Dell Inspirion 9300 laptop lost wifi

[P.Charm]

I know there is a fix but I'm too stupid to figure it out.

I reloaded clean XP 2p3 and now the ethernet port and wifi connection are gone.

FN + F2 doesn't turn it on anymore.

ok, so I downloaded on another computer the dell utilities and chipset drivers. didn't do it. although I did it on a net book running window 7 and firefox if that matters.


can anyone help me? or tell me what to download to enable the netork port and wifi?

[superbarnie]

You have to get the wifi drivers.

The list of drivers for your model is here.

I think you need to install this for ethernet.

install that first and then install this for wifi.

[P.Charm]

perfect. I'll try them out when I get home. thank you so much.

[superbarnie]

No problem. Just remember that whenever you re-install Windows XP, you will need to re-install most of the drivers.

This is not needed in newer Windows versions, Windows 7 and above automatically installs drivers using Windows update.

[P.Charm]

ok I don't know how to install the cab file.

[P.Charm]

someone please help

[superbarnie]

Dell must have fudged up on that download link.
Here's a different one.

[bigbearbear]

Check first and see if your WiFi driver is installed. Find the "My Computer" icon and right-click, select Properties and then select Device Manager.

Do you see any yellow or red "!" or "?", if not, your WiFi driver is already installed.

What's missing is the utility that allow you to trigger the WiFi on/off via the button on your keyboard or laptop chassis. I took a look at Dell's page and it looks like this is what you need:

http://www.dell.com/support/drivers/us/en/19/DriverDetails/Product/inspiron-9300?driverId=12DW4&osCode=WW1&fileId=2731095389&languageCode=EN

[P.Charm]

ok that helps but i'm doing it from another computer. when i try to run the .exe file it tries to go to the internet. I need to find one that will let me download to this computer then transfer it to my other computer.

[superbarnie]

Just install this one then. This one is for your wifi card.

[P.Charm]

Check first and see if your WiFi driver is installed. Find the "My Computer" icon and right-click, select Properties and then select Device Manager.

Do you see any yellow or red "!" or "?", if not, your WiFi driver is already installed.

What's missing is the utility that allow you to trigger the WiFi on/off via the button on your keyboard or laptop chassis. I took a look at Dell's page and it looks like this is what you need:
http://www.dell.com/support/drivers/...anguageCode=EN

ok great, thanks. that fixed the toggling on and off, but i still don't have a driver

[bigbearbear]

Ignore. Deleted.

[bigbearbear]

ok great, thanks. that fixed the toggling on and off, but i still don't have a driver

I see that this model you have can be equipped with Intel or Dell's own WiFi chip. Do you know which one you have?

[P.Charm]

got it. I got the ethernet to work, i just downloaded an older one. I'll try and download the wifi. thanks a lot guys. you two are life savers.

[superbarnie]

Great, did you get your wifi working?