Internet won't work after reinstalling xp

First off I don't know a lot about computers. I have an old Dell Deminson 4550 desktop computer. I reinstalled windows xp on it from the cd. Turns out I am missing the cd that you use to reinstall the drivers. Would I need this to establish an internet connection? I hooked up the modem and router, and I can get internet on my laptop but not the desktop. If it is working on the laptop shouldn't I be able to get it to work on the desktop or do I need to wait till I get the disk with the drivers and utilities on it? Thanks in advance for any help. Angel

Go here and enter the requested info. This should lead you to all the need`d drivers for your PC.

No need to order or wait for a disk. Unless of course they send it free. In that case it will be nice to have for back-up.

Thanks, I would do that but I don't have a cd/dvd burner on the laptop, so I guess I'll just have to wait on the cd I ordered? So it is normal that it would work on the laptop but not the desktop? Thanks again, Angel

You probably have a different NIC = Network Interface Card on the lap top then on the tower. So yes it is quit normal.

Do you have a flash drive? Some call them thumb drives.