XP Networking problems

Cannot install this hardware. So much for XP user friendliness

Cannot install this hardware. There was a problem installing this hardware. Network_Adapter_Model_Name… An error occurred in the installation of this device. The name is already in use as either a service name or a service display name.

My new pc came with a network card but the driver was not properly installed. So much for that company. After postponing this for a while, I want to get it working correctly, so I asked Windows thought the Device Manager to get the latest drivers etc. I got the cannot do it message with the message above. So I typed it into Google and got this complicated KB article about editing the registry and fiddling around with msconfig etc.
I thought XP Pro was supposed to be user friendly.
Before I go through the ordeal that the KB article 823771 recommends, I want to see if a better solution is available.
Thanks for any comments.

 

Is this Network card intigrated or a PCI card?

If it's intigrated what is the make and model of the motherboard?

 

Card data

The device is described as Marvell Yukon Network Adapter
Driver instance id is:
PCI\VEN_11AB&DEV_4320&SUBSYS_811A1043&REV_13\4&2E98101C&0&28F0
from the Device Manager
Location: PCI bus 2, device 5, function 0

The Update Driver does not work for this device, perhaps because it isn't offically installed. The Device Manager says "No drivers files are requird or have been loaded for this device "

The Reinstall Driver wizard is a dead end so far.

 

The 'update driver' button only searches on your computer or from a disk (or diskette) if you have one with the appropriate driver. You need to identify the make and model of the NIC and try to get the current driver from the manufacturer's website. This *free* program (Everest) will help you to identify your hardware... get it HERE . You mentioned that your computer is 'new', is it still under warranty? Can you possibly get the correct driver from the seller? HTH

B

 

I run a Gigabit NIC card at work and when I re-loaded the PC XP did not recognize the NIC as it was too new. No big whoop. Downloaded the XP drivers for the NIC and Bob's your uncle.

Did a Google search on your "Marvell Yukon Network Adapter" and came up with this site => http://www.opendrivers.com/driver/216829/Marvell-Yukon-GigE-Driver-7.14.html. Is this your NIC? If so download and install.

 

Why wont the wizard open it?

I downloaded the driver and extracted the RAR file to a folder in my Downloads folder. When I execute the update wizard and tell it I will give it the location, it constantly says file not found for the .sys I navigate to the folder and there are no files show, even the ones that explorer says are there. The wizard refuses to see that driver. What might be doing that? I did that last night with a rar file from another site and got the same argument from the wizard. I am sure the files are there...I can open and read the readme etc. Thanks

 

Here's what I did

I renamed the file to what Windows was looking for...yukonx86.sys and found it myself. After that, I got the Wizard to see that and it then found the other files once I directed it to the folder I extracted to last night. So let's see if it works. The Hardware Manager now has no yellow !, so I assume that means it's OK.Thanks. I will keep that driver site on my favorites. I am trying to get the driver for my Dell 1703fp that enables portrait rotation. I hope that one goes in smoother.

 

Now that it is setup, can it do what I want?

Now that the Ethernet adapter card is installed properly, I want to use it to connect my office laptop to my more powerful home pc so that I can transfer files and do some number crunching n Excel 2003. Now, if I get the kind of cable that connects the Ethernet cards, shouldn't I be able to use that to network the two units in a better way than using parallel cables? That's been my plan. Thanks.

 

IP and subnet addresses

I got the Crosssover cable and connected the two units. I ran the Wizard and now have the desktop "ready" as far as I can see. I thought I would "add a network place" to the desktop representing the laptop C dirve. No luck. And neither one can "find another computer on this network" even though there are only two! What am I doing incorrectly? Thanks.

 

Yes, as best I could: when I ran the Add Network Place Wizard, it did not recognize the manually set IP address I got off the desktop. Some argument about a folder. The Network Connection Type in the New Connection Wizard , under the "Connect to the Network at my Workplace" option did not seem to show anything but Internet connections (dial-up or VPN) The Advanced options did not offer the Ethernet type connection, only LPT1 and COM1. So I asked Explorer to find the name of the desktop on the connection (you know, the one at the other end of the wire.) Couldn't find it. I wonder if the firewall on the office laptop is interfering. When I set up the wizard on the desktop, Zone Alarm noticed it and got permissions, so that shouldn't be it.

 

Final answer

I attempted a new Hardware Profile. That, of course, messed up the office profile and I had to have the IT people up. They explained that because the laptop was part of the company domain, it would not be possible to independently have it part of a home network without further complications. Cannot a laptop have two personalities? Thanks to all for the advice. I did learn quite a bit.

 

Name your home workgroup the same name as the work domain.

 

Interesting...

Ok..let me find the domain name on my laptop. BUt then what, if anything? Does that step mean I will have normal access to the laptop C drive, etc. I need do nothing else?

 

Assuming that you have adequate rights on your laptop with your normal (at work) login, you should have them at home.

Naming your home workgroup the same as the work domain should have solved quite a number of your problems but depending on how they have things set up where you work, there is at least one additional thing that XP will allow and make easy where it was difficult-to-impossible with earlier OS versions.

XP allows a primary network card setting (the stuff you will normally see when you look at properties) with DHCP or static IP address, gateway, etc. and that should be the one you use at work.

To keep the work/home thing separate but to avoid the need to tweak your laptop network settings every time you go from home to work or vice versa, get into properties for the network card then properties for TCP/IP and you will see a tab at the top (see the picture below) for Alternate Settings. Click on that then put in values that match what you want at home. 192.168.0.2 and 255.255.255.0 or something.

Once that is done, the laptop will first try to connect to a network using the primary settings but if those don't work, it will automatically try the alternate settings and if those match the desktop, it will connect very easily for you.

It will also help if you can create a local user account and put it in the local administrator group then use that account to log in at home.