Windows crash after Ethernet install?

[toddjb]

...Windows 98. Computer worked fine before the cable modem. I have only had 3 things installed with the new cable modem.

1) Cable installer plugged in an Ethernet card and associated drivers.
2) I downloaded and installed Internet Explorer 6.0 and service packs.
3) I downloaded and installed Netscape 7.0 (works well, virtually eliminates the Java incompatibilities of 6.x)

So, now my computer crashes on a regular and random basis. And it crashes in a most frustrating way. :bang: Everything freezes up. I could be using it or the screen saver could be on. I'll find whatever image was on screen last just frozen in place without warning.

As expected, the cable company was no help. I suspect if I call Dell or attempted Microsoft they'd just tell me to reinstall Windows.

Any suggestions on this problem?
To me, it seems like some communication or memory conflict in the computer. Its odd that everything just locks up...that is usually a system conflict. (no obvious yellow warnings in the System diagnostics).

Thanks, :hi:

-todd

(and thanks for all the help in this forum thus far...I appreciated all the cable/dsl tips and i actually purchased, but have yet to receive, a refurbed laptop from ubid.com.)

[James_F]

Does your modem support USB? If so, just remove the Ethernet card and hook the modem up via USB.

The best thing is to remove the card, reboot and see if it crashes again. If not, then you can just go out and buy a different card. I assume that the Ethernet card the cable company installed isn't a name brand. You can pick up a Linksys or Dlink PCI Ethernet card for almost no money these days.

[MarkA]

I would say the Ethernet card is probably the "cause" in that it made an underlying problem visible. Windows 98. I'd bet if you upgrade to Windows 2000 or XP that your crashes would go away and your system would run far better in general.

[MarkA]

But if you really can't afford $89 for XP Home, or $189 for 2000 or XP Pro for NT domain access (and if you don't know what an NT domain is, you don't need it!). Although XP Home is WELL worth the money which it costs. It's faster, better looking, infinitely more stable and reliable, more secure, etc. Then I'd suggest trying to reformat and reinstall your current Windows (since if you bought a new Windows you'd have to reformat and reinstall anyways - upgrade installs always make an absolute mess and should be avoided at all costs). I know you said reformat and reinstall isn't what you wanted to hear, but I have to say it's your best option. And I'd suggest that if you can afford it - make that a reinstall with Windows XP.

[gcutler]

Originally posted by toddjb
2) I downloaded and installed Internet Explorer 6.0 and service packs.


Did you download the regular service packs or just IE6's service packs?

As James said, they may have given you a bargain basement network card? The drivers may need to be updated (hard if you don't know the name brand). Spending around $20 for a Linksys, D-Link or SMC brand name card may be helpful because at least you know they are decent cards and you know where to get updated drivers. If you swap out the network card you may need to call your cable company with the MAC address of the new card (more time on hold than to actually give them the number).

If you right click on yopur "My Computer" icon, and then go to hardware Device Manager, see what brand driver is says for the Ethernet Card. If it already says Linksys or a brand name, goto the web site and see if they have an update (may have to open PC or call cable company to get model # of card if brand name?) So you can download proper driver.

[toddjb]

Originally posted by gcutler


Did you download the regular service packs or just IE6's service packs?

As James said, they may have given you a bargain basement network card?


Allegedly, Windows update gave me the IE and Windows updates. It wasn't crystal clear, though, and I did it twice.

The card they gave me is most likely bargain basement;

Realtek TRL8029(AS) PCI Ethernet NIC

I'll have to look for the manufacturer online and see if they have updates. If not, yes, getting a $20 name brand would be worth while.

Thanks for the tips,
-todd

[raj2001]

Hi,

I don't think the problem has to do with a cheap network card. RealTek network cards are great for cheap cards, and I've had no problems with them. The problem most likely is caused by a resource conflict with other devices in your system. Unfortunately Microsoft Plug n Play (with it until it works) doesn't work 100% of the time. You can try putting the card in another slot and see if that helps. Usually what this does is assign other resources to the card.

I won't go the USB route just yet. USB support in win 98 is not as solid as it is in Windows 2000 or XP.

Oh and by the way, buying a "name brand" card like a Linksys really won't make a difference, unless it's a real name brand like 3Com or Intel. This is because many different network cards use the same chipsets, eg. Linksys uses DEC Tulip, CNet pro uses Davicom DM9102 etc. I am also pretty sure the brand of card isn't responsible for your lockups.

You can get drivers for the RealTek chipset from here:

http://www.realtek.com.tw/downloads/downloads1-3.aspx?keyword=8029

[raj2001]

Originally posted by Zac
Although XP Home is WELL worth the money which it costs. It's faster, better looking, infinitely more stable and reliable, more secure, etc.

I'm sorry but I had windows XP on this PC (Dell Dimension 8200, P4 2.2GHz). It simply refused to cooperate with my particular hardware combination, especially my ATI TV wonder and SB Live card. I now have Windows 2000 (only because I need to use Premiere) and Mandrake Linux 9.0.

[MarkA]

Really Raj? Generally, XP is slightly MORE compatible than 2000. That's interesting:) Still, the OP is using 98. And I'm sure that as a 2000 user, you'll agree with me in saying that using the Win9x/Me series is asking for trouble

[invaliduser88]

XP has been solid for me. Have you checked for a newer driver for the ethernet card? Have you tried to disable hardware and boot normally to see if that clears up the problem?

[James_F]

The card they gave me is most likely bargain basement;

Realtek TRL8029(AS) PCI Ethernet NIC


Don't bother, that exactly the one that my parents had. Its the biggest POS card out there. I'd just head down to Best Buy and pick up a name brand card. I spend a whole weekend trying to get that card to run on my parents Win98SE machine. I almost asked you above if that was the card. :D

[toddjb]

Thanks, I'm going to try the Realtek driver update now just to check. The one on the website was a year newer than the one on my PC.

Definitely not reassuring that this is the same card James had problems with in 98...oy!

Otherwise, concerning buying a new card, will I definitely have to call the cable company to register a new MAC address? (my setup is; modem -> dLINK router -> computer)


Once I get this done I have to figure out how to get file/print sharing going between an XP laptop and this 98 desktop!!! :eek: (Laptop doesn't have a floppy, HP didn't give XP disks, so I can't create the "Network Setup Disk/Wizard" recommended for non-XP PCs) They get ya one way or the other... :)

Thanks,
-todd

[James_F]

Well the MAC address should be on the router not your computer so changing the NIC shouldn't matter.

[toddjb]

Originally posted by James_F
Well the MAC address should be on the router not your computer so changing the NIC shouldn't matter.

okay, that makes more sense. thanks.

[gcutler]

Whatever is connected directly to your cable modem is the Mac address that needs to be registered with your cable company. But I've found that DSL dosen't care about Mac addresses of the router or whatever, while Cable Modems do care.

[bkwest]

Here is what you can try to fix it:

Start -> Settings -> Control Panel -> Network

Remove everything.

Shut the machine down. Remove the NIC. Boot to safe mode.

Then open the device manager and remove any NIC's and duplicate hardware you see.

Shutdown. Reinstall the NIC and drivers.

If that doesn't work do this next:

Start -> Settings -> Control Panel -> Display (or you can right click on the desktop and then click properties)

Click Settings tab then the Advanced button. Then the trouble shooting tab. Or hardware acceleration tab not sure what its called on Win 98. Turn the Hardware Acceleration down to NONE. Reboot. This has fixed alot of issues with DUN and NIC's in the past.

These are some tricks I have used in the past to fix similar issues. I have been working in the Tech Support field for almost 5 years now for an ISP in Southeastern Oklahoma. We do Dialup and DSL.

[James_F]

Originally posted by gcutler
Whatever is connected directly to your cable modem is the Mac address that needs to be registered with your cable company. But I've found that DSL dosen't care about Mac addresses of the router or whatever, while Cable Modems do care.

While that is mostly true, for some reason Cox doesn't care about the MAC address. No idea why since I always thought they wanted to charge more for shareing the line with other computers. :shrug:

[Bob Haller]

I had this after installing DSL network. Went to ms configure and turned off some start up programs. Freezing went away.

I am a dumb computer tech learner so if this is wrong please let me know...

[James_F]

I wouldn't doubt something on your system was causing a conflict with the Ethernet drivers. Sometimes though turning off startup programs is a bad idea since you might need the functionality of them. A name brand Ethernet card only costs between $10 and $30 before rebates and gives you piece of mind that you won't have those problems creep up again.

[Wedgecon]

While cable modems do have a mac address (like ethernet they are 48 bits) cable companies do usually want the MAC address of the ethernet card on your computer.

They put your ethernet mac address into the config file that your cable modem downloads using TFTP when it powers up. This allows the cable modem to only allow traffic to and from your ehternet card.

This is one of the many ways they try to prevent you from putting a home network behind the cable modem. Why they bother since there are so many easy ways around this I will not get into.

Usually when you change computers they want you to call them and give them your new mac address.

What I did to get around this was to go in to my network card driver properties and set the "local administered address" to my old ethernet card address. What this does is override the factory address burned into the ethernet card. In General only your better Network cards allow you to set this property.