Laptop Ethernet not working

TheDL

Member
Dec 27, 2006
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Hello,
I just just recently got a used gateway t-1620. It had vista preinstalled but I figured the performance wasn't too great so I downgraded to xp. Problem was that I needed to find and install all the drivers for xp, and I did so. But the one driver I couldn't get to work was the one for wired ethernet (I got the wireless ethernet one to work, unfortunately my home doesn't have a wireless network).

Thanks.
 

Fardringle

Diamond Member
Oct 23, 2000
9,200
765
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The system specs say that the ethernet adapter is a Realtek RTL8139. You can get the driver directly from Realtek here. Either use the "WinXP (WinServer 2003) Driver" option for just the driver files, or the "Auto installation program" option for an automated installer.
 

TheDL

Member
Dec 27, 2006
64
0
0
Well I got the driver but I'm not entirely sure if it works or not. I have an ethernet cable plugged in yet on the bottom of my screen it says "network cable unplugged". I tried using a different cable but that didn't help, I also tried disabling the wifi ethernet. Nothing I did would register that a cable was plugged in, and I'm pretty sure both ends were plugged, modem was on, etc.

EDIT: Also I noticed my driver isn't the listed one that I downloaded and installed. It lists it as 5.712 from 2008 whereas on the website it says the driver should be 5.719 and a 2009 version. I tried uninstalling and reinstalling using both the auto install and manual driver links, but after it's done, it's still listed as the 5.712 version.
 

pcgeek11

Lifer
Jun 12, 2005
22,380
4,999
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Originally posted by: TheDL
Well I got the driver but I'm not entirely sure if it works or not. I have an ethernet cable plugged in yet on the bottom of my screen it says "network cable unplugged". I tried using a different cable but that didn't help, I also tried disabling the wifi ethernet. Nothing I did would register that a cable was plugged in, and I'm pretty sure both ends were plugged, modem was on, etc.

EDIT: Also I noticed my driver isn't the listed one that I downloaded and installed. It lists it as 5.712 from 2008 whereas on the website it says the driver should be 5.719 and a 2009 version. I tried uninstalling and reinstalling using both the auto install and manual driver links, but after it's done, it's still listed as the 5.712 version.

It looks like the system is seeing the NIC but when it says that the cable is unplugged ( when it is plugged in ) is usually indicative of a dead NIC.

You could add in a PCMCIA or Express Card NIC.

pcgeek11