Bob in Cupertino wrote:
> I was rather surprised to find that the XP 64 trial didn't install, or
> seemingly include, appropriate drivers for a ratty old Kingston ethernet
> card.
Why are you surprised? It's not as if Microsoft develops and/or
produces drivers for other manufacturers' hardware devices. If Kingston
didn't choose provide 64-bit drivers for their "ratty *OLD*" (your words
- emphasis mine, and probably the real answer to your question) Ethernet
card to Microsoft for testing and inclusion in the new OS, it's hardly
Microsoft's fault.
> On Win2K, I was just using the built-in support - "Intel 21143 Based
> PCI Fast Ethernet Adapter".
That's a 5-year-old (2 to 2½ *generations*, in computer terms) OS. If
your NIC is that old, I actually be surprised to find it to have drivers
for a modern OS.
> I would think vanilla ethernet support would
> come with the trial.
There's no such thing as a "plain vanilla" Ethernet card. Each
individual manufacturer produces its own device drivers. If those
manufacturers want their drivers distributed by Microsoft, as part of an
OS, they have to submit the drivers for testing, well in advance of the
OS' release to the public. They've had many months of pre-release time
in which to have done so. Does either Kingston or Intel (makers of the
chipset, not necessarily the drivers) even support that particular NIC
anymore?
> My 64 bit motherboard has onboard ethernet, but there
> are some issues with using it, and I only need it for a DSL connection, so
> the plain vanilla PCI board is actually more convenient at this point.
The solution seems clear, to me. Either fix the "issues" with your
integrated NIC, which I'll wager is supported by drivers provided with
the OS, or purchase a newer NIC that is WinXPx64-compatible.
--
Bruce Chambers
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