How do you remove old network devices & IE question

[Guest]

Hello all,

I've basically got two questions but I'll have to example alot so please
bare with me

I'm running a small home network (2 PCs both running XP Home, XBox, Network
Switch, DSL Modem/Router) which has been running successfully for about a
year.

I have just installed a new motherboard, processor, memory into one of the
PCs but kept the old hard drive so all XP had to do was deal with the new
hardware (which apparently involves repairing/reinstalling windows).

Anyway, once I've got the PC running again all I have left to do is get it
accessing the internet. In the past, all this has involved is specifying an
IP address, gateway address and DNS settings. This is where the first strange
thing happens . . . the PCs old mainboard had onboard LAN but I'm using a
network card on the new board, so I figure I'll give the PC the same IP
address as it had before. When I set this, XP tells me that an old network
device (which is hidden because it isn't physically available anymore) has
the same IP address so was I sure I wanted the new network card to have the
same address (Yes/No option here).

So, first of the two questions: How do I remove this "Hidden" / Old network
device?

Now, regardless of what IP address I give the PC, I've found another strange
thing . . . When I first access the internet after a reboot using IE, I get a
"No connection to the Internet" Error window (Work Offline/Try Again option
here). But if you click "Try Again" IE then displays webpages as normal. If
you use another program to access the internet immediately after a reboot (ie
Norton Live Update) that works fine, and then so does IE.

So, second question: Why is this happening and how do I stop it? It's
irritating more than anything else and I have a sneaking suspicion it will be
cleared up when the first problem is.

Thanks in advance,

David

 

[Steve Winograd [MVP]]

Hello all,

I've basically got two questions but I'll have to example alot so please
bare with me

I'm running a small home network (2 PCs both running XP Home, XBox, Network
Switch, DSL Modem/Router) which has been running successfully for about a
year.

I have just installed a new motherboard, processor, memory into one of the
PCs but kept the old hard drive so all XP had to do was deal with the new
hardware (which apparently involves repairing/reinstalling windows).

Anyway, once I've got the PC running again all I have left to do is get it
accessing the internet. In the past, all this has involved is specifying an
IP address, gateway address and DNS settings. This is where the first strange
thing happens . . . the PCs old mainboard had onboard LAN but I'm using a
network card on the new board, so I figure I'll give the PC the same IP
address as it had before. When I set this, XP tells me that an old network
device (which is hidden because it isn't physically available anymore) has
the same IP address so was I sure I wanted the new network card to have the
same address (Yes/No option here).

So, first of the two questions: How do I remove this "Hidden" / Old network
device?

Now, regardless of what IP address I give the PC, I've found another strange
thing . . . When I first access the internet after a reboot using IE, I get a
"No connection to the Internet" Error window (Work Offline/Try Again option
here). But if you click "Try Again" IE then displays webpages as normal. If
you use another program to access the internet immediately after a reboot (ie
Norton Live Update) that works fine, and then so does IE.

So, second question: Why is this happening and how do I stop it? It's
irritating more than anything else and I have a sneaking suspicion it will be
cleared up when the first problem is.

Thanks in advance,

David

Please see this Microsoft Knowledge Base article. Following the steps
there will make the hidden device appear:

Device Manager Does Not Display Devices That Are Not Connected to the
Windows XP-Based Computer
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=315539


I've seen the extraneous "no connection" message many times, and I
don't know what causes it. Maybe someone in an Internet Explorer news
group can give the answer.
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

 

[Guest]

Thanks for that Steve

 

[Jetro]

Running Internet connection Setup wizard mostly fixes the Offline/Try again
problem.