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20 Posts
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75146
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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chimney
147 Posts
0
March 12th, 2005 23:00
karatelovr wrote: "Well, here's the thing.....I finally did break down and restore windows and as you can see here I have access to the internet. The problem? Within 30 seconds of having access to the internet I was assaulted with spyware and viruses. I can barely get through one download without 30 pop up windows going on.
Does anyone know if Windows firewall is from serivice pack 2? I'm trying to go through all the windows up dates (from my install CD of three years ago) and I cannot find my firewall. Norton is not helping against these pop ups. All I can do is keep running spy ware and rebooting.
I knew this was going to be a pain in the a$$ that's why I was looking for another way around reformatting. The rest of my computer operations were working fine. I should have just bought another computer :-( "
Yes - Windows one way- incoming only firewall is integrated into SP2. What do you mean when you say you 'restored windows' Did you wipe your drive and reinstall the OS? Or did you use system restore and go back to an earlier time on your PC?
Either way it seems you may have to wipe your drive clean and do a reinstall. You will then have to use a virus/spam blocker etc. like Norton Internet Security- and turn ON its built in firewall and ALWAYS keep e-mail scanning on,- and TURN OFF Windows firewall.
Buying a new pc might solve your problem but only as long as you set it up to block malicious code as described above or shortly you will be right back where you are now- eventually.
I just tried XoftSpy - it is highly rated Here: comparespywareremovers.com and it works well so far on my machine to rid it of spam, key loggers, cookies, spyware.
Unfortunately there is no one cure all or kill all for spyware viruses, etc. You may have to try a few products- some of which include a free scan to let you know how much junk is really on your PC.
You decide what works for you.
Post back any further questions.
Chimney
jlsd
72 Posts
0
March 13th, 2005 08:00
Sorry you're having so many problems. Did you reinstall your firewall? That should help. I don't use the windows one. I use Norton. Those pop-ups are really a pain. I also run Ad-Aware, Spybot S&D, WinPatrol and Spyware Blaster.
Good luck.
Janet in NJ
jlsd
72 Posts
0
March 13th, 2005 08:00
karatelovr
20 Posts
0
March 13th, 2005 23:00
To answer Chimney's question, I did a complete reformat. But Janet, I have to let you know, everything was going on schedule until I d/l some windows updates and I was assaulted with spyware and some virus that would not let me access the internet for more than 1 minute.
I've just finished ANOTHER reformat, and the first thing I did was download Zonealarm's 15 day free trial security package. I plan to let this run while I d/l all the windows security packs and other updates. My Norton is from 2002 - I had been using AOL's McAfee as my virus software but I need to d/l it across the net. This was impossible due to all the spyware - it was like opening up the flood gates.
I will talk to everyone more later when and if I get up and runnning in a consistent manner.
chimney
147 Posts
0
March 13th, 2005 23:00
I just found another spyware killer I like. It removed what XoftSpy did not, and I was able to substantiate that because what I had logged in PestPatrol's free scan, prior to purchase, (which I did NOT purchase)- showed 15 items that my latest anti-spyware favorite: Spyware Nuker 2005 wiped out along with about 15 more items that neither XoftSpy nor Pest Patrol did anything about. In fairness to PestPatrol it did find 15 ones XoftSpy missed - but was hampered since my free try before you buy time had long ago expired. Look at this comparison: http://www.spywareremovalutilities.com/
I will probably get a refund from Xoftspy since I've only had it a few days and am not as satisfied as I thought I would be from the reviews.
Karatelovr: When you get up to speed- and hopefully you will- you ought to run the very latest version of Norton or McAfee. Having a version from a few years back will NEVER keep your PC clean. Even with the best and latest antivirus and firewall and anti-spyware it is almost impossible to stay totally clean. Word has it Microsoft will be coming out with IE 7 soon. Not that that won't have all kinds of problems too -and I was just looking into Firefox as an alternative browser to IE 6, but what I read leads me to believe that ALL browsers have flaws so I'm sticking with what I have been using until something truly better comes along.
Janet: For future reference when you quote another person's post please note it or quote it, or acknowledge it in some way otherwise it seems you are writing whatever you put in your reply. Thanks. It is correct netiquette.
Chimney
jlsd
72 Posts
0
March 14th, 2005 08:00
For the record -- I DID use the "quote post" option, but I didn't want the whole post in there. When I deleted what I didn't want to quote, I managed to delete the quote marks, too. I am very aware of correct netiquette and I'm sorry for the mistake.
I use Firefox AND IE6. Firefox is a fantastic browser and I really like it. However, some pages don't load properly and sometimes you still have to use IE.
Karatelovr -- I hope you are up to speed now and make sure you follow Chimney's advice about the virus protection. That needs to be kept up to date on a regular basis. I prefer Norton over McAfee, but that's what I'm used to. Good luck.
I'm still running fine and haven't had any more problems.
Janet in NJ
chimney
147 Posts
0
March 14th, 2005 13:00
Fockleburg
14 Posts
0
March 16th, 2005 16:00
karatelovr
20 Posts
0
March 16th, 2005 18:00
Can it really be considered an issue for Dell when a reformat of the OS fixed the issue?
chimney
147 Posts
0
March 16th, 2005 18:00
I suggest trying a USB wireless adapter - I've had excellent luck with them- no muss, no fuss. I am running three USB wireless adapter cards as we speak, since September '04, and no glitches whatsoever. They are Dell Truemobile 1300 cards. I connect to a Truemobile wireless router connected to my DSL modem supplied by my ISP. I also connect my host PC to the router and my shared HP 2550Ln LaserJet printer with print server built in. It is an awsome setup that handles traffic from 4 PC's and two printers, and a smartcard reader.
Chimney
Fockleburg
14 Posts
0
March 16th, 2005 21:00
I appreciate your reply. The problem is not so much an issue for Dell as it is for Microsoft, but Dell sells computers with the Microsoft OS on it and will get plenty of tech support calls about the issue. It is better to put out a Tech Bulletin or some other document to educate their customers. A reinstall of the OS is not a good solution.
chimney
147 Posts
0
March 16th, 2005 21:00
For the record, reformatting becomes a commonplace exercise in futility, often for those who are unaware of what is the real reason they are performing a reformat for in the first place.
More often than not newbies and others with more experiance reformat a drive or drives after they encounter a problem they just cannot seem to solve. Many of those problems are a direct result of operator error- in the sense that one who does not keep their virus definitions up to date- and I mean DAILY definition updates- and run a serious spyware and adware blocker or shredder is at risk of having things like ports, cards, etc. stop working.
Certainly Dell, Microsoft and other companies could do a better job at what they do - but they are in business to SELL COMPUTERS, peripherals, etc. so creating an OS or hardware that always works would not be an advantage to any of them. I'm not saying I agree with the planned obsolescence but until something better comes along we are ALL stuck with it. Therefore it is every PC user's resopnsibility to do whatever each of us can to protect ourselves from having our PC's and hard drives ruined- or trashed by malicious code.
Things have become much worse over the past several years and now it seems we're at epidemic level regarding viruses, hackers, trojans,worms, spyware, adware, etc. It never ends, and for those who write antivirus code one has to wonder if it ever will- because if it did they'd all be looking for work!
So unless one can prove that the reason they needed to wipe their drive is directly related to a defective part or manufacturer's defect, I'd be more concerned with keeping my PC free of other's intrusions,. A worthwhile link as to exactly how to do so is here:
http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm
Chimney
kenmiecomputer
1 Message
0
March 25th, 2005 23:00
We have successfully resolved this problem by running a setup repair. Basically, do this:
While I'll admit this is not the greatest solution, it does beat installing from scratch...
Fockleburg
14 Posts
0
March 29th, 2005 02:00
This is the registry key for Network Adapters. In the right panel my only entry was (Default) and there was no "Type" or "Data" associated with it. I had to Right-click on the following key {4D36E972-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}and do "New --> String Value" then add the following entries in addition to default:
(Default)
Class
EnumPropPages32
Icon
Installer32
Then go back and right-click each entry and select "Modify" and add the "data values" (shown here under "Data") for each entry to create the following entries exactly as shown here beginning with (Default). NOTE: the Type "REG_SZ" is assigned automatically:
Name Type Data
(Default) REG_SZ Network adapters
Class REG_SZ Net
EnumPropPages32 REG_SZ NetCfgx.dll,NetPropPageProvider
Icon REG_SZ -5
Installer32 REG_SZ NetCfgx.dll,NetClassInstaller
Then exit out of the registry and reboot your PC. Once you do this the Network Adapters category will show up under Device Manager. You will have to reinstall the device driver for the Network Adapter. In Device Manager you can right-click the Network Adapter and select "Update Driver" or you can use the "Add Hardware" option in Control Panel. Either way you'll need to reboot the PC again then check and make sure the Local Network Connection --> Properties shows the "Client for Microsoft Networks" is installed and also the "Internet Protocol(TCP/IP)" is also loaded. At this point you should be able to connect to the internet again.
If you have any questions contact me jfockler@sbcglobal.net