NIC card

[nancy]

hello I'm back,well here is the stat's on my pc Its a dell OptiPlex GMT+5100 pc, it has 100mhz intel processor, 96 mb RAM, 2 floppy drives, 2 hard drives, 4GB IDE, and a 4GB SCSI, CD_ROM, and a 10/100 network built-in, here's my ? it has only 2 pci slots, which my monitor and and nic card have, so i will take out the nic card, and put in my sound card,and there is a slot for my RG-45 cable for the network, but if its built in i need to know how to load the drivers, or are they default drivers? Also it had OS windows NT 4.0, with service pack 6a. IT also has USB ports, do they have external sound cards? any idea's?:rolleyes:

[Fruss Tray Ted]

Have you tried the Dell site and searched for support?

Here's a few links to Dell for your pc in question:

Page on LAN driver (http://docs.us.dell.com/docs/dta/stingmt/00000005.htm) Links to other support from there.

Looking it over I see the board has several ISA sockets. You could get soundcards, modems and video cards if needed that use those slots. They won't be like modern AGP cards or 5.1 surround sound cards but will get you going nonetheless. If none are available new, try Computer Surplus Outlet or other used pc resellers.

This ought to get you started and I'll post back if I can find the onboard LAN driver you're looking for.

Edit: Lan driver Here? (http://support.3com.com/infodeli/tools/nic/3c509b.htm) Not sure if it is the right one. Worth a try though.

[nancy]

Thanks Ted, I do have alot of ISA slots, and all i need is basic sound,so i will Just get a sound card for the ISA slot there's a place on roselle, and schaumburg road called software reruns, i will check there.:)

[nancy]

I have never installed a legacy device, on a ISA slot I'm not sure how to load the drivers for the sound card?:rolleyes:Since it's not PNP I dont want any conflicts with the RIQ

[Fruss Tray Ted]

If there's a conflict, we'll just fix it later.

quote: "For legacy devices, run the Add New Hardware Wizard and let Windows 98 detect the device" /quote from Here (http://www.geocities.com/budallen98_98/installdevice.html)

Edit: Oops you're on NT4.0 I'll step back and let someone more familiar with it step up to the plate. Good luck.

[nancy]

hi Ted, I have 2 pci slots,1 for the monitor, and 1 for my nic card,so i am on line, but i want to use 1 pci slot for my sound card, whem i bought the pc the paper the guy gave me said 10/100 network built -in What exactly does that mean? So is there a board in the ISA solt?, because where you plug in the rg-45 cable on the back of the pc, there is a picture of 3 pcs, but shouldnt this be where the adapter board goes?:rolleyes:this is a wint4.0

[Fruss Tray Ted]

Usually, if you have an onboard (built in) nic, the plug to put the RJ-45 cable into will be near your com and printer ports (on the motherboard). If there is none there you need to use the one on the PCI card. And if so, the salesman lied to you unless you just misunderstood 'installed' for 'built-in'. But no big deal, we can work around it.

What is the graphics card you have? As I mentioned, you can get an ISA video card for this pc so you can install your sound card. That or just get an ISA sound card. Many of these are VERY inexpensive, like 5-6 bucks each. Heck, even an ISA nics card for that matter, you just need to decide which device is more important to have on the PCI interfaces.

IMO, I would put the graphics on the PCI bus but it's a tossup on the other 2 depending on what you have for a sound card right now.

[classicsoftware]

I would put the PCI slots for the video & the NIC and get an ISA sound card. If you want to check if you have an on-board NIC, Rt click on my computer. Choose properties, Select device mangler (oops I mean device manager). There should be a + sign next to network adapters. Click on the + sign and it will list all installed network adapters. If there is an on board NIC then you do not have a buy one and your problem will be solved.

[pave_spectre]

An onboard network card will only show up in device manager if its enabled in BIOS.

If THESE (http://docs.us.dell.com/docs/dta/586xl/00000004.htm#Ports) are the correct specs then it doesnt actually appear to have an onboard nic.

[nancy]

Thany you guys for all your great advice, I'll post back with my results when i done NANCY:D