Network Adapter Useless after lightning strike

Question

Hello, lightning recently struck near our house, killing some appliances and (apparently) my network adapter. It is an Intel PRO/100 VE that is built in to the motherboard. My other computer connects successfully through ethernet, so I have determined that it is this machine that is the problem. I am currently connected to the internet through USB.

I have tried installing multiple new PCI Network Adapters, but I am unable to install them correctly. Windows (XP) refuses to recognize the drivers. I have disabled the old network adapter... do I need to "uninstall" it too?

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

volcano11 · Answer

The lightning strike may have done more damage than just taking out the network controller.  To answer you question, if you disable on the onboard network adapter in the BIOS, you should not have to uninstall it.  Disabling it is not necessary either, as computers can have more than one network adapter, even if one of them doesn't work.   Steve

PETER345 · Answer

You should not need to uninstall the old one. In fact, it is perfectly fine to have multiple network adapters operating in the machine at one time.

What sort of error message do you get? If it "refuses" to accept the drivers, it sounds like you might be using the wrong ones.

Peter

volcano11 · Answer

The lightning could have damaged the PCI bus or other connections on the motherboard.  Have you tried different PCI slots?   Steve

willowpez · Answer

Windows 'cannot find' the correct drivers, even when I use the CD that came with the card or try downloading the drivers and manually choosing that driver. What other damage might the lightning have done?

volcano11 · Answer

Do you have a cable modem?  If so, are you resetting the modem every time you change the computer connecting to it?   Steve

willowpez · Answer

So I was able to install the card after switching to a different PCI slot, and though it seems to be working properly, it cannot connect to the internet. I have another computer that connects through ethernet without problem, so it's not the modem or the network...

I've tried "Repairing" the connection, but it fails when it cannot renew the IP address.

Any ideas?

willowpez · Answer

Looks like that did the trick. Thank you so much for you help!

Craftymama51 · Answer

I need help on the same subject. Lightning struck near my house on Saturday and since then, I can't connect using broadband. I also have Intel Pro/100 VE running on Windows XP SP2 I called Bellsouth and we established that the modem (Westell 6100) is working and the Pro 100 seems to be working but I get the 169.254.xxx.xxx address. My Pro/100 diagnostics passes all but the link test. We switched to USB cable and that worked for a few hours, but I got the same result so I switched back to ethernet.I've run WinsockFix, LSPFix, downloaded the MS patch for SP2, uninstalled the Pro/100, done the winsock reset. It just won't renew the IP. I use Bellsouth PPOE and I'm out of ideas. There are no new drivers for the Pro/100 VE. Would a static Ip help? I've run this DSL for months with no problem and now I have a headache.

Networking, Internet, & Bluetooth

Network Adapter Useless after lightning strike

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