Need help with a 3com 3C905CX

[iluvnumbers123456789]

I bought a couple 3com 3C905CX network cards from newegg, and I can't seem to get them to work. The cards came with a floppy disk containing a preinstall program and a couple other things.

When I run the preinstall program, a message box immediatly pops out saying "Please turn off your computer, install the NIC, and restart your computer." I don't know if something more is supposed to happen, so I'm mentioning it here. The other couple of programs on the disk I can't even get to run at all.

After installing the NIC, I plug in my Telocity (DirecTV) dsl modem and install the software. The installation goes fine the first few seconds, but when the software tries to detect the modem, it doesn't work. I cannot seem to get the connection working using ethernet (I'm using usb now), and I think it may be something to do with my network card. I really need to get the modem working on ethernet so I can hook it up to a router, because with USB I have two computers without internet connections.

Some info that might help:
They are 3com 3C905CX cards from Newegg
I have set this up on Windows ME on some kind of Dell with no success
I have set this up on Windows XP on an Abit KG7 motherboard with no success
I am using Telocity (DirecTV) DSL with a Telocity modem model 10-X203

If you people need any more information, just ask and I'll try my best to figure it out, although I am new to computers, as you can probably already tell.

 

[TheGrandHooHa]

OK, I'll try to go over some things here. Sorry if they seem mundane - I am not trying to insult your intelligence! Just some suggestions:

1) Have you tried a different 905CX from the group you got? It's possible one is defective, but if none work then it's not that.
2) Have you had a working network card in the computer before?
3) The PCI slot on the motherboard that you plug the NIC in to may have some IRQ sharing errors. Motherboards with many (5+) PCI slots are slightly prone to this problem. Try plugging the network card into a different PCI slot.
4) Does the network card appear in the Device Manager for either Me or XP? Does Me/XP give the "New Hardware Found" message when booting? If they appear in the Dev. Man., and have no conflicts, then the network card may not be the problem.
5) On the floppy disk (with the preinstall program), are there any files with .INF extentions, or files that have an icon that looks like a notepad with a gear next to it? These MAY be driver files, and can be of some use.

Try these suggestions. Again, sorry if they seem elementary, but they are all semi-common and can be overlooked.

PM me if you want to, and I can try to provide more assistance, or just post replies here.

Welcome to the forums, by the way! 😎

TGHH

 

[Gerbil333]

I'm using that exact same card and DSL modem (same provider too).

I had no trouble with it at all. I download the drivers for it from 3Com's website before installation and then directed the computer to look for drivers in the folder on my hard drive where I unzipped them. Have you tried that?

 

[iluvnumbers123456789]

Thanks for the responses, I appreciate them. Sorry for the long response time, but I have been very busy recently and have not had much time to work on my computer or check these forums.


<< 1) Have you tried a different 905CX from the group you got? It's possible one is defective, but if none work then it's not that. >>

I bought a group of three 905CXs. I have used two on two different computers and neither works.


<< 2) Have you had a working network card in the computer before? >>

I currently have two 3com Homeconnect phoneline adapters connecting my Dell and another old computer. They work fine, but they don't use RJ45 cables so they won't work with my router.
An interesting thing to note is that I don't know why, but if I remove this NIC, my DSL connection stops working. I can disconnect the cables from the NIC without doing anything to my DSL connection, but once I remove the card, my connection goes away. Then again, maybe when I removed it, I was seeing things. I'll have to try this again when I have time.
I don't think this has to do with my current problem, because this NIC was never installed in my new system, and that system has no better luck getting the DSL modem to work.


<< 3) The PCI slot on the motherboard that you plug the NIC in to may have some IRQ sharing errors. Motherboards with many (5+) PCI slots are slightly prone to this problem. Try plugging the network card into a different PCI slot. >>

I have tried using one NIC on two different PCI slots on my Dell, and have tried using another NIC on one PCI slot on my new system.


<< 4) Does the network card appear in the Device Manager for either Me or XP? Does Me/XP give the "New Hardware Found" message when booting? If they appear in the Dev. Man., and have no conflicts, then the network card may not be the problem. >>

The NIC appears in the Device Manager for both computers. I know the "New Hardware Found" message appears on ME, because I just messed around with it today trying to get it to work. I'm not sure with XP. I don't remember seeing it, but I installed the NIC more than a week ago and I have a horrible memory.


<< 5) On the floppy disk (with the preinstall program), are there any files with .INF extentions, or files that have an icon that looks like a notepad with a gear next to it? These MAY be driver files, and can be of some use. >>

Yes, there are files with the .INF extention on the floppy, and they appear to install fine when I update my drivers for the NIC.


<< Try these suggestions. Again, sorry if they seem elementary, but they are all semi-common and can be overlooked. >>

These suggestions don't seem mundane or elementary. I'm still very new with computers. I just built my first system (the one with the Abit KG7 and Windows XP) a few weeks ago, and prior to that I knew practically nothing about computer engineering.


<< Welcome to the forums, by the way! 😎 >>

Yay, thanks.

Gerbil333, I have tried what you have said. The drivers from 3com's website appear to be the same as the ones on the floppy. I don't have any trouble with the drivers (except maybe for the preinstall program, I'm not sure if that's working correctly). My main problem is that my DirecTV software won't detect my DSL modem. I open the setup program on the DirecTV CD, click yes a couple times through the license agreement, enter my phone number, click "ethernet", and click yes. Some files copy on to my hard drive, and I get prompted to restart, which I do. Everything starts out fine, but then I start having problems. After I restart, the DSL status icon (red) is in my taskbar, and the setup program resumes. The program attempts to detect my modem for 30 seconds, fails, and tells me to make sure my modem is properly connected to my computer.

 

[iluvnumbers123456789]

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