Question For You Computer Geeks...

[Chief Rum]

Hey all,

I recently had to make the drastic decision to wipe my main hard drive and re-install Windows because of a nasty spyware attack. The computer seems to be just fien and running virus and spyware-free now, which was the goal, of course.

The problem is, I had to erase a lot of drivers and other programs that make some of my hardware go, and I am having trouble getting on the Internet via my broadband connection. I don't have a landline, so it's broadband or zilch.

My network card is one I get a couple computers ago and had moved to my current machine, and I don't think I have the origianl software anymore. And I can't find any drivers on my disks to run my USB or Ethernet ports (which is where my cable modem hooks up to the computer).

It's a Catch-22, where I could get this stuff if I could get online with the machine and download it. But I need the stuff to get online.

Any recommendations on the best course of action? Thanks.

[TroyF]

Hey all,

I recently had to make the drastic decision to wipe my main hard drive and re-install Windows because of a nasty spyware attack. The computer seems to be just fien and running virus and spyware-free now, which was the goal, of course.

The problem is, I had to erase a lot of drivers and other programs that make some of my hardware go, and I am having trouble getting on the Internet via my broadband connection. I don't have a landline, so it's broadband or zilch.

My network card is one I get a couple computers ago and had moved to my current machine, and I don't think I have the origianl software anymore. And I can't find any drivers on my disks to run my USB or Ethernet ports (which is where my cable modem hooks up to the computer).

It's a Catch-22, where I could get this stuff if I could get online with the machine and download it. But I need the stuff to get online.

Any recommendations on the best course of action? Thanks.

If you have access to a computer from work or a friend, you can download the drivers to a thumb drive and install them that way. Without dial up or any other way to get on the net, I think that's about your only option. (the windows default drivers have been horrible for me on networks)

The other option is a new network card. (should run you in the $25 to $50 range)

[Chief Rum]

If you have access to a computer from work or a friend, you can download the drivers to a thumb drive and install them that way. Without dial up or any other way to get on the net, I think that's about your only option. (the windows default drivers have been horrible for me on networks)

The other option is a new network card. (should run you in the $25 to $50 range)

I was wondering if I might have to do that (get a new network card). It would be a pain, as I was hoping to limit spending, considering the current card is perfectly fine (just no drivers). If that's what I have to do, I'll do it, but hopefully not.

I figured the drivers would be too large to be moved by a floppy (yes, I still have the drive). Is that true? Because a thumb drive with a standard USB connection would not work for the same reason my cable modem won't connect--no driver for the USB connection.

[johnnyshaka]

Do you have access to a burner on another computer?

Most NIC drivers...especially ones as old as your NIC appears to be...would fit on a floppy...so that's an option.

[MizzouRah]

NIC drivers are usually much bigger than you think. Heck, the ones for the Dell pc's at work are like 7 MB.

Nothing fits on a floppy anymore. :)

I would get them from a friend, have him/her download them for you rather than pay for a new card.

[Antmeister]

Well since you are on the internet now, why don't you download the drivers for the card (if you at least know the model number). If you don't, you could try downloading the service pack 2 (which may have the drivers you are looking for):
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=049C9DBE-3B8E-4F30-8245-9E368D3CDB5A&displaylang=en

[Daimyo]

What OS are you running??? Every version of Windows from 98 SE on has had native USB drivers and should support a thumbdrive with no problem or additional software needed.

[Antmeister]

What OS are you running??? Every version of Windows from 98 SE on has had native USB drivers and should support a thumbdrive with no problem or additional software needed.

Damn....never thought about which operating system he is using. That could be why some of the drivers aren't recognized in the first place.

[Chief Rum]

I am using XP Home.

You see, that's what threw me. I know all the newest OS's have their basic drivers for most common hardware equipment, and that's what i figured to use to get online and then download the proper drivers. But if they exist on XP, I haven't found them. XP itself certainly didn't link any drivers to the hardware, and I haven't had any luck finding them (assuming they exist).

[TroyF]

I'm stunned the USB drivers don't work with the original install. That's shocking to me. (as I can see it is above to Ant)

Without the USB devices working, the only way to do it would be to burn a CD from your friends computer, then bring it back to yours and install it from there.

[Chief Rum]

In the installation process, wouldn't these drivers automatically be set as defaults by Windows, until other drivers were put in their place (such as by the "Update Drivers" button under Properties)? Can you think of any reason why they wouldn't be set that way autoamtically? I had no issues whatsoever during installation, which seemed to progress normally.

Also, is there a particular sub folder where these drivers are stored? Perhaps I can find them and load them up myself.

[bhlloy]

I'm with Ant & Troy. I can't imagine a scenario where USB doesn't work with XP out of the box. It just shouldn't be possible. Possibly the hardware is disabled in the BIOS or the BIOS was damaged by a virus to the point where peripherals aren't being picked up properly?

When you go into Device manager, do you see anything related to USB at all?

[Chief Rum]

I'm with Ant & Troy. I can't imagine a scenario where USB doesn't work with XP out of the box. It just shouldn't be possible. Possibly the hardware is disabled in the BIOS or the BIOS was damaged by a virus to the point where peripherals aren't being picked up properly?

When you go into Device manager, do you see anything related to USB at all?

Yeah, it's in there, right below the Network Adapter. Both Ethernet and USB are there, but there are big yellow question marks by them. I was told by the Time Warner tech I talked to that that means that those features aren't working. Right clicking confirmed that they didn't seem to have driviers.

[bhlloy]

If you try to update drivers, and click "Have disk" and direct it to the XP installation CD what happens?

[johnnyshaka]

XP may have not been able to correctly identify his mobo or some of its components and therefore could result in USB not working.

[Antmeister]

Yeah, it's in there, right below the Network Adapter. Both Ethernet and USB are there, but there are big yellow question marks by them. I was told by the Time Warner tech I talked to that that means that those features aren't working. Right clicking confirmed that they didn't seem to have driviers.

Huh....odd. Delete those and restart and see if it recognizes them this time. If not, download Service Pack 2 as I mentioned earlier. The only other thing I could think of is that you may have an older version of Windows XP (without both of the service packs) and you network and usb card is possibly not recognizing them.

I ran into a similar problem, but my problem was that I couldn't set up my wireless network, since the option was not available in the control panel before the service packs. After installing the service pack, it was able to recognize it and install the appropriate drivers. So just give it a try.

[daedalus]

What OS are you running??? Every version of Windows from 98 SE on has had native USB drivers and should support a thumbdrive with no problem or additional software needed.My USB drive did not work on 98 SE without installing the driver for it. XP, on the other hand, did.