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    Ethernet controller driver

    Discussion in 'Alienware 14 and M14x' started by fred2028, Jun 6, 2011.

  1. fred2028

    fred2028 Sexy member

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    Does anyone know if you need the Ethernet controller driver installed to have the Ethernet working?
     
    fred2028, Jun 6, 2011
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  2. Conspiracy

    Conspiracy Notebook Consultant

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    Didn't you just answer you're own question?
     
    Conspiracy, Jun 6, 2011
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  3. takeabyte

    takeabyte Notebook Evangelist

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    Yes, you need to install the driver to get it to work. Neither wireless nor wired internet will work w/out the drivers :)
     
    takeabyte, Jun 6, 2011
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  4. jeremyshaw

    jeremyshaw Big time Idiot

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    yeah, though there is the other consideration:

    does windows 7 have the proper generic drivers for it? (without going through Windows Update for it)

    Allowing one to skip the included driver CD :p
     
    jeremyshaw, Jun 6, 2011
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  5. fred2028

    fred2028 Sexy member

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    My wireless works without the Dell driver, so I am wondering if Ethernet is the same.
     
    fred2028, Jun 6, 2011
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  6. Conspiracy

    Conspiracy Notebook Consultant

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    Ethernet is not the same as wireless. Two different controllers, and therefore two different drivers. I can't remember if the ethernet driver will install with base Windows 7 or if I had to get it from Dell....

    Either way, to answer your question, wireless and ethernet/LAN cards are independent of each other.
     
    Conspiracy, Jun 7, 2011
    #6
  7. fred2028

    fred2028 Sexy member

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    I'm not confused by which driver is for which. I was just wondering if Windows 7 came with the Ethernet drivers (like the wifi drivers, since I didn't have to install additional drivers for wifi to work) or not.
     
    fred2028, Jun 7, 2011
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  8. takeabyte

    takeabyte Notebook Evangelist

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    In my case, neither wireless nor ethernet worked before installing the drivers from the resource cd. I have the 2x2 wireless card, not the 1x2 by the way.
     
    takeabyte, Jun 7, 2011
    #8