Thinkpad R40e Ethernet and Hard Disk Questions

[neogeek]

Hi,
I am new here and this is my first post.

I got a TP R40e model #2684 NU2.

I checked on the IBM website for this model and it states that it has 10/100 Ethernet installed on systems via the system board. When I plug in the network cable into the RJ-45 port, the green light comes on and the yellow light will blink.

When I check my device manager, there is a "?" next to Ethernet. I downloaded the driver from IBM and also use Win XP update to down drivers.

However, I still cannot get a connection.

Does this mean that the ethernet card is not working? If so, can it be replaced?

This laptop comes with a 30gb Hard disk and I verified it by taking it out and check the label on it. When I formatted and installed Win XP, it shows only 25gb. I read in the other post about a hidden partition for the recovery/rescue disk. How do I check if this unit comes with that? Or is it normal for a 30gb hard disk to read only 25gb?

I would appreciate any advice. Thanks alot!

[storage_man]

First off on your harddisk. Yes you probably have a Recovery partition. I have never been a fan of this because if you lose your harddisk via a failure, you also lose your recovery capability. But thats what IBM does.

Now you said you installed WIN XP. The drivers needed for most of IBM's custom functions are not on the comerical version of WIN XP. You need to install of the the drivers that are available on IBM's web site to get these IBM features to work and that includes the LAN port. If you have a question mark in Device Mgr for your LAN hardware, you still have a driver problem. Make sure the driver you downloaded and isntalled is the correct one for your ThinkPad. The reason its not working is because of a mismatched driver.

Hope this helps - Storage_man