hfhlt004

50 Posts

37104

January 12th, 2009 21:00

Ethernet controller won't load

I have a 2 year old Dell XPS 410 still under the 3 year warranty. I can't seem to get Dell tech support to understand my problem. I had a popup after restart saying Ethernet controller missing. I tried to download another driver on a different computer and transfer it to my Dell with no luck. I also have a Dell drivers CD, but didn't have luck there either. Dell is perplexed, but I just want my computer fixed. How do I get Dell to act???

I also read this on a non dell forum: (I had updated this Bios several months ago myself-- I have no clue what to do next.)

_____________________________________________________

Dell has released a new BIOS for the XPS 410 and Dimension 9200, which they have marked as Urgent (in big bold and red-colored text). BIOS 2.5.2 corrects problems the system was having when in Gigabit Ethernet environments. It’s not clear if this also applies to systems with a 10/100 controller… or what else Dell didn’t note in the change list… so just go update.

Update: Dell has pulled the update. Judging from the comments below, the update was randomly frying Ethernet NICs on-board, though I cannot reproduce this on my system.

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1 Comment on “Dell XPS 410 / Dimension 9200 BIOS 2.5.2 Released (Updated)”
chris on November 13th, 2007, 12:40 pm Hey man,

This BIOS fried the ethernet port of 3 of our 9200’s. We own over 40. On the forums, 1 or 2 others reported similar results.

Dell has now pulled the BIOS down and has 2.5.1 back up.

______________________________________________________________

There was no further comment on what to do about this. I am perplexed. Dell is not helping.

Responses(23)
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iroc9555

2 Intern

•

1K Posts

1

January 14th, 2009 11:00

Hi Bob.

If in BIOS the NIC is ON and It is not showing in Ethernet Adapters, your mobo has to be changed. Now Do you have a Ethernet card install ? Is this the one Showing in Ethernet Adapters with th yellow ! ?

hfhlt004

50 Posts

1

January 14th, 2009 11:00

I would go to the BIOS ( reboot and press F2 when Dell´s logo appears ) look for "ON board Divices" and make sure "Integrated NIC" says "ON". Try the XPS NIC (network interface card) again. Make sure that "Intel(R) 825xx DC Gigabit Network Connection" (that is your Ethernet connection that is integrated to the MOBO) is showing in Ethernet adapters in Device Manager. Try again your connectivity.

Edit: slamx is right, some times drivers have to be installed differently, like the one I gave you above for Intel PRO 10+PCI; However, It has been my experience that Dell´s drivers are straight forward. You are missing your NIC not your driver.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Just a note: In the BIOS, On Board Devices, the Integrated NIC is "ON".

Could I be missing my NIC device and not just the driver. Could it be that is the reason I can't get a driver to install? Could there be something wrong in the motherboard?

Though I have tried and tried by following the Dell tech, I can't get anywhere. I think they should allow me to send the computer back and refurbish it, but apparantly they don't allow this. I am in the 3rd year of a "limited warranty". Wish I knew my rights.

At this point, I have saved all my docs, pics, and email addresses, and favorites. I am strongly considering reinstalling Windows, and, if that doesn't work, throw the problem back to Dell. My big question is--how do I reinstall Windows if I can't get online?

Bob

iroc9555

2 Intern

•

1K Posts

1

January 14th, 2009 12:00

Bob.

If your PC is still under your 3 years "limited Warranty" Dell´should change your motherboard for free after a diagnosis phone call. I would recommend to get rid of that Intel Pro + Ethernet card and driver, and run a diagnosis test:

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/xps410/en/SM_EN/adtshoot.htm#wp1059422

Start with the Express test to see what it finds. Unplug everything but your screen, mouse, and keyboard.

Get in touch with Dell´s Support and see what you can work out with then to diagnose your PC since it is not able to connect to the web.

Also If you want to start from the begining and reinstall your OS check this page:

http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/dsn/en/document?c=us&docid=58E26A65A4388E4FE040AE0AB7E107E3&l=en&s=gen#man_osri_task1

I would recommend Dell´s PC Restore by Symantec second on the list yellow M, that is if you have not touch your hard drive partitions or reinstall your OS in the past. Usually you disconnect everything from your PC but the mouse, keyboard, and monitor. Reboot and when the blue ribon at the top of the screen appears, press Ctrl + F11. Beware you will loose all your private files. The PC returns to the original state that was when you took it out of the box when new.

Hope it helps.

S

SlamX

950 Posts

1

January 14th, 2009 12:00

Just to clarify Bob has not installed any 3rd party PCI ethernet card.

iroc9555

2 Intern

•

1K Posts

1

January 14th, 2009 13:00

Hi slamx.

He has not said otherwise, on the other hand, he said that in Ethernet Adapters is showing a Intel Pro + Ethernet PCI adapter with a yellow !. As far as I know 9200/410 does not come with that adapter or driver. Unless he installed the driver and it should have said that it did not find the hardware to the driver, I do not know from where or from whom he got that driver.

I want to help but something is not clicking here. It should be a straight forward driver upgrade that is not happening, so if his PC is still under warranty the best way to go is for a diagnostic and replacement of the mobo if the NIC is fried as he suspects.

hfhlt004

50 Posts

1

January 14th, 2009 20:00

Glory, a senior Dell tech did a lot of testing. In the end he found that the problem must be in the motherboard, and Dell is sending someone to my home about Monday to install a new motherboard.

Thanks so much for all your help. I've never had a motherboard go out before, and did not recognize the signs. We just knew that new drivers would not install or work.

I will post here later if the motherboard did NOT solve the problem.

Bob

iroc9555

2 Intern

•

1K Posts

1

January 15th, 2009 10:00

Hi Bob.

I am glad to hear that you find the right Dell tech to listen to you. You see, you were right all alone, it is the mobo.

hfhlt004

50 Posts

1

January 15th, 2009 13:00

:emotion-2: That was fast. The Dell tech arrived today, put in the new motherboard, and all seems to work fine.

Thanks for all the help. I would not have survived the process without it.

Bob

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Ethernet controller won't load

Just a note: In the BIOS, On Board Devices, the Integrated NIC is "ON".

Could I be missing my NIC device and not just the driver. Could it be that is the reason I can't get a driver to install? Could there be something wrong in the motherboard?

Though I have tried and tried by following the Dell tech, I can't get anywhere. I think they should allow me to send the computer back and refurbish it, but apparantly they don't allow this. I am in the 3rd year of a "limited warranty". Wish I knew my rights.

At this point, I have saved all my docs, pics, and email addresses, and favorites. I am strongly considering reinstalling Windows, and, if that doesn't work, throw the problem back to Dell. My big question is--how do I reinstall Windows if I can't get online?

Bob

Glory, a senior Dell tech did a lot of testing. In the end he found that the problem must be in the motherboard, and Dell is sending someone to my home about Monday to install a new motherboard.

Thanks so much for all your help. I've never had a motherboard go out before, and did not recognize the signs. We just knew that new drivers would not install or work.

I will post here later if the motherboard did NOT solve the problem.

Bob

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