XP SP2 doesn't recognize my Ethernet card

[Guest]

I am trying to resurrect an old computer - AMD K6 3D with 512 Mb using XP Pro
SP2. The computer has a 3COM 3C509b Ethernet card in it. When I first start
the computer there is no internet or network connectivity. I check the device
list and there is a yellow exclamation mark, so I uninstall the device, then
run New Hardware Wizard and it connects and works.
Any idea why it won't connect upon startup? The POST shows that the BIOS
sees the card but XP does not. I have tried to get the latest drivers from
3COM, but their site says that SP2 should include the latest drivers for this
NIC.

 

[Guest]

Apart from the fact that XP sucks royally, the drivers have to be signed by
Microsuck-- err, Microsoft before I consider them as reliable.

Anything unsigned can be misleading.

Have you checked that the port where you place the Ethernet card is not
faulty?

 

[Malke]

I am trying to resurrect an old computer - AMD K6 3D with 512 Mb using XP Pro
SP2. The computer has a 3COM 3C509b Ethernet card in it. When I first start
the computer there is no internet or network connectivity. I check the device
list and there is a yellow exclamation mark, so I uninstall the device, then
run New Hardware Wizard and it connects and works.
Any idea why it won't connect upon startup? The POST shows that the BIOS
sees the card but XP does not. I have tried to get the latest drivers from
3COM, but their site says that SP2 should include the latest drivers for this
NIC.

XP does contain drivers for that 3COM and usually that card is very easy
to install. Because this is an older computer, there is a strong
possibility that the card is failing. Simply replace it with a new one.
You can buy an ethernet card for under $15 USD so there is no reason to
be messing about with this one.


Malke

 

[Guest]

For both suggestions, card or port: why does it work fine after I uninstall
and then run the hardware wizard? I would expect it to fail at that point as
well. It's not the cost of the card, it's wondering if there is another
underlying problem that won't be solved by buying/installing another card.

 

[Malke]

For both suggestions, card or port: why does it work fine after I uninstall
and then run the hardware wizard? I would expect it to fail at that point as
well. It's not the cost of the card, it's wondering if there is another
underlying problem that won't be solved by buying/installing another card.

I can't be sure of course, but it is not uncommon for failing hardware
to work temporarily after you install drivers but fail when you restart.
I've mostly seen this with video cards but certainly it could happen
with a NIC.

Since I can't see the machine in question, there is no way for me to
guess what is really happening on it. Because I do tech support/computer
repair for a living, time is money and that's why I suggested swapping
out the card. Also if the new card works and you don't experience the
problem again, then the probability that the first card was failing is
very high. So it's a cheap and quick troubleshooting step.


Malke

 

[Guest]

OK - a new Netgear card seems to do the trick. Inexpensive and effective.
Thanks to all!