Toshiba Satellite 1730 - Ethernet Issue

[acidosmosis]

I purchased a used Toshiba Satellite 1730. The laptop has an ethernet jack in the back. 700mhz/128MB/ATI Rage Mobility/10GB HD in case your wondering.

All hardware is detected by Windows XP with exception of any kind of NIC.

On Toshiba's website there are Mini-PC LAN drivers (for Windows ME), but the spec's for the laptop do not list any NIC. It does list "accessories" and several different NICs though.

Linux is also oblivious to any NIC.

I updated the BIOS for the shear "fun of it" and possible miracle that it might help. No dice there.

Doubt anyone has any ideas, but hey if you have any experience with older Toshiba laptop's maybe you've had an experience like this.

 

[RealBlackStuff]

Go to www.lavalys.com and get the free Everest Home Edition.
That should tell you what hardware is in that laptop.
If you open it up, do you see any wires going from NIC-port to mobo, or is it just a dummy-port?
Some models have their active NIC on a docking station. Alternatively, you should be able to get a PCMCIA NIC.

Also check with http://www.sparepartswarehouse.com/Toshiba,Laptop,Network-Interface-(NIC).aspx