PC network problem ... Please help

[dougal]

I'm asking here because im not a member of any otehr forum plus i feel comfy here

Basicly all of a sudden my pc is not finding its onboard network card .

Not listed in device manager , i tried to do ADD NEW hardware and not found either .

I did a system restore and it didnt help .

I tried installing a PCI network card and windows still doesnt find it .

I am only managing to work using wireless

Any help please?

[dougal]

I'm using XP .

I have reset the bios using the jumper on the motherboard next to the battery .

There is no option to enable or disable the onboard lan .

I even tried putting in another lan card through PCI but still windows wont detect .

Nothing not even with the explanation mark / yellow ... As though there is no LAN hardware .

I'm at my wits end ... Ive tried and tried but no luck

I am starting to think it may be software , but i did a system restore and still no luck .

I tried force installing the drive but it says it could not be started "code 10" .

[dougal]

Ok, for Windows XP, make sure your 'Plug and Play' service is set to Automatic and is started.  If that thing isn't running properly, it'll cause all sorts of havoc (usually more with sound cards, but also with network cards).  Also check that the 'Network Connections' service is started and running.

And, just to confirm, you have no yellow (!) or (?) and no disabled devices (red X) anywhere in device manager.  (Not just not under the "Network Adaptors" branch, but none ANYWHERE, right?)  Is a 'Network Adaptors' branch even being displayed?  If so, what's under it?  

And, a next debugging step...  If you still suspect software, as Zac67 said, try a BartPE or Linux Live CD.  If that detects a network card properly, you know it's software.  Might be time to reinstall Windows.  

If the live CD does NOT detect the network card, though... It might be time to start examining why the hardware isn't being presented to the OS.  (Probably a hardware fault or misconfiguration.)

I tried Knoppix 5.0 Linux Live CD and i had no network ...

Back to XP

Under network device only my bluetooth and Wireless Lan dongles are showing up .

My onboard LAN (which was working today) AND the PCI lan i plugged in today are both not showing up .

[dougal]

In knoppix, did you try 'ifconfig eth0 up' in the shell and then checkout what ifconfig says afterwards? Did you check the dmesg on knoppix and look to see if it saw ethernet board?

I bought a brand new PCI lan card to do one more test ..

If that doesnt work i am gonna try a fresh install of XP using another HD to determine if its hardware or sofware .

[dougal]

I dont know how but i fixed it

I put in my brand new PCI Lan card and XP failed to see it or say new hardware found .

I turned off the PC and unplugged it from the power cord and then reset the cmos again using the jumper.

I went for a nap

Woke up and turned the system on and found that my onboard LAN was working again !!

No "found new hardware" or anything ... it was just there .

The new PCI card wasnt found , so i turned off again and removed it .

Switched on again and the onboard is still there and working perfect ..

Strange Very .... but thats Windows for you

[dougal]

Glad someone's onboard network is working.  My onboard Intel Pro 100 / VE decided it would kick the bit bucket.  I was just working along and blam, reboot, and then my physical media was detected as 10/Full.  (And still stayed as 10/Full as I unplugged the cable...)  Intel Pro diagnostics fails with a status of physical loopback failed.  

Time to pick up the cheap PCI Gig E card for me, now.  (I'd been wanting to move that machine up to 1000TX, anyhow.)  

My onboard is a Gig E so no complaints