how to apply patches on a system that doesnot have functional network device ?

[Saifi Khan]

Hi:

Here is a situation that i'm facing on a Compaq C301TU laptop.

The NIC card (Realtek)   does not work due to driver issue.
The WLAN card (Broadcom) does not work due to driver issue.

Currently, i review the possible patch visually on an identical
laptop (running FreeBSD-8) and then type out the code on the
other laptop in sys/dev/netif/rl/if_rl.c file.

Is there a better way to apply patches on a system that doesnot
have functional network devices ?

i'm leaning towards USB-Ethernet and was wondering if there is a
USB-Ethernet device that is known to work fine with DragonFly
BSD 2.4.1 ?

Please accept my apologies for this newbie query and look
forward to suggestions from the more experienced folks on this
matter.


thanks
Saifi.