Like some people say they’re telling their age, I’m telling my computers age. I recently had my computer (a Compaq Presario) re-formatted by a friend. He transferred parts of my harddrive (pics, music) onto his harddrive while erasing everything else. My computer, modem and internet service are six years old. I always connected to my modem by a desktop icon which is no longer available after the re-formatting. I’ve contacted my internet provider who say my my modem’s ip address is intact, but there is a problem with my computer, and maybe my network adapter. Before I contact hp by e-mail for a solution does anyone have any suggestions?
Dial-up modem?
Nope, it’s a DSL Modem.
Did your modem (way back when) come with any discs? Those would most likely install the client you were using.
Interesting. It’s quite uncommon for an ISP to be doling out dedicated IPs for DSL service, but that’s not quite germane to your issue
That said:
Have you re-installed your ethernet card drivers?
Can you see your ethernet card in your device manager?
Do you see an ethernet connection in your network connections?
I would say it’s probably this, and that’s what I’d try first. The discs that come with your DSL modem are usually pretty irrelevant; it’s just some crappy software. I never even took the CD that came with my Verizon DSL out of its packet; in fact I probably threw it away a long time ago.
Yeah, but if the ISP is having him use a proprietary client to interface with the modem it wouldn’t surprise me if they put it on the disc as well, if anything it’s worth a try.
I would have to do some high and low searching for those discs if I do still have them. I’ll probably spend tomorrow after work doing that. If I didn’t have them anymore, would I still be able to get them through hp’s website or they be outdated at this point?
Well, try Spartacus’ solution first, if that doesn’t work spend a little bit hunting for them (not all night though, hardly necessary). I doubt it’s the end of the world if you lost them, in face you can probably download the client (or installer) from their website from a public or work computer and bring it home on a flash drive.
Do you recall, per chance, what the icon was named or looked like, that may help us know if maybe it’s just hidden somewhere on your computer.
I’m not in front of my computer right now, and since my friend re-installed everything, I’ll have to ask him about the ethernet card drivers. Thanks for all the info, and I’ll update everyone tomorrow.
I can’t remember exactly what the icon said or looked like other than “connect to.” I just clicked on it through muscle memory for so many years.
It was probably a PPPoE client. Try using Windows XP’s built-in PPPoE client, http://support.microsoft.com/kb/283070
If that doesn’t work your friend should be able to download the software from your ISP’s website and burn a CD or put it on a flash drive for you.
Look in Device Manager under Network adapters to see if it shows a problem. I vote for its driver not being installed.
If your modem can also connect through USB you might try that to get it up and running so you can download the network card driver.