And that is a flat out lie from the author. I can prove it so, you're welcome to come over ANY time and I'll reload a bone stock XP (not even SP1 or SP2) install on my Dell D505.
The chipset used in my laptop is the Intel 855GME. It uses the Intel PRO 100 Wired Ethernet. Which is based on the 82557 chipset. And it finds it perfectly fine.
So we have conclusive proof that I have the EXACT same Ethernet driver chip as the author, and I can assure you that I have zero issues. You're more than welcome to come and watch an install any time you like.
The author is simply wrong. He's either lying, or he biffed his slipstream CD and is not man enough to admit it. And I can understand you are a Linux fan, but your hatred for all things Microsoft is tinting your objectivity.
Oh, and if you want to know, the XP install on my laptop takes around 20 minutes, everything works right out. Bone stock XP, not SP1 or SP2. This is a Dell D505 Latitude.
Too bad the same can't be said about Linux on this exact same machine...
Strange that using VirtualBox, which provides an option to simulate the IntelPro 10/100 chipset, Windows XP won't see it without installing the VirtualBox extensions....
Too bad the same can't be said about Linux on this exact same machine...
Umm, you did note, didn't you, that that page referred to a Gentoo install? Gentoo, the "build it from scratch" Linux distro?
The instructions are very clear and have nothing to do with the mainstream kernel which provides the Intel EtherPro driver by default.
Even with Gentoo, if you install the default kernel, the Intel EtherPro card works. The instructions you pointed to list what must be left enabled if you build your own kernel and start turning things off.