3C90x - Hangs or gets error message when loading driver in DOS or Windows

This document gives instructions to disable the Plug and Play Operating System in the BIOS. This
feature needs to be disabled when a non-plug and play operating system, like DOS, Windows for
Workgroups or Windows NT, is being used. It may also need to be disabled under Windows 95 or
Windows 98 if the resources are not being properly assigned.

Note: Multiple symptoms and multiple fixes are listed in this document. The most common symptoms
are that the network card is not detected properly, that the system hangs when trying to load the driver
or an error message occurs.

Symptoms:
Plug and play operating system is enabled in the BIOS
Error: "TR: 100base-TX or 100base-T4 or MII" when DOS diagnostics are run
Error: "Error: [/TR: (100Base-TX | 100Base-T4 | 100Base-FX | mii |" when DOS diagnostics are run
PC hangs when DOS ODI driver loads
NIC not detected as new hardware
Error: "No 3C90X NICs are installed in this computer" when DOS diagnostics run
Error: "An incorrect configuration is set by the BIOS. Update the BIOS or try another slot" when DOS diagnostics are run
Error: "TLNKP1 could not connect to the interrupt number supplied" in Event Viewer
Error: "Unable to identify node address probable hardware incompatibility problem" when running DOS diagnostics
Error: "Invalid pci interrupt level. Probable hardware incompatibility"
3Com adapter driver fails to start in Windows NT 4.0
Error: "No 3C90X NICs are installed in this computer" when installing driver in Windows NT 4.0
PC hangs after login
Yellow ! under network adapters
PC locks when 3Com DOS diagnostics are run
Cannot load ODI driver
Error: "NIC has invalid resources assigned, check BIOS for proper OS or update BIOS"
Error: "Adapter not found or responding" when loading ODI driver
PC locks during the .lan driver load when running the Novell Client 32 client for DOS
PC locks during the .lan driver load when starting a Novell Netware server
DOS NDIS client fails at the Net Initialize command
Cannot connect in DOS
Error: "No 3C90X NICs are installed in this computer"
Error: "The 3Com 3C90X adapter failed to initialize"
PC locks loading ODI driver

Fact:
OS: Microsoft DOS 6.22
OS: Microsoft Windows 3.1
OS: Microsoft Windows for Workgroups
OS: Novell Netware
OS: Microsoft Windows 95
OS: Microsoft Windows 98
OS: Microsoft Windows NT
NIC works properly in Microsoft Windows 95
Can connect in Microsoft Windows 95

Cause: When Plug and Play operating system is enabled in the BIOS, the assigning of resources is left to
the OS. If a non-Plug and Play operating system is then used, some Plug and Play devices will not have
resources assigned to them. Even if a Plug and Play operating system is installed on the system, there may
still be a conflict in resources.

Fix:
Disable PnP OS (Plug and Play Operating System) in the BIOS:
This is recommended for any non-Plug and Play Operating System

NOTE: Each BIOS is different and the option that needs to be changed may be worded differently. Please
refer to the machine vendor or the motherboard manufacturer. Look for something worded similarly to the
examples below:

1. PNP OS - Installed
a. Change to Not Installed
b. Save the change, see the BIOS information for instructions (usually at the bottom of the screen)
c. Restart the system

2. PNP OS - Enabled
a. Change to Disabled
b. Save the change, see the BIOS information for instructions (usually at the bottom of the screen)
c. Restart the system

3. Resources Controlled by AUTO
a. Change to Resources Controlled by MANUAL
b. Save the change, see the BIOS information for instructions (usually at the bottom of the screen)
c. Restart the system

4. Plug and Play operating system - YES
a. Change to NO
b. Save the change, see the BIOS information for instructions (usually at the bottom of the screen)
c. Restart the system

5. Running Windows 95? - YES
a. Change to NO
b. Save the change, see the BIOS information for instructions (usually at the bottom of the screen)
c. Restart the system

Last Reviewed: November 1998