To me, that sounds like a Windows problem, not a DELL problem. No matter what components your computer consists of, a basic Windows install should have a suitable driver for your network card, at least to get online to get better and more up-to-date drivers. In my experience, it always does. Maybe I've just been lucky?
As for downloading drivers from a different computer, I think that's mostly done by IT departments to manage numerous computers. Of them, it can be expected they know what they’re doing, and making the process easier could obviate their job, so I suspect they like the way it is now.
That about sums it up.
making the process easier could obviate their job, so I suspect they like the way it is now.
Wow.
Wow what? You realize this mindset is extremely common, and that some people will in fact actively sabotage improvement efforts to keep their jobs, right?
Having worked in a large IT department I can assure you that anything that alleviates the drudgery of basic computer maintenance is very very welcome by everybody I've known who works there.
Including drivers for cards that were created after Windows was released? Good luck with that!
> As for downloading drivers from a different computer, I think that's mostly done by IT departments to manage numerous computers.
Clearly you've never had to wipe/restore a family member's computer because of their crippling malware, er, porn, habit.
If a Windows Update-type solution could be funnelled through a locally controlled central server for large installs, then the IT department could approve each update, and the local machines would automatically pull them down.
I assume that something like this already exists (even if it's not tied into Windows Update specifically).
WSUS is Windows Update for small/medium-sized MIS to run.