Hi, I have a home network on XP Home edition with 3 pc's connected. The host uses a broadband modem and has 3 internal network adapters/ards all with wires connected, one to the modem, one to my sons pc and the last to my daughters pc. We have been using the internet with no probs for at least a year with this setup, until my daughters pc needed a new hard drive. When it was replaced a message came up during activation of Windows saying that Windows could not be activated due to there being no network connection to that particular pc. The host pc's network connections shows her pc as "network cable unplugged". I have checked all the wiring and it is fine. How do I re setup my network??!! My partner set it up last time but is away at the moment so I would like to do it myself. I am a novice/intermediate pc user, but know next to nothing about networking. Pleeeeaassseee help! Yours, Lindsey1 person got this answerI do too

After you install an operating system you need to also install drivers for all the computer's hardware. It sounds like you forgot to do this. You are missing the drivers for the network adapter, although you also need drivers for the motherboard (chipset), audio, video, etc. Never get drivers from Windows Update. Get them from: 1. The device mftr.'s website; OR 2. The motherboard mftr.'s website if hardware is onboard; OR 3. The OEM's website for your specific machine if you have an OEM computer (HP, Dell, Sony, etc.). Read the installation instructions on the website where you get the drivers. To find out what hardware is in your computer: 1. Read any documentation you got when you bought the computer. 2. If the computer is OEM, go to the OEM's website for your specific model machine and look at the specs (you'll be there to get the drivers anyway) 3. Download, install and run a free system inventory program like Belarc Advisor or System Information for Windows. http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html - Belarc Advisor http://www.gtopala.com/ - System Information for WindowsMS-MVP - Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!