ethernet controller device in the device manager with the little ! mark next to it.

https://www.nvidia.com/Download/driverResults.aspx/14875/en-us

[Thisishardwork]

Hi Paul,

Thanks for the reply. I have one of those little gadgets somewhere. I must find it.

As for the Win7 drivers, I'd prefer to use those but I am not finding anything in device manager for the LAN card. It's only showing my now removed wireless card with a ! mark next to it.

Would it work if I installed the drivers anyway? Maybe it will then pop up in device manager?

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

Does the ethernet adapter show up under the Network Adapters device manager category as installed and working properly?

If not, the drivers probably aren't going to get it to show up, but I suppose you have nothing to lose by trying it.

[Thisishardwork]

Hi Paul,

The onboard ethernet connector does not show up in device manager.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

That explains why it isn't working then.

I don't think the driver will make it show up again.

Usually that happens if the PC suffered an electrical surge from a lighting strike or similar occurrence.

[Thisishardwork]

So my choices are using that gadget if I can find it or buying a LAN card that works in a PCI slot - as I have no PCIE slots available?

[Paul_Tikkanen]

That is correct.

Since you have a free PCI slot, I think you can still buy PCI ethernet adapters.  That might be a better way to go.

[Thisishardwork]

Hi Paul,

Yeah I found this one

https://www.amazon.com/Jeirdus-RTL8139D-Ethernet-Network-Adapter/dp/B07CNS7X1N/ref=nav_ya_signin?key...

I think that's PCI and not PCIE.

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

Hi:

Yes, it is PCI, but I don't see that it supports W8.1 or W10.

You may want to go with this one...plus it is gigabit. 

Doesn't state that it has support for W8.1 or W10, but reviewers said it does.

https://www.amazon.com/StarTech-com-Gigabit-Ethernet-Network-ST1000BT32/dp/B0000TO0BQ/ref=sr_1_3?cri...

It appears to be based on a Realtek ethernet chip so you can get the W8.1 driver for it at the link below.

Download, unzip and run the setup application from the W8/W8.1 driver file...

https://www.realtek.com/en/component/zoo/category/network-interface-controllers-10-100-1000m-gigabit...