Windows XP SP2 Internet Connectivity Issues - Any Ideas Please

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bibblesbee

New Member
I'm in the process of fixing a laptop for my friend. It's a Sony Vaio Model VGN-FJ370. I formatted the HD and installed Windows XP SP2 32 bit. Of course I ended up with a bunch of missing drivers. Went through them one by one and got them all installed.

I've been unable to connect to the internet though. I noticed there are two network adapter drivers in Device Manager. Should there not be two? Under Network Connections there's the Local Area Connection and another network as well. They both say connected. I've tried disabling one of the networks to no avail. I'm using a portable router and I'm able to get online with my laptop fine.

I've already done a bunch of troubleshooting. Wondering what else I can do that I haven't done already. I've tried messing with the network settings, I've done the netsh winsock reset. If there's any info you need that I haven't provided just let me know. Any other ideas or suggested would be great. Thank you.
 
What are the exact names listed in the device manager under network adapters? One is most likely the lan port and the other is the wireless. Perhaps you have the wrong driver installed? Are you using an ethernet cable or wireless? If wireless will using a ethernet cable allow it to connect?
 
One is called 1394 Net Adapter and the other is Realtek RTL8139/810x Family Fast Ethernet NIC. I also just noticed another missing driver: Network Controller. What is that one if the other drivers don't cover it? I got the driver for the network off the manufacturers website, so I hope it is the correct driver.

I am connecting through ethernet since the laptop doesn't have wireless capabilities.
 
In Network Connections, there is one called Internet Gateway which is currently disabled. Then there's the LAN or High Speed Internet connections which are: Local Area Connection (connected) and a 1394 Connection (also connected). It seems there's too much stuff going on. Too many options.
 
The 1394 net adapter is really not an internet connection, it's a firewire connection for video cameras and other devices.

The one labeled network controller is actually your wireless adapter and this should be the driver for it.

https://esupport.sony.com/US/p/swu-download.pl?mdl=VGNFJ370&upd_id=4469&os_group_id=13

Right click on the internet gateway icon and click on enable. You should now have internet with the ethernet cable. Once you download and install the driver above, you should have wireless ability.

Once you get internet connectivity, download and install Service Pack 3 from here.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=24
 
Thank you so much for your help.

That driver took care of the network controller issue. I'm connected to the network gateway and local area connection. Hooked up through ethernet and still no internet (?). Not sure why, everything else looks good.

I'm wondering if it's because of the type of router I'm using. I think my next course of action will be to try out a different spot, hook it up directly to the modem. If you can think of anything else, I would greatly appreciate it.
 
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I don't know if this is helpful at all, but I ran a network scan. Here's the info: file:///G:/Netdiag%2004052015%20063034.htm
 
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So all drivers are installed? You are using an Ethernet cable? I say this because you say you are connected through Ethernet, but then say you will try a new spot which suggests WIFI. What do you mean by "different spot?" I guess by this you mean connecting directly to the modem? Does that work? You may have to reset the modem to acquire an IP address by pressing the recessed reset button on the modem.
 
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Check you tcp/ip settings and make sure you are getting IP address and dns address automatically. That driver I had you download and install should have given you wireless capability. Try connecting to the router using the wireless, you must disconnect the cable first from the laptop.

Does the ethernet cable work on a different system? Is so, its possible the lan port is dead on the laptop.
 
All drivers are installed. I am using an Ethernet cable, yes. What I meant by different spot was a different place to plug in. My internet situation where I live is not very direct, so I was thinking it might be better to go directly to the source rather than messing with all the adapters and portable routers.

The driver for the network controller did give me wireless capabilities, but I was also unable to connect to the internet that way. It couldn't find a network nearby and yes, I was unplugged from the Ethernet when I tried it. The Ethernet cable does work on my own laptop as well as wireless. The laptop I'm trying to fix is a bit older than mine though.

I am getting IP address and dns address automatically.

The only other thing I can think of trying is hooking it up somewhere else. I haven't had a chance to do that yet, so I will as soon as I can.
 
Also I should mention that before this laptop was formatted it was able to go online. I know for sure the internet was used on it. So I'm guessing it's software related rather than hardware.
 
bibblesbee said:
Also I should mention that before this laptop was formatted it was able to go online. I know for sure the internet was used on it. So I'm guessing it's software related rather than hardware.
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When you receive the computer from the factory, they have all the drivers installed. If you format it and reinstall an OS from scratch you need to install all the drivers. So you're right, it's most likely driver related and not hardware.
 
Okay, I tried it and apparently I need to be connected to the internet for it to work. That seems to defeat the purpose of fixing the network connection.
 
bibblesbee said:
Okay, I tried it and apparently I need to be connected to the internet for it to work. That seems to defeat the purpose of fixing the network connection.
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Once you get the network drivers installed, which requires a different computer to download them from, you can use it.
 
FIXED!! I updated to SP3 and also connected directly to the modem and boom internet! I'm guessing the laptop didn't like the internet setup I usually use. Phew, glad that's over. Thanks everyone for your help! Much appreciated :)
 
You didn't need to be connected to the Internet to use that app. It just resets the Winsock. In Windows 7/8 you just run a few commands.
 
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