A7V600 Network Controller Error

[daniel.mcdougall]

I have a ASUS A7V600 running:

AMD XP 3000+
VANTEC 430 WATT POWER SUPPLY
PLEXTOR PREMIUM CDRW
ASUS 52X CDROM
SONY DVD
GAINWARD TI4600 GEFORCE 4 128MB
FLOPPY
CREATIVE LABS SOUND BLASTER LIVE 5.1 GAMER
2-MAXTOR SATA 80 GIG DRIVES ON RAID 0
2 - GEIL 512MB DDR-400 PC-3200

Running BIOS version 1007-005 Beta
Previosly running the 1006.awd version

The problem is that I have a yellow explanation mark in the device
manger for a network controller.

I have read the posts about turning off the USB in the BIOS but then
you do not have functionality of the USB Ports.

Updated the BIOS to the Beta 1007.005 version. Does not fix the
issue.

Re-installed Windows XP Pro 2 times, loaded all the lastest / greatest
drivers from the ASUS site.

Loaded all the 3com Drivers and Utilities still does not work.

Tried loading just the drivers on the second install no BS running in
the back ground, still has the same issue.

Called ASUS support, they do not know what the issues is. They said
that they will swap it out, because no one there knows Jack!

The onboard 3Com NIC 10/100/1000 works with no problems. This thing
is driving me crazy, need help.

Anybody know what the issue is?

I still think that it is a driver issue.

It is not the BIOS or USB settings in the BIOS.

Probably not hardware....

 

[Paul]

I have a ASUS A7V600 running:

AMD XP 3000+
VANTEC 430 WATT POWER SUPPLY
PLEXTOR PREMIUM CDRW
ASUS 52X CDROM
SONY DVD
GAINWARD TI4600 GEFORCE 4 128MB
FLOPPY
CREATIVE LABS SOUND BLASTER LIVE 5.1 GAMER
2-MAXTOR SATA 80 GIG DRIVES ON RAID 0
2 - GEIL 512MB DDR-400 PC-3200

Running BIOS version 1007-005 Beta
Previosly running the 1006.awd version

The problem is that I have a yellow explanation mark in the device
manger for a network controller.

I have read the posts about turning off the USB in the BIOS but then
you do not have functionality of the USB Ports.

Updated the BIOS to the Beta 1007.005 version. Does not fix the
issue.

Re-installed Windows XP Pro 2 times, loaded all the lastest / greatest
drivers from the ASUS site.

Loaded all the 3com Drivers and Utilities still does not work.

Tried loading just the drivers on the second install no BS running in
the back ground, still has the same issue.

Called ASUS support, they do not know what the issues is. They said
that they will swap it out, because no one there knows Jack!

The onboard 3Com NIC 10/100/1000 works with no problems. This thing
is driving me crazy, need help.

Anybody know what the issue is?

I still think that it is a driver issue.

It is not the BIOS or USB settings in the BIOS.

Probably not hardware....

The Southbridge has an Ethernet controller in it. This is a
Media Access Controller (MAC) and it needs a PHY chip added to
the output, to drive the network cable.

http://www.via.com.tw/en/southbridge/vt8237.jsp

Now, if a designer wasn't using an interface like that, there
would be a pin that is used to disable the device, so that it
doesn't show up in the device manager. It could be, for example,
that the disable pin has an internal resistor to define the
level, and this is broken on the chip. That results in the
network controller showing up in the device manager.

Can you go into the Device Manager and just disable the device ?
Maybe finding a driver for the device will make the exclamation
mark go away.

Ethernet drivers are here:
http://www.viaarena.com/?PageID=71

Get the one for "VT8237 integrated southbridge LAN".
The LAN shouldn't work, and you shouldn't try to use it,
as it doesn't appear in the manual to be intended to work.

HTH,
Paul

 

[daniel.mcdougall]

The Southbridge has an Ethernet controller in it. This is a
Media Access Controller (MAC) and it needs a PHY chip added to
the output, to drive the network cable.

So the A7V600-X uses then this onboard 10/100, then this device is
still functional on the motherboard, but no connecting port.

The A7V600 has the 3Com 10/100/1000 Ethernet Controller in addition
the the PHY integrated Ethernet Controllerin the Southbridge is
active. My understanding is then that I can load the driver the
secific driver for the PHY Ethernet Controller and it should trick
windows into believing that it has the driver for a device that it
will never use/ no connection port for the device.

Question is then = Why does the Via 4 in 1 Driver set not have the PHY
Ethernet controller driver in it? It seams that this would be the
simplest fix, correct?

http://www.via.com.tw/en/southbridge/vt8237.jsp

Now, if a designer wasn't using an interface like that, there
would be a pin that is used to disable the device, so that it
doesn't show up in the device manager. It could be, for example,
that the disable pin has an internal resistor to define the
level, and this is broken on the chip. That results in the
network controller showing up in the device manager.

Can you go into the Device Manager and just disable the device ?

That is what I did.
Everything works ok with it disabled.

Maybe finding a driver for the device will make the exclamation
mark go away.

Ethernet drivers are here:
http://www.viaarena.com/?PageID=71

Get the one for "VT8237 integrated southbridge LAN".
The LAN shouldn't work, and you shouldn't try to use it,
as it doesn't appear in the manual to be intended to work.

HTH,
Paul

Paul, it seams like you definately know your shit. Geekis!!

PS - I work for a networking hardware manufacture for 11 years. Seams
like you have an engineering background???

BTW it seams that the only differnce between the A7V600-X & the A7V600
is the 3Com NIC, correct?

Thanks,

Dan

 

[L'acrobat]

I have a ASUS A7V600 running:

it's one of the USB settings in the BIOS that causes the mystery adapter.
Advanced Menu - I/O Device Configuration - USB Device Mode. Set it to
Disabled and the mystery adapter should be gone.

You don't lose the USB ports with this setting.

 

[Paul]

So the A7V600-X uses then this onboard 10/100, then this device is
still functional on the motherboard, but no connecting port.

The A7V600 has the 3Com 10/100/1000 Ethernet Controller in addition
the the PHY integrated Ethernet Controllerin the Southbridge is
active. My understanding is then that I can load the driver the
secific driver for the PHY Ethernet Controller and it should trick
windows into believing that it has the driver for a device that it
will never use/ no connection port for the device.

Question is then = Why does the Via 4 in 1 Driver set not have the PHY
Ethernet controller driver in it? It seams that this would be the
simplest fix, correct?


That is what I did.
Everything works ok with it disabled.

Paul, it seams like you definately know your shit. Geekis!!

Educated guesses only

PS - I work for a networking hardware manufacture for 11 years. Seams
like you have an engineering background???
Yes.


BTW it seams that the only differnce between the A7V600-X & the A7V600
is the 3Com NIC, correct?

Thanks,

Dan

I see an extra serial port. And, some other stuff that doesn't
count, like the Wifi slot.

Paul

 

[daniel.mcdougall]

it's one of the USB settings in the BIOS that causes the mystery adapter.
Advanced Menu - I/O Device Configuration - USB Device Mode. Set it to
Disabled and the mystery adapter should be gone.

You don't lose the USB ports with this setting.

There is not setting in the BIOS for this in eaither the 1007-005 beta
or the 1006.awd BIOS verision.

The only selectionin the I/O Device Configuration is:

USB Controller (NOT USB DEVICE MODE)

selection is: ENABLED OR DISABLED

If the USB Controller is disabled then the USB Ports are ot active.

 

[L'acrobat]

There is not setting in the BIOS for this in eaither the 1007-005 beta
or the 1006.awd BIOS verision.

Interesting, I'm using 1006 and that is how I fixed it on mine.