I reformatted my C drive and reinstalled Windows XP today. Everything went very smoothly until I tried to connect to the internet. I called my ISP but they tell me it is a Microsoft problem because my Local Area Connection is missing. In Network Connections all that is listed is 1394 Connection under the LAN or High-Speed Internet and my ISP is listed under Broadband. If I try to connect then it asks me for dial-up information. My ISP tells me that there is supposed to be a Local Area Connection and without that, I cannot connect to the internet. They told me to reload the Windows disk and "install drivers" but there isn't an option for that on the disk (I did try to "repair Windows" but that didn't change anything. Now my ISP won't help me. They know it isn't their issue because the other two computers in my house have internet access.

Does this information from my ISP sound correct? Should I have a Local Area Connection? How do I get one?

Any advice will be greatly appreciated!!

~k

Sounds like you need to install the driver for your NIC (network interface card) Is the card onboard (built into the motherboard) or a PCI card? Either way I recommend you install the drivers for it.

Are you connected via an Ethernet port?

Check you Device Manager: Start/Run/ devmgmt.msc | Network Adapters

What is listed there. You may need to reload these motherboard drivers.

Also have you reloaded SP2?

To make a local area connection

o Bear! Did not see you.

Ok, that sounds easy enough except I don't know where to find those drivers. This computer is a Sony Vaio and didn't come with any "system disks". I have no idea if its an onboard or PCI card.

I'm thinking that I can probably go to the Sony website and download drivers?? But, I'll have to do that from another computer (obviously) so I'm assuming that I'll be able to download drivers to another media type and then install them on my computer? Does that make sense?

Geesh...any idea why this would have happened? This is a real pain in the butt!!

Thank you for pointing me in a direction...

~k

Originally Posted by Bear

Sounds like you need to install the driver for your NIC (network interface card) Is the card onboard (built into the motherboard) or a PCI card? Either way I recommend you install the drivers for it.

Yes, I am connected via an Ethernet port.

Under Network Adapters, the only thing listed is: 1394 Net Adapter

I have not loaded SP2 because I need to be connected to the internet to do that.

~k

Originally Posted by jephree

Are you connected via an Ethernet port?

Check you Device Manager: Start/Run/ devmgmt.msc | Network Adapters

What is listed there. You may need to reload these motherboard drivers.

Also have you reloaded SP2?

To make a local area connection

http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/sel...IRECTOR=DRIVER

IT WORKED and it was way too simple!! Thank you! I had no idea about having to reinstall a driver for the NIC. I would not have thought of it. But, I went to Sony, looked up my machine, and they had the driver right there. I downloaded it, moved it on to a floppy (yes, I still have some lying around) and then installed it on the Sony computer. It is now connected to the internet. The entire process took about four mintues!

Thank you so much!!!

~k

Originally Posted by Bear

Sounds like you need to install the driver for your NIC (network interface card) Is the card onboard (built into the motherboard) or a PCI card? Either way I recommend you install the drivers for it.