Hi,need help here.currently have fios with actiontec router m1424wr which is connected to desktop computer via ethernet cable and laptop via wireless. Everything was fine until I had to reinstall windows xp onto desktop computer last week. Since I reinstalled windows xp I cant connect to internet. The laptop still connects wirelessly so i know the router is ok. Im pretty sure I need to install software to desktop to allow computer to see router but the only disk I could find from when I got fios last year just looks like a manual for the router. I went into device manager and there is a yellow line through ethernet connection indicating a problem. Do i need to install something that im missing onto desktop to allow a connection. Help
You probably need to install the driver for the LAN (Ethernet) adapter. IT was probably already installed when you bought the PC, however the Windows XP DVD doesn't include all possible drivers.
Device manager is telling you it doesn't know what to do with the device, and that usually means you don't have a driver for it (or it is broken). Device manager should be able to tell you exactly kind of network adapter you have, and then it is a matter of going to the web site for the manufacturer and downloading the drivers for XP.
My guess is you will have to down load it to your laptop, and then get it to to desktop via USB drive/Floppy/or burn a CD with the driver information on it.
One you have the driver, if you go to 'add hardware' in Control Panel, it will walk you through installing the driver.
Once the driver is installed, most likely everything will work. There is no specific software other than the driver that you need to install. I.E. FiOS internet works just fine without ANY of the Verizon provided software. I don't have it on the PC I am writing this on.
I think jmw1950 is probably on the mark ... is this an older Dell PC perhaps? All my Dell systems don't use an ethernet card that has the driver built in to the XP installation disk (could also happen in the case of a newer PC with an ethernet card from a manufacturer built after XP's release -- which at this point is a long time ago).
Start -> Right Click on "My Computer" and select Properties
Hardware -> Device Manager
What do you see under Network Adapters? Anything "Yellow" on the device manager screen? If so, you've got drivers you need to go find.
If all looks well there, next stop will be the network configuration itself. We'll cover that once we know if we have a driver issue or not. Post an update when you have one.
Start a new topic or ask questions in the open forum.
