LAN Drivers

LAN stands for Local Area Network and is a standard used to connect PCs either to each other or to the internet via an Ethernet cable in order to transfer data. The speed associated with LAN is generally associated as being very fast, but not as being the fastest available. It is limited to speeds of 100mbps whereas fiber optic lines can reach speeds of over 1000mpbs. It has become the most common form of attaching a computer to the internet through either a Cable Modem or a DSL (digital signal line) connection. It also is useful for attaching multiple computers together in order to network them together either by using a network hub or router, or by attaching them to each other using a computer to computer crossover cable. Some uses for this include sharing media such as music or movies with a media center computer, having local network gaming matches, and having another computer for back up of important files.

A driver is a piece of software on a computer that enables communication between the hardware and the computer’s Operating System. Drivers are required for proper functionality of any piece of hardware. Without them the hardware may function improperly or not at all. Common problems associated with improperly functioning LAN drivers include but are not limited to, no connectivity to the internet, slow connection speed, pages taking too long to load or not loading at all, or not being able to connect to another PC, such as a media center, properly. All of these problems could possibly be caused by improperly installed or missing drivers. If a driver is missing, the LAN card will not function at all. If a driver is installed improperly the LAN card may only function partially. To ensure proper functionality of your LAN card and its drivers, follow these simply troubleshooting steps.

1) If using an aftermarket LAN card, such as a PCI or PCIe card, ensure the card is properly inserted into the slot.

2) Ensure that the Ethernet cable is firmly inserted into the LAN card and the PC or router/network hub. The cable should make a clicking sound when proper insertion has been attained.

3) Most LAN cards have lights on them that indicate connectivity status. Ensure that these lights are flashing.

4) Click on your Start Menu and navigate to your Control Panel. Navigate to the Device Manager, if there is a yellow exclamation mark next to anything in the list, this could indicate a missing or malfunctioning driver.

5) If an exclamation mark is showing, right click on the item next to it in the list and click “Update Driver”. This will allow you to connect to Windows Update and automatically search for the proper driver for your hardware.

6) If this process does not yield results, contact your hardware manufacturer for further instructions concerning your particular situation. They should be able to further explain your hardware and provide detailed support based on your hardware’s needs and capabilities.