How to verify your Network card is working properly

  Since Windows XP does not support anymore any ISA Non-Plug & Play Network adapters,

  Windows XP is able to detect automatically the settings/configuration of ISA Plug & Play and

  PCI network adapters.

  Before using network adapters, I suggest to check that the network adapter has be properly

  identified and is working.

  In the Control-Panel, select the

  System icon:

  

  (or right-click “My Computer” on the desktop

  and select Properties)

  Select the tab: “Hardware” and then

  use in the section “Device Manager”

  (middle of the dialogbox) the button

  ”Device Manager”

  In the Device-Manager, expand the

  section for Network Adapters :

  

  right-click on your network adapter and

  select to display the “Properties”

  Tab : General

  Make sure, that the “Device status” is:

  ”This device is working properly”.

  if not, use the button “troubleshooting”tab: Advanced

  Some network adapters allow to configure

  the connector to be used (in case of

  Combo adapters), and whether to use

  on Twisted Pair (TP) cabling

  ”Full Duplex” (=receive and transmit

  at the same time) or “Half Duplex”

  (=receive OR transmit at a given time)

  tab : Driver

  In case that Windows has problems using

  the driver, you can download from the

  manufacturer of the network adapter

  a new driver, which you can use then

  to “Update”

  Tab: Resources

  Under “Resource Settings”, you will

  see the I/O-range and IRQ used/assigned

  by this component.

  For PCI network cards, it is not

  possible to change the resources

  (I/O-range and IRQ ), but for

  ISA Plug & Play card you can assign

  different settings (if you need to resolve

  a resource issue, but that should not be required,

  this should only be done by real experts )

  You are now ready to check the Network Configuration :

  Home Edition

  Professional Edition.