Make sure that the computer is not using a manual IP.

 

How do I make sure of that?

 

Even if you are able to get a network connection, browsing may not work at all because of the antiqued IE browser...

go to Start > Run > type cmd and press enter. In Command prompt, type ipconfig /all and press enter.

Confirm the DHCP Enabled, IP address, and DNS servers.

 

Here is what popped up:

 

It looks like you don't have driver installed for your network card. Head to Device Manager and look under Network adapters. You might have to download the driver for your network card on another computer and then copy it to this one.

 

I don't even see network adapters in my device manager:

 

Or possibly disabled?

 

Yeah, it looks like this is a new Windows install and the drivers haven't been installed yet. Is there a make and model number anywhere on the outside of the computer? (Maybe on the side or back of the tower?)

 

Is this what you are looking for?

 

That's an old one! I'm not sure you'll be able to really use it for much, even if we can get it online... and I'm worried that we'll have trouble even finding a way to copy the driver files on to it! (USB may or may not work from the looks of it...)

Just for fun, do you see a Service Tag or Service Number anywhere?
https://www.dell.com/support/conten.../article/product-support/self-support-knowledgebase/locate-service-tag/desktops

 

I know it's not used for much but I want to get it up and working for my friend. I want him to at least be able to get online and I will get it as up to date as I can for him once I figure out how to get connected.

 

Hmm, I still can't find anything on it. It may just be too old to still have drivers on Dell's website. It is 17 years old! If it were me, I'm not sure that I'd want to use it online -- I don't think you can get a modern web browser on it.

I've got to run, but we'll see if @Couriant or anyone else has better luck tracking down some drivers for it.

 

Sounds good, I appreciate you looking. If it is too old is there a way to wipe it and get a newer operating system put on it like xp or 7/8/10?

 

Doubtful... and I personally wouldn't want to use an OS that isn't still receiving security updates, so that moves us up to Windows 10. It could probably still run some version of Linux, though... but there might be a high hassle factor.

 

Ok, so do I have any option at all to connect to the internet or no? I have another computer he gave me that has Windows XP but I can't log in because he forgot his administrator password and I don't know how to get past that

 

For the Windows 2000 machine, most likely you will not be able to install anything past maybe XP, but then you will need to get a license for it, which is no longer available.

For the network card, right click the device in Device Manager, then click Properties.
Under the Details tab, change the drop down to Hardware ID and let me know what the VEN and DEV numbers are. Similar to this:

The XP machine, while there are a couple of ways to reset the admin password / create a new user, that would violate our policies.

 

For the Windows 2000 machine, most likely you will not be able to install anything past maybe XP, but then you will need to get a license for it, which is no longer available.

For the network card, right click the device in Device Manager, then click Properties.
Under the Details tab, change the drop down to Hardware ID and let me know what the VEN and DEV numbers are. Similar to this:

View attachment 276025

The XP machine, while there are a couple of ways to reset the admin password / create a new user, that would violate our policies.

I don't know where you mean to go in device manager to find the network card, but I did find a way to view hidden devices and it showed me network adapters finally. I don't know if this helps or not...

 

Look under Other Devices > Ethernet Controller, right-click on that then do what James said in post #17

 

Thank you, I should have had specified this.

 

You may be able to get Puppy Linux or another small Linux distribution running on one or both those machines. May have to try an older version.

There is no hope for Windows 2000 or XP if you can't find the needed drivers.

 

So I can't try reinstalling the Ethernet driver like it says in my screenshot up above? Do I need the internet for that?

 

Is there a model name on the front of the computer, like XPS, OptiPlex, etc?

I agree with Terry, without knowing about the machine, there's nothing we can do...

last ditch.... Try going to Start > Run > type msinfo32 and press enter. If this works then you should get detailed info on your computer hardware.

 

This is what I saw, if I am missing a picture let me know please

 

This is my preferred order for finding drivers:

1. PC manufacturer's web site,
2. Motherboard manufacturer's web site,
3. Device manufacturer's web site,
4. A "drivers" site, such as DriverGuide,
5. Anywhere you can find one that might work,
6. Let Device Manager try to find one.
7. Use Windows Update.

(4 through 7 are really tied, and with Windows 7--and maybe 8/8.1-- the Windows Update should be at least 4th. The main message is that the first three are almost always to be preferred.)

 

The problem with this is that the OP doesn't have ethernet drivers so they can't go online.

Here is the link to your Ethernet driver: https://dl.dell.com/network/R49872.EXE

You will need to download this on another computer and onto a usb 1.0 or 2.0 thumb drive.

 

And, of course, 4, 6 and 7 are not options when the PC does not have internet access.

 

You'll also need the model number of the PC (or the Service Tag if it has one). I usually click on "Support" and then find the model and then the operating system.

 

Terry, using the service tag that was posted earlier doesn't show the information. When the OP posted the MSINFO32 information, we were able to get the model

 

Here is the link for all the drivers:
https://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/04/product-support/product/optiplex-gx260/drivers

Since we were able to identify the model, this will be best place to get the drivers. Please download the first one i linked.

 

Thanks, James. I did read through the thread, but too quickly and my (really short) short term memory failed me!

 

This is a continuation of my last thread as it says I have written too much in the past 24 hours. Anyways, I copied it to a thumb drive, placed it on my desktop, opened it and it said it unzipped everything, then I installed it and nothing seems to be different...am I missing a step?

 

@Cookiegal is that message about written too much true? I never got that message on his thread and I posted a lot lol

@Guest5665 We will get this merged soon.

As to the issue, it may be that you need to go back into Device Manager and if the Ethernet Controller is still under Other Devices, try the Update Driver and allow it to automatically find it.

 

We will get this merged soon.

Yes, we will.

is that message about written too much true?

Sure 'nough. Most new members don't post much the first day and the ones who do are almost always spammers. So, new members are throttled. However, I don't know how he got to start a new thread.

 

it won't work cause it is looking for something with the extension .inf so do I need to totally uninstall the Ethernet controller and then run this?
Also I am still getting the below error every time I try to reply so I am making new threads because that seems to be the only way it will accept me writing.

 

Could be a glitch in the new forum software maybe ?

 

Did you unzip the file to c:\dell\<something> ?

With Windows 2000, it is different than the newer OS. Try doing a scan for new hardware.

 

Yeah it did unzip and everything. Where do I perform the scan for new hardware?

 

OK, ignore me. The download you had has install files within it.

Try the one i highlighted. If you don't see the Ethernet Controller move to the Network Adapter, use the instalmsiW.exe

 

OK, ignore me. The download you had has install files within it.

View attachment 276100
Try the one i highlighted. If you don't see the Ethernet Controller move to the Network Adapter, use the instalmsiW.exe

I ran the one you highlighted and nothing happened. I double clicked the second from the top and nothing happened.

 

hmm the msi file usually wont need input from you.

if you open up the readme.html webpage, there is an install button with that.

Other than that, I am out of ideas. Maybe linux is the way to go.

 

Is there anyway I can just do a clean remove of everything and then install a brand new version of windows 2000 or xp that has all the necessary files?

 

Did they give you the original Windows 2000 discs?

 

No they did not but the tower has the product key on it. Couldn't I wipe it, use a thumb drive, and reuse that key?