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Intel 820mb, win2k & NIC's

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by chrisl

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I'm upgrading an existing system. Stripped out everything except video card, mb (new Intel w/820 chipset, 1ghz PIII, & 128 rambus - 600mhz), hard drive, floppy, and ports. Installed win2k no prob. As soon as i stuck in my 3com 905b card and rebooted win2k tried to install drivers and 'poof', the system goes to a blue screen (not a win2k 'blue screen) with the message "hardware malfunction - contact manuf." .... tried two other network cards, linksys100tx and a 3com 905a card. each one doesthe EXACT SAME THING as soon as i try to install a driver.

Anyone have a solution, possible solution?

10 replies

by ipjunkie

Did you try the NICs in different slots on the Motherboard? Sounds like it could be a bad slot.

by tbradley

Were these cards previously used in systems where the PNP option was turned off?

I'm not sure about linksys, but the 905 cards ship with a Dos utility... 3c90xcfg.exe that can turn the PnP off, and in essence forces them to a set IRQ/IO address.

Once set, the OS CANNOT override the card's settings, and win2k may already have a device at that IO/IRQ.

by chrisl

Good thought but the linksys is a brand new card. Tried to force the PCI slot to IRQ 10 in the BIOS but it didn't work.

by tbradley

I think you missed the point. The card config utility sets the CARD to a specfic Irq/IO address, and regardless of what the BIOS or Win2k wants to do, cannot change. Like a physical jumper, but internal.

IE, you set the card to IRQ3/IO 310 with the config utility, that it will remain until either changed in the config utility, or pnp on the card is turned on.

Just because it's right out of the box doesn't mean it hasn't been pre-set. I've installed over 500 3c509's that came from the factory preset to irq 10/IO port 300, and since these all went into systems with integrated video that used IRQ10, each and every one had to be "bumped" loose in Dos before Windows would see it without a conflict.

by chrisl

I understand. I'm with you. I've used the utility to set it before. BUT, this time it's not the issue. I went into the cfg program to check the settings and everything was cool. BTW, this board doesn't have integrated video (both 10 & 11 are free in w2k) and i'm dealing with a 905 board, not a 509. Thanks though. It was a definatly worth the shot.

by volovoy

I think before inserting the NIC into your computer you have to to execute file preinstl.exe from your installation floppy disks. After this shutdown your computer, put the NIC and restart computer. If you have manual, read it first. I put 10 or more 3C905B NIC's without any problem.

by jesselou

turn off your os plug n play aware under your
bios setup and try to manually reinstall by using the add remove programs or better still
follow the troubleshooter procedure on nic on your w2kpro booksonline.

by chrisl

plug and play is off in bios. this is really more problem than the w2kpro booksonline can handle...

by chrisl

Additional Info:

Tried to install NT4 and during the network installation, the exact same message came up. Tried Win98 next, worked perfect. No problems. Able to navigate my network as well as internet...

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