3Com | NIC Support Tips Page
3ComInside 3Com
News/Events | Partners | Technology | Solutions | Products | Support | Inside 3Com
3Com Home | Log In | Search | Feedback | Site Map | Site Features | Document Center | Shop | Legal

Document #: 02632

3C90x - Windows 95 - NIC not detected as new hardware; Yellow ! in Device Manager

PROBLEM: NIC is not detected as new hardware. In Control Panel>System>Device Manager, NIC is listed with
Yellow ! under NETWORK ADAPTERS. Error: "Device failure try changing driver."

CAUSE: Microsoft Windows 95 does does not contain a native version of the driver for the 3C905/3C905B/3C900.
A temporary category will be created in the Device Manager called "Other Devices" with a listing underneath:
"PCI Ethernet Controller". This may occur if Windows 95 is installed/re-installed with the NIC physically in the
machine. PCI Ethernet Controller must be removed in order to install the driver.

SOLUTION:
1. Click START>SETTINGS>CONTROL PANEL
2. Double-click System icon
3. Click Device Manager tab
4. Double-click Other Devices category
5. Highlight PCI Ethernet Controller and click Remove
6. Click the Refresh button
7. New hardware will now be detected and the driver can now be installed

If the yellow ! still appears after rebooting, clean and reinstall the driver:

1. Remove 3C905/3C905B/3C900 adapter from Device Manager:
a. Click START>SETTINGS>CONTROL PANEL
b. Double-click System icon
c. Click Device Manager tab
d. Double-click Network Adapters
e. Highlight the 3C905-TX and click Remove
f. Select Cancel when prompted to restart
2. Close System icon
3. START>SETTINGS>CONTROL PANEL>Double-click Network icon
4. If Configuration window is not empty, remove any components listed
NOTE: If dial up adapter is installed, make note of TCP/IP setup (IP address, gateway, etc.) before removing,
so that it can be added later, if desired
5. Close Network (if prompted to restart, select No)
6. START>FIND>FILES OR FOLDERS
7. Type: el*.* and click Find Now
8. Delete any files that contain el and model number (i.e. el59x.dos, el59x.vxd, el90x.dos, el90x.sys, etc.)
9. Type: w95*.* and click Find Now
10. Delete the files w95el90x.inf, w95el59x.inf (if present)
11. Type: net3com.*
12. Delete the file net3com.inf (if present)
13. Type: 3c*.*
14. Delete the file 3C90x.inf (if present)
15. Restart Microsoft Windows 95
16. New Hardware (PCI Ethernet controller) should be detected
17. Insert EtherDisk # 2 and click Next button when the New Hardware Wizard screen appears
18. Click Finish button
19. If an error appears that the file w95el90x.inf could not be found, click OK and make sure the path in Copy Files
From window is: a:\
20. When prompted for Windows 95 files, path out to CD ROM drive and point to win95 directory
a. If the drive letter is E, type: E:\win95
b. If the Windows 95 files are on the hard drive, type: c:\windows\options\CABS
21. When prompted to restart, accept


News/Events | Partners | Technology | Solutions | Products | Support | Inside 3Com

Home | Log In | Search | Feedback | Site Map | Site Features | Document Center | Shop | Legal

© 3Com Corporation