Vista - Windows Vista, no ethernet card, want internet

Okay. First, understand that I'm not much of a techie... this should be fun.

I've got a Linksys router, it's a BEFSR41 v2 Etherfast 4-port cable/DSL router with 4-port switch. It's on the computer downstairs. This computer runs Windows XP.

My brothers' upstairs is connected and working. It runs Windows 2000.

Mine... I just had to replace. I went to Windows Vista Basic instead of XP.

Now, I don't have an ethernet card, but is there any way I can get online with this computer anyway?

A long time ago, I went to a LAN party and my friend's freind downloaded some kind of driver to allow my computer to connect to the internet without needing an ethernet card. Damned if I remember the motherboard, this was four years ago.

I just purchased an Intel Dual Core e5200 2.5 GHz. The motherboard is an MSI P6NGM LGA775 mainboard. It says it is NVIDIA MCP73 chipset based.

Is there any kind of driver I can install for Windows Vista that bypasses the need for an ethernet card?

Thanks.

Good question, I am inclined to say NO, unless your Motherboard has onboard wireless.

Wait for the right answers though.

Well, the router isn't wireless, so I don't believe that would help.

The reason I ask this is because it's been done, my previous computer had no ethernet card but could get online. Hopefully something like this is available for my current (new) computer, as it'd save me a lot of hassle setting it up and a lot of money getting a new card, I just put $600 on my credit card I really didn't have.

I don't see how this is possible at all.
A Nic card is about 10 or 15 bucks....you would have to run a CAT5 line however since the router is not wireless...

Wireless or NIC. You may be able to get around this with a serial cable or null modem cable connected to the other computer upstairs but you are asking for trouble if anything went wrong. Anothere thing you can try is network to wireless adaptor connected to your router and a wireless USB or card for your computer.

Hi Nemephosis and welcome to Vista Forums

According to the MSI website, your motherboard has on-board Gigabit LAN support. Here is a link to the Driver page for your motherboard: MSI -- MICRO-STAR INT'L CO., LTD. The LAN driver can be found under NVIDIA nForce MCP73 System Drivers. Simply select the correct OS, which, in your case, will be Windows Vista 32bit.

That did the trick, I'm up and running. Thanks! I guess my old computer had an onboard ethernet card, and he just downloaded drivers for that. I had no idea it did. LOL. Thanks for the help!
edit: Hmm. If I may hijack my own thread, I do have a question about Vista... Why is it I can't get it to keep my view settings? It always displays folder contents as a list, but I want it to display medium icons, and it never seems to stick.

"Nic Card" is redundant - NIC stands for Network Interface Card...

So you're saying a Network interface card card?

Have you looked at your folder options? It sounds like the setting to save individual folder settings is either turned off or else something else is loading the view and changing it back....

Actually, it seems that it's defaulting to the List view. When I change the view, it does stay. It's just I have so damn many folders already, it's hard to keep track of them... Is there a way to get it to default to the Medium Icon setting?

Sure is - see our wonderful tutorial at Folder Options