LAN died on motherboard???

[SpydaMan]

I am having an issue with my computer and hope I can find a solution here. I bought a new router, and had some trouble getting it installed correctly. I was talking to Linksys on the phone, going through the steps they told me to take. After changing the IP address for the router, I restarted my computer, but it froze up and would not start up...

After going through several steps, including trying to repair the problem, I decided to reformat and start from stratch. That went fine, but I now have troubl;e when installing my motherboard drivers. When I install the driver for the ethernet, it sometimes freezes up, but I finally did get it to install completely. It will not allow me to get online, and when I go through Vista troubleshooting, it tells me there is a driver error for my ethernet.

On a side not, when I have my ethernet cable plugged into my computer, the light it not lit showing I have a connection (I mean on the back of my computer).

I have an Asus P5K motherboard. Is this the problem??? Is there something I forgot to do???

[Southwolfga]

If you have access to another PC that can get on the web (apparently you do since you are posting), try downloading the most recent drivers to a disc.

Are there any other devices in device manager that aren't installed properly? Your problem could be in the chipset drivers or something.

[SpydaMan]

Originally Posted by Southwolfga If you have access to another PC that can get on the web (apparently you do since you are posting), try downloading the most recent drivers to a disc. Are there any other devices in device manager that aren't installed properly? Your problem could be in the chipset drivers or something.

Everything else in Device Manager is working fine. My ethernet is the only problem. There are no settings I need to adjust in BIOS are there???

When I doubleclick the device in device mamager it says...

The device is not working properly because Windows cannot load the drivers required for this device (code 31).

[Cricket]

I would see if I could borrow a NIC from someone and plug it into the computer. If you regain your internet connection then you know the on-board ethernet is dead.

Cricket

[SpydaMan]

If my onboard ethernet is dead, should I replace the motherboard or can I just use a card???

Also what does a card cost, as I never priced one...

[Cricket]

Originally Posted by SpydaMan If my onboard ethernet is dead, should I replace the motherboard or can I just use a card???

Just get a NIC. Why replace a whole motherboard if only the ethernet part of it doesn't work?

Originally Posted by SpydaMan Also what does a card cost, as I never priced one...

They range from under $5 to over $200 for PCI versions.

So you can either replace your entire motherboard for $127 or buy a decent NIC for about $20 and get your internet going again for a lot less.

Or you could contact ASUS and ask about RMAing your motherboard if they determine the problem is covered under the warranty.

Cricket

[SpydaMan]

Originally Posted by Cricket Just get a NIC. Why replace a whole motherboard if only the ethernet part of it doesn't work?They range from under $5 to over $200 for PCI versions. So you can either replace your entire motherboard for $127 or buy a decent NIC for about $20 and get your internet going again for a lot less. Or you could contact ASUS and ask about RMAing your motherboard if they determine the problem is covered under the warranty. Cricket

Thank you so much for your help. I was really stressed about this thinking I would have to replace my motherboard. It's hard to say what caused the problem. Because of what I do I just need that computer online again, so I feel getting a NIC is the best option...

Last questions before I end bugging you on Christmas... is there anything specific I need to look for, or are all NIC's pretty standard???

[Cricket]

Originally Posted by SpydaMan is there anything specific I need to look for, or are all NIC's pretty standard???

If this is just to connect to a router then you just need a standard 10/100 Mbps ethernet card. I would try to get one that is the same make as your router.

Cricket

[SpydaMan]

UPDATE...

I have been having issues with my onboard ethernet, but now think it is my motherboard. The problems are as follows... after reformatting my hard drive...

Ethernet will not allow me to get online. When installing the ethernet driver, the computer sometimes freezes, or will get through the entire setup process and still not work, or the computer will not work. I thought I could just get a NIC card to eliminate the onboard ethernet, but then the following started to occur... NOTE that I have not installed the drivers for the ethernet now...

After installing my drivers for motherboard (except ethernet), video card, moniter, keyboard/mouse combo, etc. my computer is very slow to start when restarting, sometimes it will not start, or will sometimes give me an error message and it goes away too fast for me to read.

I had this system running fine, but after getting a new router, had to call Linksys to help with its installation. When they had me change the IP address of the router and restarting my computer, it would not start. I then chose to format and start from scratch...

This is a ASUS P5k motherboard...

[SpydaMan]

Also wondering if there is a diagnostic tool to check motherboards???

[Masaki 7-11]

There are a few diagnostic tools for motherboards. One of the most common and inexpensive comes in the form of a pci or isa card. This card then analyzes the motherboard post (even if the screen remains blank) and post a number on the lcd on the diagnostic card. You then check the number against the manual and it will tell you if there are any problems and what the problem is if there is one.

[SpydaMan]

Originally Posted by Masaki 7-11 There are a few diagnostic tools for motherboards. One of the most common and inexpensive comes in the form of a pci or isa card. This card then analyzes the motherboard post (even if the screen remains blank) and post a number on the lcd on the diagnostic card. You then check the number against the manual and it will tell you if there are any problems and what the problem is if there is one.

The computer works, but my internet does not. Also loads very slowly when starting the computer, so not sure what the problem is right now. Going to disable the onboard ethernet,, get a NIC card and see what happens.

If anyone has other suggestions, I would love to hear them...

[Cricket]

Would be easier to help if we knew the complete system specs for this computer.

Cricket

[SpydaMan]

Originally Posted by Cricket Would be easier to help if we knew the complete system specs for this computer. Cricket

As requested...

CPU - Intel Core 2 Duo E6750
Motherboard - ASUS P5K LGA 775 P35
Memory - (2) Value Select 1GB DDR2
Video Card - EVGA 256-P2-N751-TR 8600GT
HDD - (2) Seagate Barracuda 7200 320 GB
Power Suppply - Enermax Noisetaker 2 (485W)
OS - Windows Vista Home Premium
DVD 1 - LITE-ON 20X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe SATA Model LH-20A1L-06
DVD 2 - ASUS SATA DVD-ROM Drive Model DVD-E616A3T

[Cricket]

Have you tried to disconnect the optical drives and then see if the bootup goes quicker? A faulty or failing optical drive can do really weird things to a computer.

Cricket