Intel PRO/100+ PCI ethernet card not detected

["Greg Howard" <gmshoward@qwest.net>]

Hi,

I'm trying to install Debian 2.2 using a "base image" I've downloaded 
to a Win98 partition; I'm using the udma66 installation images to 
boot the system initially.  

I understand from the documents that I should be able to install 
"base" in this way and then use ftp or http to access Debian servers 
to install other packages.  The base package actually installed
successfully (I've booted Linux and tooled around a bit), but the
kernel doesn't seem to detect my ethernet card at all.  (No eth*
devices appear in /dev.)

It's an Intel PRO/100+.  I consulted the ethernet-howto, but I
couldn't make any of their suggestions work: modutils apparently 
doesn't like /etc/conf.modules, and /etc/modules.conf doesn't want to
be modified since it's automatically generated.  Unfortunately the
man pages are not part of the base package, so I'm not quite sure
how to go about updating /etc/modules.conf "legitimately".  My 
unauthorized modification--
        alias eth0 eepro100
--didn't seem to make a difference: modprobe still couldn't find
the card.  Perhaps I need an updated driver, but I can't install
gcc & friends until I have access to the Internet... chicken and
egg.

Is there anything else I can try (without access to a
compiler-equipped linux box) to get this card working?  Or am I going
to have to break down and mail-order some debian CD's :-) ?

Thanks for any ideas 
- Greg Howard