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Clean install of XP doesn't recognize upgraded NIC
I did a clean install of XP from Dell CD. When it came to installing the network it provided approximately 10 errors saying it couldn't load or find certain network components after which it kept rebooting into an endless loop to the same error messages until I had to do another clean install from the beginning in order to kill the loop. The only way to stop the loop was to pull out the cable from the NIC after which Windows loaded without the errors.
I Usually leave the NIC cable plugged in during a clean install (to get the registration over with) but I recently changed the 3Com NIC which came with my Dimension 8200 to a D-Link NIC because the 3Com was conflicting with an application. After the XP install I then loaded the NIC drivers and now everything seems to be working fine. However, during the XP setup routine, it still didn't ask for the usual workgroup/domain questions presumably because it didn't recognize the NIC.
Is this OK or should I do another clean install with the old 3Com NIC which I would replace with the D-Link after the install? My concern is that even though I didn't get the error messages, the fact that I didn't get the proper setup questions cause me to wonder whether some components are still missing?
Any help would be appreciated.
Message Edited by mhw100 on 04-24-200612:35 PM
ILoveMullets
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Posted April 24th, 2006 20:00
thats why i asked. i know the dell cd is sp1a, not sp2. i'm thinking getting an offline version (i.e. a cd) version of sp2 may solve your problems. it may just be a driver issue, which sp2 would fix as its driver list is more up to date. i realise you need your nic to work to get to windowsupdate but youre going to have to find a friend to download the entire (200MB+) sp2 and install it from a cd or memory key.ILoveMullets
192 Posts
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Posted April 24th, 2006 20:00
have you installed xp service pack 2?
BBraxton
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Posted April 24th, 2006 18:00
Frequently when I clean install XP, for who knows what reason the questions get skipped and I just JOIN the computer (with name I assign it) to the Domain at the next opportunity. I would NOT do yet another clean install for that issue.
Do you have to DISABLE the 3Com in order to allow the D-Link to work in its place? (as opposed to automatic disable). On our Dell systems, the network adapter is usually integrated right in the motherboard. The last time we have to go around an integrated Broadcom board because it failed (Dell later replaced the motherboard) we used a USB network adapter which worked fine for us.