Can't get IBM Thinkpad A20m ethernet drivers installed :-/

[vageetasjn]

I was given an A20m Thinkpad laptop and I proceeded to format install XP. To my surprise, XP did not seem to automatically install ethernet drivers. The laptop seems to work fine aside from this, however.

I found 3Com drivers on IBM's website and installed them, but the ethernet adapter still does not seem to be recognized by XP. I was not given the majority of the original documentation so I am not even sure the ethernet adapter is a 3Com chipset, but that's the only one available on the site.

Any help would be appreciated, thanks.

[jdhurst]

A friend of mine had an A20m once. It came with Windows 98 at a good price and we immediately set about to upgrade it to Windows 2000. Windows 2000 could not find the NIC. Same symptoms as you. The only solution I found was to get the driver from the included recovery CD and then update it from the internet. The included recovery CD was key for that model. ... JD Hurst

[MobileGuru]

What model type?

[vageetasjn]

What model type?

2628.

[jdhurst]

What model type?

I know longer know. The machine has been long gone. Sorry.
... JD Hurst

[egibbs]

It probably doesn't have a NIC - you could get them with either a modem or modem/NIC combo. The RJ-45 connector on the case is there in both cases but if you only have a modem the RJ-45 is not hooked up to anything.

The way to be sure is to pop the cover on the Mini-PCI compartment (one screw) and look. If the card has two sets of leads attached to it then it is a modem/NIC combo. If it has one set of leads and the other set is just hanging out (maybe tucked under the card or pushed back under the case) then it's a modem only.

While you're in there you can also check the manufacturer and FRU number of the card, which will tell yu for sure which drivers to use. You could get 3Com or Intel cards.

Ed Gibbs

[vageetasjn]

OK, I'll accept the fact that this does not have an ethernet card installed.

Another question I have, and I'll put it in a new thread if necessary, is why doesn't the sound work? It worked in Win98 before I formatted. After XP was installed, I could hear that calm music on the first menu screen before you see the desktop. The Crystal SoundFusion drivers are installed and device manager has no quarrels with it, but no sound comes out of either the onboard speakers nor headphone port.