Please help... Can't connect to internet...

[fmonte]

I just bought a used Acer Desktop(Model Aspire T180). It did not come with an OS installed so I freshly installed XP Pro. I can't get on the internet and although I'm a noob, I know it must be a driver. I went out to their website but could not find it(see list below). I called Acer support but they would not help me because when I installed XP it voided out any warranty or support for this machine(originally manufactured with Vista). Their website for support is www.acerpanam.com I was hoping someone could walk me through step by step how to get this working so I could get on the internet.

FYI, I went to the device manager and here is where the yellow question marks are:

?Ethernet controller
?PCI Device
?PCI Modem
?SM Bus Controller
?Video Comtroller(vga compatible)

Of the 5 items listed I figured the Ethernet controller is the driver I need but I don't see it anywhere listed in the list below. By the way, I can't do a fax or get any sound either and if it is not to much trouble I need some help for that also but right now I am concentrating on getting the internet working. Thank you in advance. Frank PS. If I download a driver and execute it and it is the wrong one, will it cause any harm to the machine?

Aspire T180
Acer eDataSecurity Management
Windows Vista
Acer eDataSecurity Management.zip
Acer eMode Management
Windows Vista
Acer eMode Management.zip
Acer Empowering Technology for Windows Vista
Windows Vista
Acer Empowering Technology.zip
Acer ePerformance Management for Windows Vista
Windows Vista
Acer ePerformance Management.zip
Aspire E380/T180 ATI Video Driver
Windows XP
Aspire_E380_T180_UD_ATI.zip
Aspire E380/T180 Audio Driver
Windows XP
Aspire_E380_T180_AUDIO.zip
Aspire E380/T180 Chipset Driver
Windows XP
Aspire_E380_T180_CHIPSET.zip
Aspire E380/T180 CPU Driver
Windows XP
Aspire_E380_T180_CPU.zip
Aspire E380/T180 LAN Driver
Windows XP
Aspire_E380_T180_LAN.zip
Aspire E380/T180 Modem Driver
Windows XP
Aspire_E380_T180_MODEM.zip
ATI VGA driver for Desktop
Windows Vista
ATI VGA driver for Desktop.zip
BIOS Update vR01-B1
Windows XP
AST180-R1B1.zip
eNet Management v2.6.3005
Windows Vista
eNet v2.06.3005_pvl.zip
Lifeview LR306 SW Encoder 1.4.3353
Windows Vista
Lifeview LR306 SW Encoder 1.4.3353.zip
Lifeview LR306 TV Tuner Card 13.35.02.000
Windows Vista
Lifeview LR306 TV Tuner Card 13.35.02.000.zip
NTI CD-DVD Upgrade Patch for Windows Vista
Windows Vista
NTI CD-DVD Upgrade Patch.zip
nVidia VGA driver for Desktop for Windows Vista
Windows Vista
nVidia VGA driver for Desktop.zip
Power DVD Upgrade Patch for Windows Vista
Windows Vista
Power DVD Upgrade Patch.zip
Pronet Modem Driver v6.12.04
Windows Vista
Pronet Modem Driver 6.12.04.zip
Realtek Audio v6.0.1.5322
Windows Vista
TM5620_Audio_6_0_1_5322.zip
RealTek HD Audio Driver Ver. 5.10.0.5413
Windows XP
VTx661_x461_HDMIAudio_Realtek_v5.10.0.5413.zip
Realtek High Definition Audio Driver for Windows Vista
Windows Vista
Realtek High Definition Audio Driver.zip

 

[johnb35]

What you should have done is before you took vista off was to list each driver and made sure there was an xp driver for it. Go here and download the drivers for XP for that model.


http://support.acer-euro.com/drivers/desktop/aspire_t180.html or here...http://www.acerpanam.com/flex/acerdrivers/bin/drivers.html?CFID=5243140&CFTOKEN=97294092

Just make sure you go under the XP box and not the vista box. XP is the first one.

 

[fmonte]

Thanks John, that was very helpful. I have internet acesss, sound and fax capability now. It seems my computer is working okay now but I still have the last 2 yellow question marks still showing because in the link you sent me I could not find the "sm bus controller" or the video controller. Could you please be so kind to look through the dropdown list and steer me in the right direction. I'm thinking that the "ati" driver may be for the video update but I am not sure and don't want to load the wrong one. As far as the sm bus controller, I don't have any idea what that is or its function. I will wait to hear from you before going any further. Thanks again.

 

[johnb35]

Thanks John, that was very helpful. I have internet acesss, sound and fax capability now. It seems my computer is working okay now but I still have the last 2 yellow question marks still showing because in the link you sent me I could not find the "sm bus controller" or the video controller. Could you please be so kind to look through the dropdown list and steer me in the right direction. I'm thinking that the "ati" driver may be for the video update but I am not sure and don't want to load the wrong one. As far as the sm bus controller, I don't have any idea what that is or its function. I will wait to hear from you before going any further. Thanks again.

Did you download and install the chipset driver? The smbus controller should be included in the chipset driver. Also, do you have integrated video, meaning is it part of the motherboard or do you have a separate video card inserted into an agp or pci express slot?