Help fixing this laptop

[System_159]

So I just traded some audio equipment for a used laptop. It's a Dell Inspiron 1100. P4 2.4ghz, 1gig ram, yada yada.
So I reformatted it to have a clean install of XP. My disc is old, so I had to d/l and install SP2 also. Here's the thing though, a wireless card was included in the trade, but I have no install disc for it(D-Link DWL-G650 revision C). So I searched on the D-Link website trying to find the software to let me install my card, but to no avail. I then emailed the tech-support and they sent me here : http://www.networkmagic.com/nmlp/dlinksupport.php

So, I grabbed that software, and installed it, but it wants me to connect to the internet before it can finish(irony, anybody?). This normally wouldn't be a problem, because I can should be able to just connect to the ethernet line provided by the school. Problem is, when I plug my cable into the laptop, nothing happens. I try to get it to recognize the network through the control panel, but it only wants to let me set up a dial-up connection.
Can anybody help me out? I'd like to get this thing up and running soon.
-Thanks

[Wraithan]

You need to install your ethernet card. You would be able to get them from Dell's website, that is where I get them for my laptop. (Dell Inspiron 2200)

Good Luck

[System_159]

yeah, I thought I had already installed it, but it turns out I just d/l it and forgot to install(had about 20 different drivers on the desktop).

Now I have two more questions.

1. How hard is it to dismantle/reassemble a laptop? The guy I got this from painted it a horrible matte red with vinyl(sp?) paint. He didn't take it apart, just taped things off. So I need to take it apart and sand it down. Then re-spray with some high quality Automotive paint(silver to black fade on a diagonal).

2. What can I do to cool this thing down? I know there's the cooling pads, but I can't afford a good one right now. I have Arctic Silver Ceramic, and I'm going to use that when I take this thing apart. But right now it's running at a blistering 53 degrees celcius at idle(That's close to 130 f). Do you guys have any suggestions for cooling this thing down before I can get at the inside? Oh and any recommendations on a good slimline fan, or a place to find some?

[Kennedy]

1) not really that hard. Just watch where the screws are supposed to be. . . nothing worse than finding an extra screw when you get her all put back together. Also, be carefull when removing the screen. The ribbon connector that it uses can get brittle. That'd be bad.

2)Clean it down and make sure that the vents are all open. The guy could have painted over some of the main vents. . .

[System_159]

2)Clean it down and make sure that the vents are all open. The guy could have painted over some of the main vents. . .

Yes, he did. and I'm upset about it. But what can you do? Some people are just stupid.