New Motherboard - freezing with PCI wireless adapter

[Diknak]

See this thread:

http://www.tek-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=1591536

I replaced the mobo and am concerned that I got a faulty mobo, but I would like to hear some thoughts.

Whenever I try connecting to the wireless network, the computer freezes and then gives me a blue screen.

If the network card is out of the computer, this does not happen.

I tried switching PCI slots to see if it was a faulty slot. That didn't help.

I swapped out the network card with the one that works in my other computer and I still had this problem, so it is not the card.

I ran a registry cleaning program to fix registry errors.

I did a clean install of the OS and deleted the partition to start from scratch.

No matter what I do, I always get this problem and the only thing that I can think of is that they sent me a bad mobo. I have used this network card on that model of mobos for the past 5 years, so I know they are compatible. Any ides before I go through an exchange process with the vendor?

 

[tlcscousin]

Is the Operating system updated with all the windows updates?
You state that whenever you try connecting to the network it gives a BSOD.
What is the error listed in the BSOD?
Will the computer run OK when the wireless card is installed in the computer but not trying to connect to the wireless?

 

[kjv1611]

See if you can uninstall ANY and ALL wireless network adapters. Typically this is caused by a wrong/faulty network driver OR a compatibility issue between the motherboard and the network card - though the latter is more rare, I think. I know of the latter, b/c of a similar situation I ran into in the past. If you're trying to swap out the same or similar network card (not even just same manufacturer, but it could just be using the same chipset within the adapter), it could cause the issue in the latter case.

--

"If to err is human, then I must be some kind of human!" -Me

 

[Diknak]

The issue happens weather or not the card is trying to connect to the network or not. If it is plugged in, it freezes. Sometimes it will freeze as soon as Windows pops up and sometimes it will freeze 30 seconds after it lets me connect to the network.

I have uninstalled and reinstalled the drivers may times, including the two times when I wiped the entire drive and did a fresh install of the OS. This happened in Vista (which I used prior to the replaced mobo) and Windows 7 (which I use on another computer that uses the same network card but different mobo).

The new motherboard is the exact same model that I had in there previously and this was not an issue. Maybe it was a different version of the BIOS, I'm not sure, but I have used this combo before. When I swapped network cards, they were the exact same model, so if it was a compatibility issue, this would not have been tested.

 

[kjv1611]

Based on what you've said, I'd say the next step should be checking the BIOS revision against what's available online. If it's a BIOS issue, perhaps a BIOS upgrade will take care of the issue.

--

"If to err is human, then I must be some kind of human!" -Me

 

[Diknak]

so where is a good place to get a bootable CD for windows 7 to update the BIOS?

 

[aich69]

Check your BIOS vendor as the machine boots, if your quick enough you'll see the version too or you could just run something like Belarc Advisor

http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html

and get the info from the resulting page. Armed with that info best bet would be to visit the motherboard manufacturers site and check for an update there. It may well come in the form of a executable, if not then it should provide you with all the files you need to create a boot disk to work from.

Can you try the wireless card in another machine? If it crashes you machine when it's installed in whatever PCI slot you put it in but the machine runs fine without it, it would suggest to me that there may be an issue with the card, possible damage when swapping it out from the old board.

Do you have another PCI card to try on this board? If another card works in the board and doesn't crash it then, to a very good extent, it rules out an issue with the boards PCI capabilities.

I used to have a handle on life... but it broke. Cpt. Red Bull

 

[aich69]

sorry... I just read this:

I swapped out the network card with the one that works in my other computer and I still had this problem, so it is not the card.

so ignore my comments re card... rest applies though.


I used to have a handle on life... but it broke. Cpt. Red Bull

 

[Diknak]

I downloaded the update and it gives me an exe file and a .BIN file. The exe file just opens a cmd window real fast and closes it, so I don't think I can just run it in Windows. So I looked around the site for some info and this is what is posted in the FAQ.

Here is the website:

http://www.foxconnsupport.com/faq.aspx?faqid=F000000065

It directs me to this site to create a boot disk:

http://www.bootdisk.com/index.html

It doesn't say anything about Windows 7. I think this is very old website. Foxconn's website is horrid and gives no direction at all about how to create a boot disk. Am I looking for the section that says 'Driver Free Disk For BIOS Flashing'?

 

[kjv1611]

Yeah, you're wanting to flash the BIOS. Some mobo manufactures have apps that will run within Windows to do it, but it is safer to do it from a boot disk or from within the BIOS itself. If you can put the files you downloaded on a floppy drive or maybe USB or CD, and then boot to your BIOS settings, you may have an option there for upgrading the firmware, and just point it to the location where you have it saved.

--

"If to err is human, then I must be some kind of human!" -Me

 

[Diknak]

It comes with software called SuperUpdate, but it only works in windows xp and windows 2k. I looked online for an updated version but it isn't out there. I will try to make a bootable cd today.