Help me fix my ethernet please!

[RangerWickett]

Alright, the short version is, "Do any of you know where I could download a complete copy of the Microsoft Homeclick software installation CD for a 3Com 10/100 MB (3C450) network adapter?"

The long version:

My internet explorer was having some problems -- whenever two or more internet windows were open, it would crash. This included pop-ups. Combine this with the fact that some software had wriggled its way onto my computer that causes me to get popups at random, regardless of what site I'm on, and I generally couldn't browse the internet.

I tried deleting and reinstalling internet explorer, but that didn't help. The problem was elsewhere. I ran Ad-aware programs, but they couldn't ferret out the issue. So I decided to back up all my files and format the hard drive, reinstalling from the get-go. After a few setbacks, I managed to get my computer back to the way it was, mostly.

The problem now is that to connect to my college's internet, I have to use an ethernet card. I've been using the same card for three years (a 3Com 10/100 mb card, I think model 3C450), and everything's gone fine, but I've lost the installation CD. Despite hours of effort, I have not been able to find the way to fix my problem.

I've installed all the drivers I need (I think) by downloading them from the 3Com website or getting them off my Windows 98 second edition update CD. I've also doublechecked all my network settings for the Emory University network -- I should be able to connect. But the computer still says there's a problem, which makes me pretty sure it is a problem with the device specifically. The computer recognizes that the device is there, and I haven't jostled it in any way that could have damaged it, I don't think, so it's probably not a hardware issue.

That leads me to hope that I just need to find a copy of the installation disk for my ethernet card's software, and that it will fix whatever tiny problem I've missed. But I have no idea where to find a copy of such a thing online, even if there is one.

 

[Rodrigo Istalindir]

Ok, try the following things and report back on the results:

1. Open a command prompt window.
2. Type 'ping 127.0.0.1' and press enter. If you don't get 4 very quick responses, you've got a problem with the IP protocol.
3. Type 'ipconfig /all' and press enter.
4. Verify that you have an IP address assigned to the card you installed drivers for. You should either have a fixed address assigned to you (in which case you'll have to feed in the appropriate information in the network setup), or you should be getting one automatically via DHCP. If you are not getting one via DHCP and you should, then your computer isn't even listening to the network (could be drivers, cable, or something else).
5. Type 'ping x.x.x.x' where x.x.x.x is the entry for default gateway reported by ipconfig. If you get a response from the gateway, then your network is functioning properly at least at a low level. If you can ping, but can't use the web, then it might be a DNS problem.
6. Verify that you have two DNS entries reported by ipconfig. Try pinging both of them. If you have no entries, then web won't work. You can always try hardcoding '4.2.2.2' and '4.2.2.1' for DNS servers.
7. Try 'ping www.yahoo.com'. If you get a response, then DNS is working.
8. If you can ping numbers and names, but still can't do web or other application stuff, then there is probably something seriously wrong with IE. You could always try ftp'ing a copy of mozilla from

ftp.mozilla.org/pub/mozilla/releases/mozilla1.4.1/mozilla-win32-1.4.1-installer.exe

If nothing works, report back on the results and I'll think it over some more.

 

[D+1]

Alright, the short version is, "Do any of you know where I could download a complete copy of the Microsoft Homeclick software installation CD for a 3Com 10/100 MB (3C450) network adapter?"

Rodrigo's advice is far better than I could give but I have a few general suggestions/notes.
1) Keep all software for EVERYTHING in the same place. If there's only one drawer, one rack, etc. for all your game CD's, install CD's, then you won't be tearing your hair out looking.
2) Keep backups of any software you download including drivers, patches, updates, etc on your hard drive under a single, chosen directory (of course with labeled subdirectories such as "3Com 3C450 NIC"). Makes uninstall/reinstall an easier, more viable option when you don't have to REdownload such things. Lack of HD space might make that a problem but only for, a) VERY large patches, and b) very clogged HD's.
3) your installation CD is not going to do anything that you can't do yourself except install OLDER drivers than you can get from the company's support page, and possibly try to convince you to saddle your system with software you're not going to need. All you would need off the install CD is the driver - the rest of the install program is simply saving you a few mouseclicks in installing that driver (and IME, simply providing additional possiblities for screwing things up when non-native installer software doesn't work.)
4) uninstalling/reinstalling windows or IE is a VERY EXTREME method of diagnosing problems. It's far more likely that you've overlooked or mis-entered network settings than for your drivers themselves to have problems - unless you upgraded or changed some part of your system.
However,

My internet explorer was having some problems -- whenever two or more internet windows were open, it would crash. This included pop-ups. Combine this with the fact that some software had wriggled its way onto my computer that causes me to get popups at random, regardless of what site I'm on, and I generally couldn't browse the internet.

I'd bet dollars to donuts that your original problem was virus or stealthware related, so...
5) If you don't have anti-virus software - get it.
6) win98 sucks. 98SE is better, but only just. WinXP is very stable and handles networking (and everything else for that matter) FAR better than 98. Move up ASAP.
7) www.driverzone.com. I'd almost always start there.

 

[RangerWickett]

I have managed to get the drivers I need, I think, and my computer no longer has a yellow ! next to the ethernet card when I check on it in Device Manager. However, I still cannot log onto my college's network.

1. Open a command prompt window.
2. Type 'ping 127.0.0.1' and press enter. If you don't get 4 very quick responses, you've got a problem with the IP protocol.

It said 4 packets sent, 0 lost. That's good, right?

3. Type 'ipconfig /all' and press enter.

I didn't quite know how to interpret this. I tried running winipcfg, and saw that it only lists a basic PPP, and doesn't mention my ethernet card at all.

4. Verify that you have an IP address assigned to the card you installed drivers for. You should either have a fixed address assigned to you (in which case you'll have to feed in the appropriate information in the network setup), or you should be getting one automatically via DHCP. If you are not getting one via DHCP and you should, then your computer isn't even listening to the network (could be drivers, cable, or something else).

I guess my computer isn't listening to the network. I know that my college gives out a CD with installation guidelines, that tell you what DNS entries and such you have to put in, and I followed all those instructions. I don't know what might be wrong. Looking at the back of my computer, the LEDs attached to the ethernet card are illuminated, so apparently the card is still functioning, and maybe even receiving some sort of feed from the cable, but it's just not connecting.

5. Type 'ping x.x.x.x' where x.x.x.x is the entry for default gateway reported by ipconfig. If you get a response from the gateway, then your network is functioning properly at least at a low level. If you can ping, but can't use the web, then it might be a DNS problem.

The computer reported just a blank line for default gateway.

6. Verify that you have two DNS entries reported by ipconfig. Try pinging both of them. If you have no entries, then web won't work. You can always try hardcoding '4.2.2.2' and '4.2.2.1' for DNS servers.

I have two entries, which are the DNS entries my college's guide told me to put in. I tried to ping each, but all packets were lost.

7. Try 'ping www.yahoo.com'. If you get a response, then DNS is working.

Unsurprisingly, this didn't work.

I'm going to compare my settings to those of this computer (a friend's), and see if I can spot any discrepancies. Thanks for all the help offered so far, though.

 

[Hand of Evil]

It almost sounds like this...

http://www.enworld.org/forums/showthread.php?t=65829

 

[RyanL]

3. Type 'ipconfig /all' and press enter.

I didn't quite know how to interpret this. I tried running winipcfg, and saw that it only lists a basic PPP, and doesn't mention my ethernet card at all.

It sounds like you don't have tcp/ip bound to your ethernet adapter, which is odd. If you go to Control Panel::Network, you should see something like "TCP/IP Protocol --> 3Com Network Adapter". If you only see "TCP/IP Protocol --> PPP Adapter", you've got a problem.

I don't remember the exact process, but you should be able to use the "Add" button to add a new instance of the TCP/IP protocol and bind it to your network adapter. Maybe someone else can elaborate.

-Ryan

 

[SubMensa]

To reinstall the TCP/IP in Win98 the first thing you need to make sure you have is the Win98 install cd. There is a point diring the reinstallation that the computer may ask for the cd and if we dont have it the computer will be without any networking protocol at all. This is very important!!!

If the computer at any point asks for individual files or is unable to find a file on the windows cd abort the operation and post again, those instructions are a little more indepth.

The first thing we need to do is install a "placeholder" Network protocol.
In the network dialogue box clock "ADD"
in the next window choose "network protocol" click add again
In the next window on the left hand side under manufacturers choose microsoft, on the right choose "NetBEUI" Then click "OK" at the bottom of the page.

Now we want to remove all instances of TCP/IP from the network window. Just highlight the entries and click remove until you have no more entries for TCP/IP.

Now close the network dialogue box with the "OK" Button at the bottom of the page, and restart the computer.

After the computer restarts open back up the network dialogue box, and follow the above instructions to reinstall the TCP/IP protocol.

After reinstalling I recommend restarting again, opening the network dialogue box again and confirming that TCP/IP is still there.

Instructions aside, I will recommend an upgrade to at least WIN2K, if not XP.
Any more questions about my instructions or troubles with this process, please e-mail me or post again.

 

[RangerWickett]

If you go to Control Panel::Network, you should see something like "TCP/IP Protocol --> 3Com Network Adapter".

I do have that. And when I look at bindings for the adapter, it says it's bound to the appropriate TCP/IP.

Or at least I think. There's always a chance I've misinterpreted things.

 

[Rodrigo Istalindir]

Working from memory here, since I've thankfully relegated Windows 95/98/ME to the dustbin of history....

It might be that the gateway address may be missing or incorrect...

If IP isn't working at all, then you shouldn't be able to ping 127.0.0.1 (which is the internal 'loopback' adapter for TCP/IP. Since you could, I'll assume IP is installed and functioning.

You said you entered the DNS entries yourself -- did you enter an IP address and a gateway yourself, too? Generally, one gets the DNS entries, the IP address, and the gateway address all at the same time, either by entering them manually, or automatically from a DHCP server on the network. Having the user enter some of the information but not all is pretty unusual.

The gateway entry is very important -- without it, your machine will be able to talk IP, but it won't know how to find machines that aren't on the same local network.

If someone nearby (roommate or neighbor) has a computer, find out what their IP settings are, and see if you can ping their IP address from your PC.

 

[RangerWickett]

Working from memory here, since I've thankfully relegated Windows 95/98/ME to the dustbin of history....

It might be that the gateway address may be missing or incorrect...

If IP isn't working at all, then you shouldn't be able to ping 127.0.0.1 (which is the internal 'loopback' adapter for TCP/IP. Since you could, I'll assume IP is installed and functioning.

You said you entered the DNS entries yourself -- did you enter an IP address and a gateway yourself, too? Generally, one gets the DNS entries, the IP address, and the gateway address all at the same time, either by entering them manually, or automatically from a DHCP server on the network. Having the user enter some of the information but not all is pretty unusual.

The gateway entry is very important -- without it, your machine will be able to talk IP, but it won't know how to find machines that aren't on the same local network.

If someone nearby (roommate or neighbor) has a computer, find out what their IP settings are, and see if you can ping their IP address from your PC.

I'm typing from my work computer right now, so I can't consult the one back at my room, but I'm pretty sure I also put in some IP addresses and gateway addresses. Unfortunately, apparently no one else still uses Win98 in my dormitory, so I can't compare with them. I'll get this figured out, though. I know it.