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20 Posts
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75148
March 9th, 2005 17:00
NIC = Unknown Device!
I recently moved my Dell Dimension 4400 with Windows XP Home edition. Upon reconnecting everything, I had some issues. The first was I could not get a monitor signal. I opened up the tower and seated the video card firmly in the slot (I guess it got jiggled loose upon disconnection). First problem solved. (I mention this only to demonstrate what physical actions I took between computer working and not working, lol. I know all you tech people ask first thing: "What did you do?")
The other problem is that I do not have access to the internet. My DSL modem has only 2 LEDs lit - so I know it has power and it is sending to the computer. The 3rd LED is out which means the modem is not RECEIVING info from the computer. The first thing I tried to do was to go to my Network Connections screen. There were no icons! So I tried to create one. The computer couldn't find the NIC. I also tried rebooting in "Last Known Good Configuration" - still no NIC or internet connection.
When I looked in Device Manager, I got a LOT of yellow ! marks under the heading "Unknown Device". I removed them all and rebooted the computer.
Upon restart, the computer found new hardware, but everytime it installs it, I get the yellow !s. I am down to two "unknown devices": Intel(r) PRO/100+ Management Adapter and WAN Miniport (ATW).
I know the WAN Miniport is an AOL thing (don't ask - I can't bear to give up my AOL address so I log on for email purposes only via TCP/IP). Unfortunately, I do not have a CD from DELL with all my drivers. I have, however, downloaded what I hope is the correct driver here at work and I will copy to a CD and take home. I also will change out my internet cables (the cat has chewed through the insulation of my current one, although, it worked just fine only hours prior to this event).
I really don't understand how this happened. The only other thing that is different is I had a small hub attached to the computer. This was from when I had two other comps running on a network (no longer have the other two computers, but this one remained hooked up to the hub anyhow). Upon hooking up this time, I decided to run a cable right from the DSL modem to the NIC. However, I did try to go through the hub to see if that made a difference and it did not.
Sorry so long, I wanted to provide all needed info. Any thoughts or ideas?
~Kar
The other problem is that I do not have access to the internet. My DSL modem has only 2 LEDs lit - so I know it has power and it is sending to the computer. The 3rd LED is out which means the modem is not RECEIVING info from the computer. The first thing I tried to do was to go to my Network Connections screen. There were no icons! So I tried to create one. The computer couldn't find the NIC. I also tried rebooting in "Last Known Good Configuration" - still no NIC or internet connection.
When I looked in Device Manager, I got a LOT of yellow ! marks under the heading "Unknown Device". I removed them all and rebooted the computer.
Upon restart, the computer found new hardware, but everytime it installs it, I get the yellow !s. I am down to two "unknown devices": Intel(r) PRO/100+ Management Adapter and WAN Miniport (ATW).
I know the WAN Miniport is an AOL thing (don't ask - I can't bear to give up my AOL address so I log on for email purposes only via TCP/IP). Unfortunately, I do not have a CD from DELL with all my drivers. I have, however, downloaded what I hope is the correct driver here at work and I will copy to a CD and take home. I also will change out my internet cables (the cat has chewed through the insulation of my current one, although, it worked just fine only hours prior to this event).
I really don't understand how this happened. The only other thing that is different is I had a small hub attached to the computer. This was from when I had two other comps running on a network (no longer have the other two computers, but this one remained hooked up to the hub anyhow). Upon hooking up this time, I decided to run a cable right from the DSL modem to the NIC. However, I did try to go through the hub to see if that made a difference and it did not.
Sorry so long, I wanted to provide all needed info. Any thoughts or ideas?
~Kar
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volcano11
2 Intern
•
28K Posts
0
March 9th, 2005 18:00
Try downloading the drivers for the network adapter from
http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/type.aspx?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs&SystemID=DIM_PNT_P4_4400&category=5&os=WW1&osl=en&deviceid=222&devlib=5
Then install them.
Steve
karatelovr
20 Posts
0
March 10th, 2005 11:00
Try downloading the drivers for the network adapter from
http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/type.aspx?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs&SystemID=DIM_PNT_P4_4400&category=5&os=WW1&osl=en&deviceid=222&devlib=5
Then install them."
I tried that. Didn't work. I spent 2 hours on the phone last night with Dell. We went through all sorts of stupid exercises (the guy was clearly reading from a book). We tried system restore (which didn't work b/c I had turned that off a couple of weeks ago to get more speed in IE), looking for the card in the BIOS and then he wanted me to d/l the driver from their website. Duh, I don't have internet access! I tried explaining that I had copied the driver onto a cd while at work and installed it, but it still doesn't work.
The computer knows it's an Intel PRO/100+ Management Adapter, but puts it under the heading "Unknown Device" and with the yellow! Dell's final suggestion was that my mother board was bad. oh please - I hardly think that's the case. But could the comm port be bad??????
volcano11
2 Intern
•
28K Posts
0
March 10th, 2005 11:00
Try reinstalling the chipet drivers first, then reinstalling the network drivers.
Steve
karatelovr
20 Posts
0
March 10th, 2005 11:00
Try reinstalling the chipet drivers first, then reinstalling the network drivers."
What are chipet drivers? And how would I do that?
volcano11
2 Intern
•
28K Posts
0
March 10th, 2005 12:00
You can download the chipset drivers at:
http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/type.aspx?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs&SystemID=DIM_PNT_P4_4400&category=27&os=WW1&osl=en&deviceid=183&devlib=27
Steve
karatelovr
20 Posts
0
March 10th, 2005 14:00
spncr592
7 Posts
0
March 10th, 2005 15:00
spncr592
7 Posts
0
March 10th, 2005 15:00
I've been having this same exact issue since yesterday, and i've reloaded the drivers to no avail.. I've also installed a PCI network card, in case the integrated Broadcom Nic had failed, and this didn't work either. The new PCI NIC I installed shows the correct Driver and Name, but is shown with an exclamation point under "unknown", just like the on-board Nic.
I've also, as prior suggested, reinstalled the Chipset Drivers, and while the installation went smoothly, nothing changed.
What the heck is wrong with this, and why does this forum show so many people with this similar issue (i counted 4 yesterday).
karatelovr
20 Posts
0
March 10th, 2005 16:00
spncr592
7 Posts
0
March 10th, 2005 16:00
karatelovr
20 Posts
0
March 10th, 2005 16:00
bob610
6 Posts
0
March 10th, 2005 17:00
Go to the MS Windows device manager and DISABLE the current Network card that the system can't identify. Then try to install your spare network card. I don't know for sure that it will help, but I'm thinking that Windows may be getting confused when it finds the first network card and subsequently can't make the second network card to work either.
If you DISABLE the first card rather than deleted it, Windows won't try to get it working the next time your reboot.
I'm just kinda' guessing here - I don't have any really GOOD ideas... :-(
Bob
bob610
6 Posts
0
March 10th, 2005 17:00
Have you tried plugging your PCI card into a different slot? I helped a friend troubleshoot his networking problems one day because he was going crazy trying to figure out why he couldn't get his computer to find his network. I had read somewhere that occasionally a computer has a problem with a device plugged into one PCI slot, but not another, so I plugged his network card into a different slot and it worked perfectly.
Just another random thought...
Bob
spncr592
7 Posts
0
March 10th, 2005 17:00
jlsd
72 Posts
0
March 10th, 2005 22:00
I woke up to the exact same problem yesterday morning. Modem was working -- all lights lit and steady, but couldn't connect. After searching a bit, I found that my network adapter was not being recognized. My device manager did not show the network adapter -- it showed "Unknown" with a much of stuff under it all with yellow exclamation points. I called my DSL provider, Verizon, who told me to call Dell. This must be a Dell problem -- she didn't even ask what kind of computer I had. Just said to call Dell. After holding on for ONE WHOLE HOUR for a tech, I finally talked to someone (I was afraid to hang up -- it might take longer next time). She advised me to do a System Restore. We used Sunday, 3/6. Everything went fine and computer and modem worked perfect. Last night I shut off computer and went to bed. Woke up to same problem this morning. I did another System Restore (as advised by tech). When I selected a date, I first clicked on Tuesday (the day I first had the problem). I noticed that it showed I had downloaded and installed a Microsoft Malicious Software Removal Tool that day. I then selected to restore to Monday. Everything went smoothly again. Am able to connect with no problem.
However, I realized something. I downloaded that MS update on Tuesday and the problem actually started Tuesday night after I shut off the computer. My son turned it on after me and could not get on line. Yesterday, I restored the computer to Sunday. Since that was BEFORE I downloaded the file, when I booted up again on Wednesday, I got another notice about the file. I downloaded it again. After I did the restore this morning, I'm getting another notice about the file. I have not downloaded it and so far, everything is fine.
Is it possible that this file (KB890830) caused the problem?
Janet in NJ