Bad NIC Card? or Win 98 config?

I have cox at home and previously had my win 98 tower
computer hooked up an running fine. I wanted to
distribute the internet connection to some other machines
in my house. I purchased a Link sys combo router with 4
wired and 4 wireless ports. I have 3 machines and here
is the status of each:

Win XP notebook - wired and wireless. Both connection
types work fine

Win 2000 notebook - wired. Works fine at different
locations in the house.

Win 98 Tower - wired. Can't get it to recognize the
router. What is strange is that both lights are running
solid on the NIC card (3com). This would lead you to
believe that there is a problem with the card, but if I
remove the router from between the cable modem and this
machine, it works fine. If I plug the Win 2000 notebook
into the same cable that is making the two solid lights,
the win 2000 notebook has no problems. One other thing
strange, when you try to release the connections in
winipcfg it hangs some times and when you try to renew,
it gives a DHCP error.

www.careyholzman.com/netfixes.htm

Carey

"Chuck" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:093801c3c592$e7989720$(E-Mail Removed)...
> I have cox at home and previously had my win 98 tower
> computer hooked up an running fine. I wanted to
> distribute the internet connection to some other machines
> in my house. I purchased a Link sys combo router with 4
> wired and 4 wireless ports. I have 3 machines and here
> is the status of each:
>
> Win XP notebook - wired and wireless. Both connection
> types work fine
>
> Win 2000 notebook - wired. Works fine at different
> locations in the house.
>
> Win 98 Tower - wired. Can't get it to recognize the
> router. What is strange is that both lights are running
> solid on the NIC card (3com). This would lead you to
> believe that there is a problem with the card, but if I
> remove the router from between the cable modem and this
> machine, it works fine. If I plug the Win 2000 notebook
> into the same cable that is making the two solid lights,
> the win 2000 notebook has no problems. One other thing
> strange, when you try to release the connections in
> winipcfg it hangs some times and when you try to renew,
> it gives a DHCP error.
>

Chuck: Same problem here. I am also running a 3Com 3C905
card. Let me add this: was running Linksys 11b router for
the last 2 years without incident. Attempted to replace it
with a WRT54G, and got he same problem you describe with
my wired 98SE machine. All other (3) wireless connections
work fine.
Here's what I did:
Swapped cable, swapped ports, attempted to define static
IP and DNS, no help. Updated driver, even reinstalled
TCP/IP, all with no positive results.
Took router to work, and plugged it into my 98SE machine,
which runs an Intel Pro 100 connector, and saw router just
fine there. Reconfigured router using this connection.
Took it back home and popped it in, and presto, no router!
I don't think its the router or 98. I believe its a
physical card conflict, but I can't reconcile this with
the fact that it worked with my 11b router. I'm swapping
the physical device this weekend. Its the only thing I
haven't tried,(aside from upgrading to XP).

>-----Original Message-----
>I have cox at home and previously had my win 98 tower
>computer hooked up an running fine. I wanted to
>distribute the internet connection to some other machines
>in my house. I purchased a Link sys combo router with 4
>wired and 4 wireless ports. I have 3 machines and here
>is the status of each:
>
>Win XP notebook - wired and wireless. Both connection
>types work fine
>
>Win 2000 notebook - wired. Works fine at different
>locations in the house.
>
>Win 98 Tower - wired. Can't get it to recognize the
>router. What is strange is that both lights are running
>solid on the NIC card (3com). This would lead you to
>believe that there is a problem with the card, but if I
>remove the router from between the cable modem and this
>machine, it works fine. If I plug the Win 2000 notebook
>into the same cable that is making the two solid lights,
>the win 2000 notebook has no problems. One other thing
>strange, when you try to release the connections in
>winipcfg it hangs some times and when you try to renew,
>it gives a DHCP error.
>
>.
>

This just in: attempts were made to wire a desktop running
XP to the Linksys WRT54G and it would not connect. Common
factor on all of these failures is the 3Com NIC. Both my
machine and the other XP I just mentioned are running the
3C905. Looks for all intents that the NIC is not
compatible with at least the 54G router. The strange part
is it works fine with the Linksys 11b one. Swapout is
scheduled for later today. Will report on results

>-----Original Message-----
>I have cox at home and previously had my win 98 tower
>computer hooked up an running fine. I wanted to
>distribute the internet connection to some other machines
>in my house. I purchased a Link sys combo router with 4
>wired and 4 wireless ports. I have 3 machines and here
>is the status of each:
>
>Win XP notebook - wired and wireless. Both connection
>types work fine
>
>Win 2000 notebook - wired. Works fine at different
>locations in the house.
>
>Win 98 Tower - wired. Can't get it to recognize the
>router. What is strange is that both lights are running
>solid on the NIC card (3com). This would lead you to
>believe that there is a problem with the card, but if I
>remove the router from between the cable modem and this
>machine, it works fine. If I plug the Win 2000 notebook
>into the same cable that is making the two solid lights,
>the win 2000 notebook has no problems. One other thing
>strange, when you try to release the connections in
>winipcfg it hangs some times and when you try to renew,
>it gives a DHCP error.
>
>.
>

I tinkered around with the system some more last night.
Like you I believe it must be some type of hardware
conflict between the two since as soon as power hits the
tower computer both lights on the 3com NIC card turn on
and stay on indefinitely. I also plan to try another NIC
card.

I am not sure the 3com NIC card model no., but will check
when home tonight.

What puzzles me is that when I plug this NIC card
directly into my Motorola cable modem, it works fine.

>-----Original Message-----
>This just in: attempts were made to wire a desktop
running
>XP to the Linksys WRT54G and it would not connect.
Common
>factor on all of these failures is the 3Com NIC. Both my
>machine and the other XP I just mentioned are running
the
>3C905. Looks for all intents that the NIC is not
>compatible with at least the 54G router. The strange
part
>is it works fine with the Linksys 11b one. Swapout is
>scheduled for later today. Will report on results
>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>I have cox at home and previously had my win 98 tower
>>computer hooked up an running fine. I wanted to
>>distribute the internet connection to some other
machines
>>in my house. I purchased a Link sys combo router with
4
>>wired and 4 wireless ports. I have 3 machines and here
>>is the status of each:
>>
>>Win XP notebook - wired and wireless. Both connection
>>types work fine
>>
>>Win 2000 notebook - wired. Works fine at different
>>locations in the house.
>>
>>Win 98 Tower - wired. Can't get it to recognize the
>>router. What is strange is that both lights are
running
>>solid on the NIC card (3com). This would lead you to
>>believe that there is a problem with the card, but if I
>>remove the router from between the cable modem and this
>>machine, it works fine. If I plug the Win 2000
notebook
>>into the same cable that is making the two solid
lights,
>>the win 2000 notebook has no problems. One other thing
>>strange, when you try to release the connections in
>>winipcfg it hangs some times and when you try to renew,
>>it gives a DHCP error.
>>
>>.
>>
>.
>

Chuck:

Swapped out the 3Com cards for 1) Linksys and 2) Netgear
on the 2 machines in test. Both now connect just fine.
Both are attempting connection to a WRT54G and both the
98SE and XP machines are running 3Com 3C905-TX cards.
Seems replacing the card solved the problem, although,
like you, I cannot explain why it works fine either
connected directly to the modem or with the Linksys 11b
router. Did get it to work before the swap, by knocking
the connection back to 10BaseT. But, I'm not spending
money on a 11g router so I can run the rest of my network
at 10Mbps. I'm sure by now you've swapped out the card.
I'm forwarding this correspondence to Linksys tech
support. Good luck!!

Chris
>-----Original Message-----
>I tinkered around with the system some more last night.
>Like you I believe it must be some type of hardware
>conflict between the two since as soon as power hits the
>tower computer both lights on the 3com NIC card turn on
>and stay on indefinitely. I also plan to try another NIC
>card.
>
>I am not sure the 3com NIC card model no., but will check
>when home tonight.
>
>What puzzles me is that when I plug this NIC card
>directly into my Motorola cable modem, it works fine.
>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>This just in: attempts were made to wire a desktop
>running
>>XP to the Linksys WRT54G and it would not connect.
>Common
>>factor on all of these failures is the 3Com NIC. Both my
>>machine and the other XP I just mentioned are running
>the
>>3C905. Looks for all intents that the NIC is not
>>compatible with at least the 54G router. The strange
>part
>>is it works fine with the Linksys 11b one. Swapout is
>>scheduled for later today. Will report on results
>>
>>>-----Original Message-----
>>>I have cox at home and previously had my win 98 tower
>>>computer hooked up an running fine. I wanted to
>>>distribute the internet connection to some other
>machines
>>>in my house. I purchased a Link sys combo router with
>4
>>>wired and 4 wireless ports. I have 3 machines and here
>>>is the status of each:
>>>
>>>Win XP notebook - wired and wireless. Both connection
>>>types work fine
>>>
>>>Win 2000 notebook - wired. Works fine at different
>>>locations in the house.
>>>
>>>Win 98 Tower - wired. Can't get it to recognize the
>>>router. What is strange is that both lights are
>running
>>>solid on the NIC card (3com). This would lead you to
>>>believe that there is a problem with the card, but if I
>>>remove the router from between the cable modem and this
>>>machine, it works fine. If I plug the Win 2000
>notebook
>>>into the same cable that is making the two solid
>lights,
>>>the win 2000 notebook has no problems. One other thing
>>>strange, when you try to release the connections in
>>>winipcfg it hangs some times and when you try to renew,
>>>it gives a DHCP error.
>>>
>>>.
>>>
>>.
>>
>.
>

Well I pulled the card, and you guessed it, it is a 3C905-
TX. When switching to a HP NIC card, all is well on
first boot.

During my support calls with Linksys, we did drop the
speed of the card to 10BaseT half duplex, but no luck.

I guess the bottom line is <<Dont use 3C905 NIC card with
the WRT54G router>> - some type of hardward compatability
problem!

>-----Original Message-----
>Chuck:
>
>Swapped out the 3Com cards for 1) Linksys and 2) Netgear
>on the 2 machines in test. Both now connect just fine.
>Both are attempting connection to a WRT54G and both the
>98SE and XP machines are running 3Com 3C905-TX cards.
>Seems replacing the card solved the problem, although,
>like you, I cannot explain why it works fine either
>connected directly to the modem or with the Linksys 11b
>router. Did get it to work before the swap, by knocking
>the connection back to 10BaseT. But, I'm not spending
>money on a 11g router so I can run the rest of my
network
>at 10Mbps. I'm sure by now you've swapped out the card.
>I'm forwarding this correspondence to Linksys tech
>support. Good luck!!
>
>Chris
>>-----Original Message-----
>>I tinkered around with the system some more last
night.
>>Like you I believe it must be some type of hardware
>>conflict between the two since as soon as power hits
the
>>tower computer both lights on the 3com NIC card turn on
>>and stay on indefinitely. I also plan to try another
NIC
>>card.
>>
>>I am not sure the 3com NIC card model no., but will
check
>>when home tonight.
>>
>>What puzzles me is that when I plug this NIC card
>>directly into my Motorola cable modem, it works fine.
>>
>>>-----Original Message-----
>>>This just in: attempts were made to wire a desktop
>>running
>>>XP to the Linksys WRT54G and it would not connect.
>>Common
>>>factor on all of these failures is the 3Com NIC. Both
my
>>>machine and the other XP I just mentioned are running
>>the
>>>3C905. Looks for all intents that the NIC is not
>>>compatible with at least the 54G router. The strange
>>part
>>>is it works fine with the Linksys 11b one. Swapout is
>>>scheduled for later today. Will report on results
>>>
>>>>-----Original Message-----
>>>>I have cox at home and previously had my win 98 tower
>>>>computer hooked up an running fine. I wanted to
>>>>distribute the internet connection to some other
>>machines
>>>>in my house. I purchased a Link sys combo router
with
>>4
>>>>wired and 4 wireless ports. I have 3 machines and
here
>>>>is the status of each:
>>>>
>>>>Win XP notebook - wired and wireless. Both
connection
>>>>types work fine
>>>>
>>>>Win 2000 notebook - wired. Works fine at different
>>>>locations in the house.
>>>>
>>>>Win 98 Tower - wired. Can't get it to recognize the
>>>>router. What is strange is that both lights are
>>running
>>>>solid on the NIC card (3com). This would lead you to
>>>>believe that there is a problem with the card, but if
I
>>>>remove the router from between the cable modem and
this
>>>>machine, it works fine. If I plug the Win 2000
>>notebook
>>>>into the same cable that is making the two solid
>>lights,
>>>>the win 2000 notebook has no problems. One other
thing
>>>>strange, when you try to release the connections in
>>>>winipcfg it hangs some times and when you try to
renew,
>>>>it gives a DHCP error.
>>>>
>>>>.
>>>>
>>>.
>>>
>>.
>>
>.
>

As another data point, I was trying to connect my Win98 box to a
WRT54G router and was having no luck. (PC would get to Windows 98
splash screen and then spontaneously reboot or if I got all the way
into windows, I would hang when trying to access 192.168.1.1)

After swapping a 3com 3C905 card with a Linksys NIC, I was able to see
the router with no problem.

<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message news:<07d201c3c89a$3d924220$(E-Mail Removed)>...
> Well I pulled the card, and you guessed it, it is a 3C905-
> TX. When switching to a HP NIC card, all is well on
> first boot.
>
> During my support calls with Linksys, we did drop the
> speed of the card to 10BaseT half duplex, but no luck.
>
> I guess the bottom line is <<Dont use 3C905 NIC card with
> the WRT54G router>> - some type of hardward compatability
> problem!
>
> >-----Original Message-----
> >Chuck:
> >
> >Swapped out the 3Com cards for 1) Linksys and 2) Netgear
> >on the 2 machines in test. Both now connect just fine.
> >Both are attempting connection to a WRT54G and both the
> >98SE and XP machines are running 3Com 3C905-TX cards.
> >Seems replacing the card solved the problem, although,
> >like you, I cannot explain why it works fine either
> >connected directly to the modem or with the Linksys 11b
> >router. Did get it to work before the swap, by knocking
> >the connection back to 10BaseT. But, I'm not spending
> >money on a 11g router so I can run the rest of my
> network
> >at 10Mbps. I'm sure by now you've swapped out the card.
> >I'm forwarding this correspondence to Linksys tech
> >support. Good luck!!
> >
> >Chris
> >>-----Original Message-----
> >>I tinkered around with the system some more last
> night.
> >>Like you I believe it must be some type of hardware
> >>conflict between the two since as soon as power hits
> the
> >>tower computer both lights on the 3com NIC card turn on
> >>and stay on indefinitely. I also plan to try another
> NIC
> >>card.
> >>
> >>I am not sure the 3com NIC card model no., but will
> check
> >>when home tonight.
> >>
> >>What puzzles me is that when I plug this NIC card
> >>directly into my Motorola cable modem, it works fine.
> >>
> >>>-----Original Message-----
> >>>This just in: attempts were made to wire a desktop
> running
> >>>XP to the Linksys WRT54G and it would not connect.
> Common
> >>>factor on all of these failures is the 3Com NIC. Both
> my
> >>>machine and the other XP I just mentioned are running
> the
> >>>3C905. Looks for all intents that the NIC is not
> >>>compatible with at least the 54G router. The strange
> part
> >>>is it works fine with the Linksys 11b one. Swapout is
> >>>scheduled for later today. Will report on results
> >>>
> >>>>-----Original Message-----
> >>>>I have cox at home and previously had my win 98 tower
> >>>>computer hooked up an running fine. I wanted to
> >>>>distribute the internet connection to some other
> machines
> >>>>in my house. I purchased a Link sys combo router
> with
> 4
> >>>>wired and 4 wireless ports. I have 3 machines and
> here
> >>>>is the status of each:
> >>>>
> >>>>Win XP notebook - wired and wireless. Both
> connection
> >>>>types work fine
> >>>>
> >>>>Win 2000 notebook - wired. Works fine at different
> >>>>locations in the house.
> >>>>
> >>>>Win 98 Tower - wired. Can't get it to recognize the
> >>>>router. What is strange is that both lights are
> running
> >>>>solid on the NIC card (3com). This would lead you to
> >>>>believe that there is a problem with the card, but if
> I
> >>>>remove the router from between the cable modem and
> this
> >>>>machine, it works fine. If I plug the Win 2000
> notebook
> >>>>into the same cable that is making the two solid
> lights,
> >>>>the win 2000 notebook has no problems. One other
> thing
> >>>>strange, when you try to release the connections in
> >>>>winipcfg it hangs some times and when you try to
> renew,
> >>>>it gives a DHCP error.
> >>>>
> >>>>.
> >>>>
> >>>.
> >>>
> >>.
> >>
> >.
> >