Got everything cleared now, downloaded all the drivers from the NEC Site

BUT, the Ethernet Controller won't load ... I can't see how to launch the WiFi either???

Really confused on this wireless internet thing ..... ??

Sound is on, display is good .... I've forgotten how to get back to classic view The sim[plest things have me stumped

But it's working - I'm pretty pleased with myself

It will earn its keep in the hot CourtRoom as the judge laughs at the flashing bright green pixels and looks at Currys Solicitor crying in the corner

 

Right click on the taskbar, select properties, then start menu, then classic start menu

WiFi is usually launched from the system tray on the right hand side of the task bar, when it detects wireless networks it usually says Wireless Network in range, alternatively, click on start, connect to, wireless networks

 

I'll look again in the fresh light of day tomorrow

Goodnight ................

 

OH, I forgot ......

When my desktop crashed 18 months ago I restored it using the restore disc - reloaded XP ... it went very smoothly, but I lost all my data and stuff.

This laptop is telling me to contact MS to get a code which I need to type in, or the thing stops working after 60 days - didn't do this with my desktop???

Do I need to contact MS to authorise the XP and which Product Key do I use, the one on the laptop or the one with the downloaded XP? I had a look and it seems a long different number I need to give them (ie, not the product key but another generated number?).

Bloody MS!!!!

 

Its just the Windows Activation

You can either do it once you have internet connection on the Laptop, or you can phone the Microsoft Activation centre, its all automated, just follow the prompts and type in the sequence of numbers and characters, and when you have entered them all in on the phone, they will read back a set of characters that you type in on the screen

Some XP discs dont require activation, but most do

 

OK

 

Cheers, now in Classic View - much better

The WiFi thing is confusing me a lot.

I have no icon, it doesn't come up with wireless network anywhere.

I do seem to have a problem with my Ethernet Controller in Device Manager - with a yellow ? mark.

Have searched for drivers/help ..... can't seem to find a solution. The NEC Website gives a load of drivers for this LapTop, which I have burned onto disc and transferred to the LapTop.

Pretty much stuck at the moment, I have a LapTop which will do everything except detect and connect to the Internet ... which isn't too bad I guess - for free?

 

It could be the wireless network card drivers that are missing

You will need to know which make of Wireless adpater is in the Laptop

Usually, Intel or Broadcom in older laptops, one way to find out is underneath the laptop there is usually a cover you can remove which will have the wireless card in, as they can usually be replaced

 

Taken some covers off the LapTop .... one house the memory and another the HD .... cannot see anything else easy to get to?

This is the Spec of the LapTop, would this point you to what drivers I would need to get the WiFi working?

NEC i-Select M5410 Specifications

 

Link to the wireless drivers, if you havent got them already,

NEC Computers - Technical Support

and then;

1. Make sure that the Wireless LAN feature is enabled. ( you may need to toggle the wireless lan on or off from a Function key if the above driver works)
2. Locate in the notification area of the taskbar the Wireless Connection icon (identical to the Local Area Network icon), and right-click on it.
3. Click on View Available Wireless Networks; the Connect to Wireless Network window opens.
4. Select the available network of your choice, and click on Connect.

 

Thanks bioforger - I downloaded that ...... ran the set-up ...... it says "No matching driver has been found for your adaptor or no adaptor is installed" I opted to continue with the installation, but nothing seemed to happen??

Confused, but found this - any good?

Ekahau Product Download

 

It might be that the card is indeed missing or fecked then, it should look like the below, I have no idea where it is though, without seeing the lappy;

 

That Ekahau app doesnt support the intel wireless card (if u have one) so useless. If all else fails you will need a wireless PCMCIA card or USB dongle. Or even pay for your own broadband

 

Cheers mate .... the info I had was that the WiFi was working until it went into 'recovery' mode.

We all assumed that the HD had been damaged, or the old owner had got a virus, could it have been that the WiFi went wrong and that caused the problems he was having which made him dump it in the bin?

Under one of the covers I have the memory on one side of a bar - and, something else on the other (doesn't look like that photo on the side I can see though?)

Should I be establishing a wireless connection before the unit will 'search' for a WiFi? ie. is there something software wise I should be setting up?

ps. I DO pay for my own Broadband you cheeky oik My neighbour has said I can use his if the laptop locates it (but he doesn't leave it on)

 

If he lost his internet connection maybe he mistook this for a HD failure over a wireless card failure, then possibly.

No. The wireless adapter needs to be functioning before XP can even start looking for a wireless net. And all you should have to do is install the driver which will then give you access to the wireless connection icon in the systray.

Things to check.

1. Make sure the function key for enabling/disabling doesnt make any difference.
2. On bootup go into the bios, see if there is anything to disable the wireless LAN in there to.

However I suspect it isn't working anymore.

 

So, I have installed that driver you pointed to above, but nothing.

What does "No matching driver has been found for your adaptor or no adaptor is installed" mean? I know what no adaptor installed means .... but whats the matching driver mean?

 

I'm just doing a battery refresh from the Set-Up BIOS - as the battery is lasting about 50mins (it should last 5 hours!).

 

Well it means what it states. It either can't find the card, or thinks it's missing. As I said I don't think it is working.

 

Cheers ....... are they expensive these wireless cards?

 

£40+ for pcmcia and £15-20 or less off ebay for the usb dongles.

 

Is it considered 'normal' to take a LapTop apart ...... I'm thinking of the Wireless Network Card - maybe it is not connected properly? Or if I remove and power up, then connect and power up again XP may detect it and it may work??

Just an idea?

 

Its not usually normal to completly take them apart

The Wireless Card on Laptops slots in like memory, and its very difficult for them to move or become dislodged

They do have antenna's attached to the board, usually a black and white wire, again they wouldnt become dislodged either, and would only affect signal strength

Did you find a board like the one in the picture above Pete

 

has anyone suggested he run msinfo32.exe to find out what is in the machine?

 

No, I didn't ..... would it normally be easily accessable?

What is msinfo32.exe - run that, what am I looking for?

Cheers

 

Under Problem Devices it lists the Ethernet Contoller - it says that drivers for this device are not installed (but, as far as I know they are?)

Would this stop the Wireless connection from working?

The Network Adaptor is Realtek RTL8139 and appears to be working correctly, is this the WiFi?

 

That would indicate the WiFi drivers are missing.

If it's an Intel wireless NIC, try getting the Intel Pro/Set Wireless drivers from here. I wouldn't worry about the bit saying get OEM drivers.

 

Thanks Chris ..... I will download that and give it a whirl .....

Now, this may be a daft question for you lot - but, at work today I was chatting and it was suggested that the old owner of the machine may have used a 'Dongle USB WiFi' thingy??

The previous owner is in Berlin until next week, so I cannot ask ...... would "msinfo32.exe" tell me if the LapTop is equiped with the required WiFi stuff?

As I 'could' be chasing trying to get something to work which isn't even there!!??

 

Its quite possibly Pete that he could have used a dongle

Can you check out the specifications from the model number on the NEC website to see if it ever shipped with Wireless?

Or if it has an antenna logo on any of the function keys, or led indicator?

 

Hiya Sonic

Antenna Logo on F2 ...... if that helps?

This is the Spec. but I don't understand the LAN/Wireless part? :-

NEC i-Select M5410 Specifications

 

I havent read this since I last posted: but if theres an ant. icon on a function key then the PC will have (or have provision to have fitted) a mini-PCI WiFi adapter. Therell be a removable cover on the base and itll be under there (or therell be an empty slot).

Simon