This solves most of the problems with failed adapter installations. It assumes:

• You followed the instructions in the Installation Guide, but
• The adapter never successfully connected to another network device.

Average time: 10 minutes.

To Troubleshoot

(If you loop back through the same instructions twice, and there's the same problem, contact Customer Support. E.g., if you get to Step 6 twice, and there's still a yellow exclamation mark.)

1) Make sure both ends of the Ethernet cable are completely pushed in. You should feel and hear a small click.

2) Look at the adapter. If no lights are showing then the adapter is not plugged in, or it is unpowered. Go to Step 5b, starting with "Notes!"

3) Go to the Windows Device Manager (as described in the Installation Guide). Click the plus sign beside Network adapters. The the computer's network adapter drivers shows.

4) If the NETGEAR driver appears in the list, go to Step 6.

5) If the NETGEAR adapter is not in the list, then:

5a) Open the branch Other, at the bottom of the tree, if there is one. If there is an error code of 1 or 28, get the original driver for the card and reinstall it. Reboot your computer, and go back to Step 2.
5b) If there is no branch Other, then the adapter is not physically connected:

Notes!

Power off the computer before handling anything inside.

Do NOT touch the green electronic surface of any card with your hand without being grounded. Never! — damage may not be obvious, but it's quite likely that some damage will be done.

Holding the card by the silver end that screws into the computer, or through the protective static bag is usually safe.

• Push the card in securely, or
• Put the card in another slot, or
• Install the card in another computer.
• If none of these three things connects with the network, contact Customer Support.
• If you now have a connection, but did not before, go back to Step 2.
• If you already had a connection, restart your computer, and go back to Step 2.

6) Double-click the adapter to open the Properties window. If there is no yellow exclamation mark and no red x beside the name of the card, go to Step 7. If there is an "x" by the NETGEAR adapter card in the Device Manager, then select enable the card in the Properties window, and go back to Step 2.

6a) Otherwise, if there is a yellow exclamation mark, if the error displaying is an IRQ Conflict, a Resource Error, or a Memory Conflict, then install the card in a different slot, being careful to follow the warnings under 5b) Notes!
6b) For any other error, reinstall the adapter driver, using the updated versions of the drivers, if any are available for your card on NETGEAR product support page. After reinstalling, reboot your computer. Go back to Step 2.

7) Check the compter's IP address is correct:

7a) Select Start > Run.
7b) Type winipcfg (for Windows 95 or 98). For Windows 2000 or Me, type cmd, click OK, and type ipconfig. If there is no IP address in the results, then for Window 95, 98 or Me, go to Step 8. For Windows XP or 2000, go to step 9.
7c) If the IP address is not 0.0.0.0 or 169.254.x.x, then the card is successfully installed. If you still cannot connect, then start troubleshooting using the steps in other documents for "no Internet connection".
7d) If the IP address is 0.0.0.0 or 169.254.x.x, and the card can be changed to run at a lower 10 Mpbs, change the speed. If you are still not connected, contact Customer Support.

8) If using Windows 95, 98 or Me:

8a) Select Start > Run.
8b) Type winipcfg (Windows 95 or 98), or for Windows 2000 or Me, type cmd, click OK, and type ipconfig.
8c) If your Ethernet card is mentioned in the results, go to Step 9. If it is not mentioned, then, going back to the Device Manager, count the number of items under the Network adapters branch. Delete ones that you are not using. Candidates are: i) Any adapter with "dial-up" in the name, ii) If you don't use AOL, then the AOL adapters, and iii) the MS Virtual Adapter. If you delete any, go back to step 2. Otherwise, contact Customer Support.

9) If using Windows XP or 2000, and there is a "media disconnected" message, then:

9a) If you are connecting the card to a hub or switch use the "straight through" NETGEAR cable out of the box. If connecting directly to a modem, you may need to use a "crossover cable", instead; consult the modem's documentation.
9b) Try another cable that you know will works.
9c) If there is no change in light status, contact Customer Support.
9d) If there is a change in light status, see if you are connected. If you are not, go back to Step 2.

With Thanks to Karthik C., Suresh R., Suresh V.

Doc: N101244.asp March 21, 2004