Help to get a laptop on line wireless

[JohnGo]

Inspiron B130, XP Pro sp3, 40gb hd, 1 gb ram

Up until now this laptop has not had a wireless card installed. I can get on the internet wirelessly using a linksys usb network adapter and also with a wired ethernet connection.

I ordered and installed a Broadcom BCM94318MPG wireless card but can't get on line. I think the computer recognizes it because the "Found new hardware wizard" wants to search for a driver on bootup. Also, in device manager there is the dreaded yellow "?" beside "other devices" and "network controller".

I have searched manually for a driver but have not found one. Hopefully a current driver is all it needs. I would appreciate advice on this situation.

Thanks,
JohnGo

 

[patonb]

I found some posts saying this mayy work
Broadcom Wireless LAN Drivers HP Pavilion dv8000 CTO Notebook PC | HP® Support

Yes its hp, but its still a broadcom driver

 

[JohnGo]

OK, I have installed the driver at your link but nothing has changed. The "found new hardware wizard" still wants to search on bootup. I don't know where the driver installed to, so I can't make it browse to the folder.

Can't I safely assume that since the new hardware wizard pops up, that the card is ok and is recognized by the computer? Do you or others have anything else I can try?

 

[patonb]

Where did you buy it from?

Here are the generic divers:
Ethernet NIC Driver Downloads | Broadcom

 

[I am confused2]

I have no idea where you tryed to get the driver from. but I just did a goggle for and found several places to get it from.

I take it that this is a dell as you said 'Inspiron b130', go to the dell web site and look for driver updates. Drivers and Downloads | Dell [United States]


This is probley the best way.

 

[JohnGo]

I got it from ebay

 

[I am confused2]

You got the driver from e-bay? You got took.

go to dell.com, in the seach box in the upper right corner, type in inspiron b130 drivers, click search.

This will take you to a sign in page, just follow the directions and you should be good.

I work on a lot of Dell and use this 3-5 times most every day.

 

[patonb]

I got it from ebay

Can you post up the auction, or one from same seller?

Sometimes with laptop stuff, the original brand has certain quirks that requires the original driver.

 

[JohnGo]

No I didn't get a driver from ebay; I got the wireless card from ebay. I went to dell site and d'loaded the dell wireless driver and now the laptop is on line and looking good. Thanks all very much for your replys and recommendations!

JohnGo

 

[patonb]

Okay... Sorry, I had thought you had done that to begin with

If I had know, I should have asked, that would have been my 1st suggestion.....

Glad youre up and running