ALERT: Win 95B and Win 98 Network Problem

MOREnet has discovered a problem configuring Windows 98 computers for direct LAN attachment which causes Windows to not properly identify the network card.

All network-attached users of Windows 98 users could potentially be affected.

November 12, 1998

The following text is a reproduction of the networking alert released by MOREnet on November 2, 1998.

Windows 95B and Windows 98

MOREnet has determined a problem that occurs when configuring Windows 98 computers for a direct connection.  Windows does not properly recognize the network card even though TCP/IP configuration is correct.  Attempting to fix the problem by removing the network card and reinstalling it can produce multiple network configurations upon reboot as Windows reinstalls the network card again with its own settings.

This occurs after an upgrade or new install of Windows 95 ORS2 (Windows 95 B and above) or Windows 98.  We have found the problem to be the way Windows detects the network card and assigns an IRQ address to it.  Windows assigns an incorrect IRQ address to the network card, causing it to malfunction.  To verify this as the problem, check the Network Controller address of the network card.  You may be able to view this information on one of the boot-up screens as the computer boots up.  Compare that address to the one Windows displays in Start, Settings, Control Panel, System, Device Manager, Network Adapters, [your network card], Properties, Resources, Interrupt Request, Setting.  If the Setting number does not match the Network Controller address, you have confirmed this to be the problem.

To fix this problem it will be necessary to disable a device called "PCI Bus IRQ Steering".  This is a utility in Windows that has the ability to change the IRQ and Base Address for any PCI bus hardware device installed in the computer that Windows determines may have an address conflict with another device.  The PCI Bus IRQ Steering device CAN and WILL change the address of a device even if there is no conflict.   You may not be given the option to manually change the IRQ address of the network card unless PCI Steering is disabled.  DISABLING THIS FEATURE MAY AFFECT OTHER HARDWARE DEVICES CONNECTED TO THAT COMPUTER. MOREnet STRONGLY RECOMMENDS CAUTION IN THIS AREA.  YOU MAY WANT TO CONSIDER PROFESSIONAL ASSISTANCE.

For more information, please see the documents Q182628 and Q182604 from the Microsoft Support Web site at http://support.microsoft.com/support.