Win-ME How to enable network connection?

After about three years of working perfectly as far as connecting to DSL, my wife's Dell PC 'decided' not to connect anymore. It connects to the internet as follows: PC > Linksys Router > DSL modem (AT&T/SBC). I have two other PC's are using the router and modem without any problem.

The network adapter is a D-Link DFE-530TX-PCI, and after a power failure over the weekend, even the small LEDs next to the internet adapter jack don't light up.

I suspect that some setting has changed, but don't know what to look for. Upon booting, Win ME used to display an 'annoying' window that asked for user ID and password, or something like that; to which I used to just hit 'Enter' without providing any information, and it always worked OK.

Now the 'annoying' window doesn't appear anymore (I want it back!) and I can't connect to the internet.


Help please -

Thanks
Alex

 

My first suspicion would be NIC card.
BUT, lets check the simple things first. On your wife's computer, pull and reseat the Ethernet jack/cable from the NIC card. Repeat same at router end. If NO light activity at NIC (also on router if it has port LED, should be active), then try another cable (if no spares, rob it from your computer). If no LED light / connectivity check device manager for any error/conflict status for your NIC adapter. If device manager says adapter is working, you may still want to consider remove/reinstall of the card. If this does not cure it, I would look for a new NIC card.

 

Dennis:

"BUT, lets check the simple things first. On your wife's computer, pull and reseat the Ethernet jack/cable from the NIC card. Repeat same at router end. If NO light activity at NIC (also on router if it has port LED, should be active), then try another cable (if no spares, rob it from your computer). "

Tried - no success

" If no LED light / connectivity check device manager for any error/conflict status for your NIC adapter. If device manager says adapter is working, "

It did - -

"you may still want to consider remove/reinstall of the card. "

That did it! I removed the card, rebooted, reinstalled the card, rebooted, and it recognized it and 'installed it'!

Now I get the annoying password, etc. window again, and it connects to the internet as before. Wonder what happened?

Thanks!!
Alex

 

Glad it worked. You followed the troubleshoot and performed the fix flawlessly.

We got you back to where you were. As far as "what happened ", my guess the power outage disturbed the drivers for the NIC. Per your "annoying password, etc. window again" returning, my w98 started doing that the first time I connected to a WAN (wide area network). Which for both of us is the connection type you have with your broadband Internet service. I did what you did, pushed enter (blank password) and everything worked fine. Then I wanted to do some file sharing with my networked attached XP along with running programs/data over my LAN (local area network). This required a password to be included in the login. So now I use TweakUI 1.33 to auto-log the w98 on to the network.