Question : Problem: How do you install the ethernet and wireless adapters when the laptop won't let you?

Acer Laptop, Aspire 5050 with windows XP MCE&
Not able to get online

Device Manager does not show Network Adapters, however it does show in Other Devices 2 PCI Devices, one for wireless one for Ethernet or so one would think.
Here is the Hardware IDs that normally you would be able to check and verify the vendors and device info&
PCI\VEN_0007&DEV_8290&SUBSYS_010F1025&REV_00 for the first device
PCI\VEN_0016&DEV_8290&SUBSYS_04181468&REV_0C for the second device.

According to http://www.pcidatabase.com/ those vendors do not exist.

I downloaded the correct drivers for the computer from the ACER website and tried to load them, the wireless ones are executables and they say they load and have me restart he computer, but when it comes back up, it is the same&
The Standard LAN downloaded files has the *.inf files and an executable, but when trying to manually install them it will not do it.

Same things as above when trying to do anything in safe mode.

I havent done any h/w scans yet, did a scan with PC Tools Spyware Doctor and didnt find anything, and the PHOENIX BIOS is very limited on this machine. Any suggestions?

Answer : Problem: How do you install the ethernet and wireless adapters when the laptop won't let you?

I could be actual hardware failure, I have a user with an aspire laptop and I had to purchase an external adapter to get hers to work.