Missing ethernet controller driver after reinstalling XP on Pavilion 775e

[groverxpup]

Here's the problem (short version): 

I reinstalled XP Home 32bit (clean install) on my old 775e CTO desktop.  Now I can't get online.  The problem seems to be that there is no ethernet controller driver installed.

In the driver downloads section for my PC model (HP Pavilion 775e CTO D7218X) there are audio and video drivers listed, but no ethernet.  I downloaded those drivers anyway, but no change.  According to my MoBo specs, it says that the ethernet/LAN supplier is Realtek 8201BL.  I can't seems to find this download anywhere.

Extra info (longer version):

When I went to "fire up" my old rig, I got a message saying there was "no OS installed/no bootdrive" detected (or something similar).  So I found another old IDE drive and did a clean install of XP Home.  I didn't try to use the HP recovery disks that came with my system because I didn't want the drivers for my ATI AIW card to be on my system AT ALL until I was ready to reinstall the card (right now the sys is using onboard graphics).   I wasn't sure if you could pick and choose which components of system recovery to reinstall, so I went with a clean install of the OS.

So could the problem be fixed if I could download the driver for Realtek 8201BL?  Or is it all tied to the fact that I didn't use the recovery disks?

Thanks for looking and I appreciate any help anyone can offer me!

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

Hi:

The secret to installing the network driver on that model is to install the nForce 2 chipset driver.

The problem is that driver is very hard to find anywhere anymore.

Fortunately, I have a NForce 2 chipset driver file which you can download from my Skydrive folder at the link below.

Download and install the NForce 5.10 file from my library.

[mdklassen]

> Or is it all tied to the fact that I didn't use the recovery disks?

Probably.

If you access http://support.dell.com and enter your DST (Dell Service Tag), and select 'Windows XP', you should be able to find a downloadable device-driver for either the "chipset" or the network adapter. Dell is usually quite good at posting those drivers, so that one can use a "standard" Windows XP disk, and then add-in the drivers that are specific to the Dell.

Easiest "bypass" is to find another network-card, and insert it into the computer, and hope that Windows XP will automatically recognize this card, and load its device-drivers. Connect your Ethernet cable to this card, and you'll get Internet access. Then, use Windows Update to try a search for the device-driver for the "built-in" network adapter.

If you don't want to install any device-drivers for your ATI graphics-card, it's best to physically remove it, before starting to reload Windows -- the "system restore" usually works best when _only_ the "original" hardware is connected (no add-in cards, no other USB printers/scanners/memory-sticks) -- just keyboard & video & mouse.

[mdklassen]

See: http://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c00006476

for the motherboard specifications.

Starting from there, finding the correct "chipset" device-driver might be possible.

[groverxpup]

It worked, thanks sooo much!

[groverxpup]

I actually solved the problem (thanks to Paul_Tikkanen). I had to install the Nforce2 chipset driver which is hard to find online. Thanks for your suggestions though. And FYI, my ATI card is not currently installed and wasn't installed when I reinstalled XP. I did that on purpose so that I could install it and the drivers "from scratch." Also, My PC is HP and not Dell! I Couldn't find what I needed on the HP site for my product (that driver isn't listed).

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.