[SHENGTON]

I got a problem before about the built-in LANcard. After installing the OS and look up for the Local Area Connection in the My Network Places, I noticed that there's no Local Area Connection. After installing the driver, luckily the Local Area Connection was there.

So my question is:
Why from other computers after installing the OS the Local Area Connection is there then however in my computer the Local Area Connection only appeared after I installed the driver?

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Probably because Windows knew what to do with it on the other computers whereas it didn't know what to do with it on yours.
When you install Windows it doesn't know everything about every bit of hardware out there, XP is six years old now, a lot of hardware has since come out. You have to fill the gaps in with the drivers.

[Neil Jones]

Probably because Windows knew what to do with it on the other computers whereas it didn't know what to do with it on yours.
When you install Windows it doesn't know everything about every bit of hardware out there, XP is six years old now, a lot of hardware has since come out. You have to fill the gaps in with the drivers.

[Samm]

Welcome to G2G shengton

Just to expand on Neils reply a bit....
Bascially just about every hardware device requires a driver. Windows has a built-in database of drivers for all different types of hardware so when it detects a new device (a network card in this case), if a suitable driver already exists in the database then Windows will just install it itself without asking you to provide a driver for it. Once the network card driver is installed, then XP will normally create a local area connection for it. If however, Windows doesn't have a suitable driver in the database (as was obviously the case with your computer) then it ask the user to provide a driver for it.

[SHENGTON]

Wow thanks guys!

Where the database of drivers are located sir?

[Troy]

Well it entirely depends, usually the cd when you buy the component. There are driver databases, but your best bet is to navigate to the manufacturer's webpage and download them from the Support section.

For example, I have an ATI Radeon 9600 Graphics card. A quick Google search for "ATI Radeon 9600 drivers" reveals the correct page as the very top (first) result. Sometimes some components are difficult to find, hence the driver database websites, like http://www.driverguide.com/

If you can't find it, just post a thread here and we'll help you find it

[SHENGTON]

I mean the folder of database driver of Windows, where's the database drivers located?

[SHENGTON]

Where the database drivers located in the Windows XP installer sir?

Can you name the folder where the drivers are located and also the path?

Thanks!

[Samm]

Wow thanks guys!

Where the database of drivers are located sir?

If you're referring to Window's own driver 'database', then this located in the C:\WINDOWS\INF folder. NB The inf folder is hidden so unless you have Explorer configured to show hidden files/folders, you won't be able to see it.