- Dec 23, 2005
- 5
- 0
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I am hoping to get some help for what (to me) has been a very frustrating experience. I am not sure what details are relevant so I will err on the side of giving too much info.
I have a Dell 8250 running XP home that was unable to obtain the automatic windows updates from Microsoft. When I would try, the browser window would say done, but the screen was blank.
At the same time, my hard drive was 90% full. I thought I could kill 2 birds with one stone (and justify a new HD to my wife) by getting a new HD, installing XP on it, and resolve my problem.
Well, little did I know, my problems were only just beginning...
I formatted the HD and then installed XP service pack 1 (the old drive was disconnected). I then installed some drivers from the CD that came with the computer. When I look in the control panel, it said the network cable was unplugged (it was plugged in). Thinking maybe the cabling was to blame, I disconnected the router and used a cable testing tool to make sure all was well. I also connected my notebook to the same cable with no problems.
I thought, that maybe I could switch HDs (to my old drive) and go online for help (and eventually use my older, slower HD as the slave. No go. The old drive no longer connected to the internet either. It also said that the cable was not connected.
Well, I though maybe the NIC was bad. I went to the store and got a new one. Once it was installed, it too said the cable was not plugged in (XP did recognize the new card). As such, I blieve it is not the NIC.
My only other thought is that I messed up when originally installing the new HD/XP/drivers. I thought I could do a new install of XP and solve the problem. When I was going through the set-up process, it said that it could not establish a network connection.
At this point, I do not know what to do and would appreciate any help. Obviously, I have the will, but not the know how and am trying to salvage the situation (wife is ready to say "I told you that you shouldn't have tried to install the new HD") and I am hoping to save some face. Again, any help/thouhgts/ suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks!!
I have a Dell 8250 running XP home that was unable to obtain the automatic windows updates from Microsoft. When I would try, the browser window would say done, but the screen was blank.
At the same time, my hard drive was 90% full. I thought I could kill 2 birds with one stone (and justify a new HD to my wife) by getting a new HD, installing XP on it, and resolve my problem.
Well, little did I know, my problems were only just beginning...
I formatted the HD and then installed XP service pack 1 (the old drive was disconnected). I then installed some drivers from the CD that came with the computer. When I look in the control panel, it said the network cable was unplugged (it was plugged in). Thinking maybe the cabling was to blame, I disconnected the router and used a cable testing tool to make sure all was well. I also connected my notebook to the same cable with no problems.
I thought, that maybe I could switch HDs (to my old drive) and go online for help (and eventually use my older, slower HD as the slave. No go. The old drive no longer connected to the internet either. It also said that the cable was not connected.
Well, I though maybe the NIC was bad. I went to the store and got a new one. Once it was installed, it too said the cable was not plugged in (XP did recognize the new card). As such, I blieve it is not the NIC.
My only other thought is that I messed up when originally installing the new HD/XP/drivers. I thought I could do a new install of XP and solve the problem. When I was going through the set-up process, it said that it could not establish a network connection.
At this point, I do not know what to do and would appreciate any help. Obviously, I have the will, but not the know how and am trying to salvage the situation (wife is ready to say "I told you that you shouldn't have tried to install the new HD") and I am hoping to save some face. Again, any help/thouhgts/ suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks!!