HP Pavilion a810n frustrated over ethernet driver

[Rustys]

What is the Astra32,I down loaded it and gives me a profile of the computer I working on and tells me what drivers are missing.

That is what it is suppose to do.  That way you can find out the make and model of the NIC so you can go to the manufactures site and maybe get the drives you need.

Also when I open it .I get a message saying the definitions are too old need to update.

That is because the portable version is behind the install version.

[xfiles63]

Ok I havent had much time to work on this machine lately I think Im just going to install Vista back on it.This machine just doesnt have all the windows 7 drivers it needs.I need I good hard drive wiper software one that deleted any existing partitions.

[Rustys]

Just do it through the window vista install disk.

[patio]

No matter what OS is on the PC it coulda been solved by a 15$ network card as suggested...

[BC_Programmer]

No matter what OS is on the PC it coulda been solved by a 15$ network card as suggested...

They would still need to install the drivers, which appears to be the sticking point since the 3Com network adapter they mentioned has Windows 7 Drivers available.

[patio]

He stated there weren't Win 7 drivers for it which is what i based my replies on...

[BC_Programmer]

He stated there weren't Win 7 drivers for it which is what i based my replies on...

Yes, the integrated chipset has an NIC- but there are no Win7 drivers for it. But their third post mentions a "3com3c905c" Card. It was not clarified whether the adapter is installed in the system (A question I posed), but from what I was able to determine, it is an Ethernet adapter with Win7 drivers that could be used.

I suspect if it is installed then at some stage it was installed to workaround the integrated chipset NIC having no driver for Vista or later. Of course since it would have been added on afterwards it would not be surprising for HP not to have those drivers on the support pages!

[xfiles63]

Quote HP not to have those drivers on the support pages!Quote

Correct I gave up on my win 7 install.The machine is too old to invest any $ on it so I just did a reinstall of vista.Its slow as heck but I dont use it for much anyway.
Thanks all for trying to help.

[Geek-9pm]

No, don't give up. A working machine with Windows  7 is an important resorces, even if something does not work well.
You can fix  for about $10.

The OP does not have to fix the internal NIC. Just get something that works on USB. Found on Amazon

for "usb to ethernet"

Cable Matters 202023 USB 2.0 to 10/100 Fast Ethernet Network Adapter (Black)by Cable Matters
$9.99 was $17.99 Prime 4.3 out
of 5 stars 1,679
---------------------------
for "usb to wifi"
Edimax EW-7811Un 150Mbps 11n Wi-Fi USB Adapter, Nano Size Lets You Plug it and Forget it, Ideal for Raspberry...by Edimax
$8.99 was $14.99Prime 4 out of 5 stars 6,572

[BC_Programmer]

You can fix  for about $10.

Possibly even free, with the Windows 7 driver for the 3Com Etherlink 10/100 adapter (the "3com3c905c" card). Don't know if that was attempted at all. They might have rolled back before checking this thread again.

[xfiles63]

I will check with someone I know that deals with computer parts,he may have a network card thats supported for Win 7.Hes only in his shop certain days so I will report back when I can get a hold of him.
Reguardless this machines hard drive has multiple hidden exsisting partitions and it needs to be wiped with a program that will eliminate them,suggestion?

[DaveLembke]

Regardless this machines hard drive has multiple hidden existing partitions and it needs to be wiped with a program that will eliminate them,suggestion?

I have used Linux distros before to delete stubborn partitions. Boot up a Linux Mint DVD or Thumb Drive and then in the live environment look at the hard drive and delete the partitions. Make the drive then have no partitions and then shutdown Linux Mint and boot of Windows installation disc. Windows wil treat the hard drive as if its brand new with no partitions. *Years ago I had a stubborn HP computer that wouldnt allow me to dump a protected partition for the system restore partition even with delpart. But Linux disk/drive management deleted it with no problems. The system came with Windows Me on a Celeron 500Mhz and I did not need Windows Me to exist on the drive as for I bought XP for it and installed that, and wanted full use of my hard drive without the Windows Me restore partition wasted space. Back then I used Redhat to dump the partition which was more involved than modern day linux Mint.

Other option might be this one, the free non commercial use edition, which might allow for you to delete these extra "hidden" partitions without destroying your windows installation. Back up any important data to an external storage before messing with any of this as for one wrong step and your data can be gone.: http://www.minitool.com/partition-manager/partition-wizard-home.html

[xfiles63]

Sorry its been a while but this program how exactly does it work,will rease the data while the machine is on ,like you install the program,then it erases the partitions?