AboutRider Expertise With 20 years experience I can answer almost any question about Intel computers ror build, restore, backup, configure, OS problems, Hardware issures. Setup of hardware components, repair, remove and replace. Trouble shooting hardware/driver issues.
Qwner of DIY Computer Repair and autor of the DIY Computer Repair E-Book
Experience I have been a hardware/os tech for over 20 years, I also own a web site for the do it yourselfer with over 170 articles.
Education/Credentials AAS Electronics Engineering Technology, MCSE, A , HP/IBM/Compaq hardware repair ceritfications
You can visit my site here: DIY Computer Repair or
visit my swickie DIY Swickie
Question QUESTION: I am running a Windows PC on XP home and have problems with the Internet adaptor on my ASUS motherboard that seems to be failing.
I tried installing A Gigabit Network Adaptor by Creative I/O and the install failed, locked up my PC and wouldn't allow a normal Windows boot. I rebooted in safe mode and disabled the drivers for the new adapter.
To try and minimize the number of bad tries I have a simple question: Should I disable the onboard LAN adaptor before installing the new one. Is that what may be causing the lockup?
Thanks in advance.
Lew
ANSWER: Yes, you need to disable the embedded NIC (Network Interface Card).
First go into the BIOS and disable it there, then start the OS and uninstall the adapter from the Device Menu.
Then install your new NIC, you don't need to go into the BIOS setup but I always do when adding new hardware, just open the first page, then exit and save.
Then start the OS, have the install cd ready, you will need the drivers.
QUESTION: I may be jumping the gun.
The symptom is that, every few minutes I get a pop-up message on the lower right hand corner of my screen that there is no connection to the network. My ISP has tested their connection and it is fine. It is independent of cable and router connection and other PCs on the network don't get the message.
So I have made the assumption it is my imbedded NIC. Does that make sense?
Thanks again.
Answer There are some other possiblities:
Drivers - have you reinstalled them?
Software - Check all your Network Propeties, something may have changed?
Network cable - have you tried a different one?
Network node connection - have you tried connecting the cable to a different port on your switch/router or moving the computer to a different wall socket?
I would suspect a hardware problem, maybe not the NIC but between the NIC and the router.
Lastly have a look at this tutroial on troubleshooting network errors:
