i am using a dell dimension 4550 with windows xp home service pack 1.i have had to action a full system restore due to a virus and have reinstalled windows xp from original cd that came with pc.also run dell resource cd to add drivers etc.all working fine except for a missing ethernet controller port.i have tried driver roll back updating driver from original cd.but the system will not recognise that drivers are on discs.i am therefore unable to CONNECT to web with my pc to download updated drivers and DONT know what else to do.please could someone help as i am sending post from a mobile phone internet connection.If you kept all the cd's that came with your computer when you bought it then you should have all the correct drivers required for reinstallation.

How are you trying to install the Network drivers?

Are you getting an error MESSAGE when installing the Network drivers?

If all else fails you will need to download the latest drivers from dell's support section on their website (from a friends house or a public library).Travel to Dell's site and enter the Service Tag # off the machine...
You will see a list of all your drivers.thanks patio but i only have ACCESS to mobile phone internet.i tried to use my phone as a modum but my nokia n 96 will only work with windows xp service pack 2 which i cant download as no pc access. :-(Does your next-door neighbor have internet access ? ?
Time to bake some chocolate-chip cookies ! !

 Look around on your CD that came with the machine for your motherboard drivers and install them. Do a reboot and than the NIC drivers should install.

lol at least someone made me laugh today ive been sat at pc since 5 this morning tearing my hair out i rang dell and they said they could fix it in 5 mins for a £60 + vat charge so baking cookies it is then lolthanks spoiler ill give it a try now.cheers.im not that confident but here goes lol
 Good on you...
Don't pay Dell any MONEY....drivers are and always have been FREE...hey i just dug out an old laptop with a broken screen but is working perfect otherwise.i have connected my desktop monitor to lap top so can use it.could you advise me how to transfer data from laptop to desktop although i have no cable to join the 2.sorry to be a pain but im a novice to all this This is a common problem. If you load the montherboard drivers and than reboot your system will "see" the network card and let you install the drivers for it.

You should have a restore CD with your system drivers on it.

 Hi,
What i would advise doing is going to your local library or a friends house with a flash drive and downloading the driver from the internet, putting it on the flash driver and bringing it back plugin it into your computer and loading the driver from that to your computer so you dont have to deal with connecting computers togeather. Hope this helps