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Author Topic: Computer Hardware Issues  (Read 665 times)

Apostolic Nihilist

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Computer Hardware Issues
« on: December 30, 2009, 11:31:27 pm »
So, the title is pretty vague. Anyway -- I'm having some major computer issues at the moment and I seek Bay12's wisdom.

My main computer's power supply recently failed (admittedly, it was pretty shoddy); everything else was running fine. I go out and buy a new Dynex 500 watt one, install it, and my computer turns on. Everything seems to be running fine until I try to open an internet page. It doesn't load.

I open up device manager and note that the only thing under my 'network adapters' section is '1394 adapter'. Thus my computer isn't recognizing my network card, for whatever reason.

I'm running a VGC-RB50 Sony VAIO desktop (http://esupport.sony.com/CA/perl/swu-list.pl?mdl=VGCRB50). It's about 4 years old and I've installed many new components (more RAM, better graphics card, a new sound card, a new power supply...); I haven't really experienced issues like this before.

I tried  to reinstall the network drivers (the "Original - Intel® PRO/100 VE Network Connection Driver") only to find that it is apparently not for my model of computer!. I installed the Gigabit  Ethernet Driver, which succeeded, only to give me a "Drivers not needed; device not detected!" screen.

I've tried rebooting in safe mode countless times, enabling and disabling the network adapter in my BIOS, etc. It's important to note that my network card IS getting power (at least, the light lights up).

I even manually tried adding the device using the 'add hardware' wizard. I added the Pro/100VE network adapter but received a "CODE 10: Device Failed to Initialize" error in device manager.

To put it simply, my computer isn't recognizing my ethernet adapter even though the only thing that's changed is the power supply! Any help would be greatly appreciated -- if need be, I can buy a new network card/adapter, but I only have a single PCI-E 1x slot open.


(Picture of my Network Adapters section in Device Manager. I have no idea what the several miniports are.)
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Blacken

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Re: Computer Hardware Issues
« Reply #1 on: December 31, 2009, 01:12:25 am »
The light lighting up doesn't always mean the adapter's functional, though it's generally a safe bet (there are always the edge cases, though). I don't normally suggest this, but track down a Linux LiveCD and see if you can get on the 'net with it (virtually all Intel ethernet network adapters will be recognized by any modern distro).

If it doesn't twig, it's likely a hardware problem--if it does, you probably just have to find the right drivers. If you can't find 'em--hell, I'd just upgrade to a modern version of Windows, it'll almost certainly recognize the adapter.
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"There's vermin fish, which fisherdwarves catch, and animal fish, which catch fisherdwarves." - Flame11235

Apostolic Nihilist

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Re: Computer Hardware Issues
« Reply #2 on: December 31, 2009, 10:46:40 am »
I actually have an Ubuntu CD lying around somewhere; I suppose I'll pop that in. I still have a nagging feeling that it's reached the end of its lifespan, though. Has anyone here had any experience with USB ethernet adapters, a la http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=443248&CatId=589?

I've heard mixed reports from my (limited) searching, so if anyone has anything to add, it'd help out.
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kcwong

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Re: Computer Hardware Issues
« Reply #3 on: December 31, 2009, 10:56:10 am »
No experience with a USB ethernet adapters; wild guesses here.

- Can you see your USB ethernet adapter in the hardware list at all? Even as an unknown device or wrongly recognized as another hardware.
- Have you tried another USB port? It could be the USB port acting up. You can also try removing all the USB drivers and let them reinstall.
- Why is your natural keyboard getting an exclamation mark?
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Re: Computer Hardware Issues
« Reply #4 on: December 31, 2009, 11:02:53 am »
USB ethernet adapters work fine. Little slow, as they're on an inherently more latent bus than something in either a PCI slot or directly on the motherboard, but you shouldn't notice a difference. My big concern would be how easily they can fall out, but I'm a laptop kind of guy, so that problem is almost certainly much less with your desktop.

Still might look into a PCI ethernet card though, if you've got the slots on your motherboard.
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"There's vermin fish, which fisherdwarves catch, and animal fish, which catch fisherdwarves." - Flame11235

Apostolic Nihilist

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Re: Computer Hardware Issues
« Reply #5 on: January 04, 2010, 05:46:04 pm »
Ubuntu didn't recognize it either, so it was likely a hardware issue.

I bought a new USB ethernet adapter and it's working spectacularly so far. Thanks to everyone for their help.
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