Networking / Beginners

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Troubleshooting the NIC

After cabling, the NIC is next on the list of common sources of networking headaches. Here's a list of items to check if you suspect that Windows Vista and your NIC aren't getting along:

• Make sure that Windows Vista installed the correct NIC. Windows Vista usually does a pretty good job of detecting the network card. However, a slight error (such as choosing the wrong transceiver type) can wreak havoc. Double-check that the NIC listed in Device Manager (see the next section) is the same as the one installed in your computer. If it's not, click Remove to delete it, run the Add Hardware Wizard, and choose your NIC manually.
• Perform a physical check of the NIC. Open the case and make sure that the card is properly seated in its slot.
• Disable the motherboard NIC. If you added a new NIC to replace the motherboard NIC that came with your computer, it could be that the original NIC is interfering with the new one. To work around this problem, shut down Vista, restart your computer, and access your computer's BIOS configuration program. There should be an option that enables you to disable the motherboard NIC.
• Try a new NIC. Try swapping out the NIC for one that you know works properly. (If the existing NIC is on the computer's motherboard, insert the working NIC in an open bus slot.) If that fixes the problem, you'll have to remove the faulty interface card (if possible) and insert a new one.
• Get the latest driver. Check with the manufacturer of the NIC to see whether it has newer Windows Vista drivers for the card. If so, download and install them, as described in the next section.

Caution: Before touching any component inside a computer case, ground yourself to prevent electrostatic discharge. To ground yourself, touch any metal surface, such as the metal of the computer case.