Network interfaces normally did need installing manually in XP, but I've always found Vista and Win7 have autodetected and set them up during install and the system has been online and checking for updates on first boot up. Xp never was good as driver detection though because it was only designed to check Windows Update server and nothing else. Newer OSs seem to find most things easily in comparison.

Worst type of hardware I've always found hard to install is PCI 56k modems. Hardly any of them have their make or model written on them, and most OSs have no clue what they are or the drivers they need. So the only way to get them working is to write down what they are from device manager on the system they are already installed on before they are removed. Very annoying.
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