Problems after installing new hard drive

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RudeJoe

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Oct 7, 2007
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My system:
- MSI K8N Neo4 Mobo
- installed a Western digital 400gb Caviar SE drive (SATA)
took out a WD 1200 Caviar EIDE harddrive

It seems my hard drive died on my computer. It seems to spin up when turned on but the computer just continuously restarts before the windows screen pops up. So I installed a new harddrive that I had (fresh out of box). Then I installed the system software (XP Pro).

The problem is I can't get on the internet.

I called the cable co (using a cable modem) to see if they could help. After no luck with resetting the modem he had me check the network adapters in the device manager. The only thing that shows up is the 1394 Net Adapter under that heading. He said there should be more. I also noticed all the yellow question marks under "other devices" and remembered I probably need to reinstall all the drivers. Is this correct?

I went to the MSI web site on another computer and downloaded all the drivers I could find for my mobo. I tried to install according to the instructions but always came to part in the Hardware update wizard that asks for the hardware type. And none of the things listed in the common hardware says ethernet... So I'm stuck.

If MSI provided a setup disk with the mobo I have misplaced it.

Any help?

By the way, my mother board has 4 orange SATA receptacles and 4 blue and all are labeled SATA 1... Which do I use. I can't find anything in the manual about which to use. I only have the one hard drive installed and I chose blue receptical. My mobo came with orange connectors but the HD came with a blue. Not sure if the color coding is universal or not.

Second (third) question is about the old hard drive. Any suggestion as to whether I can get my data from it. A few years of accumulated stuff.:eek: I put the HD in an external enclosure and plugged it into a USB port. It sounds like it is spinning but it won't show up on the computer. Any hope?

Thanks!
 
Yes, those yellow marks mean that a driver is missing. Your NIC probably does not have a driver installed. They should be labeled in a way that you should know what they are like Sound Device, Network Device, etc. It would help if you could post a picture of the yellow marks so we could say for sure what they are.

The best method to install drivers imo is to right click on the item, and go to properties, then click Update Driver, and from there choose manual and browse to the folder for the drivers you downloaded.
 
Thanks for taking the time to reply.

Not sure how I can include an image. This forum doesn't appear to allow it like other forums I am familar with. Looks like the insert image icon requires a url, not sure how to use that when I'm trying to post an image that's on a flash drive.


I don't know where I might have misplaced the setup CD that came with the Mobo. In the absence of that I downloaded all the drivers that MSI had for this mobo. The problem comes in as described in my initial post. It asks for something I can't find when I try to install them. Please see my first post.
 
In the device manager, can you list down all the devices that have a yellow question mark. So.. you have installed the MSI chipset drivers and still the same result? Try manually uninstall the drivers that have a yellow question mark next to it. Then, try add hardware in control panel and see what it picks up
 
Choices for hardware type from the Hardware update wizard:
1394 debugger device
61883 device class
AVC device class
batteries
bluetooth radios
computer
disk drives
display adapter
dvd/cd-rom drives
floppy disk drives
human interface devices
IDE ATA/atapi controllers
IEEE 1284.4 compatible printers
IEEE 1284.4 devices
IEEE 1394 and SCSI printers
IEEE 1394 bus host controllers
IEEE 1394 IP network Enumerator
Imageing devices
infared devices
keyboards
medium changers
mice and other pointing devices
modems
monitors
multifunction adapters
multi-port serial adapters
network adapters
network client
network protocol
network service
non-plug and play drivers
NT apm/legacy support
PCMCIA adapters
PCMCIA and flash memory devices
Ports (com & lpt)
printers
SBP2 IEEE 1394 device
SCSI and RAID controllers
secure digital host controllers
smart card readers
sound, video, and game controllers
storage volume shadow copies
storage volume
system devices
tape drives
universal serial bus controllers
windows CE USB devices
 
I can't install the drivers because the "Hardware Update Wizard" screen comes up and asks me to choose one of hardware types listed above. I don't know which one to select for "ethernet controller" for example

The "other devices" has a question mark on it then the rest in the list
?- ethernet controller
?- multimedia audio controller
?- multimedia controller
?- multimedia video controller
?- other PCI bridge device
?- RAID controller
?- SM Bus controller
?- video controller
?- video controller (VGA compatible)

But from talking to the cable provider it seems I need more options under the "Network adapters" heading. Right now I only have "1394 Net Adapter"
 
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in Device manager, you should have something like NVIDIA Network Networking Controller. This is the software driver for your built in network card on the motherboard.
 
OK, right click on ?- Ethernet Controller and go to Properties. Click Drivers tab then click Update Driver. Then manual and pick the location of the Ethernet driver you downloaded (provided above in a link)

Do not use hardware upgrade wizard. I'm not sure why you keep going back to that.
 
The main listing on my device manager is as follows:
+ Computer
+ disk drives
+ DVD/CD-ROM drives
+ Floppy disk controllers
+ Floppy disk drives
+ IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers
+ IEEE 1394 Bus host controllers
+ keyboards
+ mice and other pointing devices
+ network adaptors
? other devices
+ ports
+ processors
+ sound, video and game controllers
+ system devices
+ Universal serial bus controllers

No Nvidia Network Networking Controller listed any where, even when expanding the above headings.
 
bigDchris- as soon as I click on "Update driver" in the Ethernet Controller Properties window the Hardware Update Wizard pops up.
 
Under + network adaptors, do you see another device with a yellow question mark under 1394 Net Adapter? Or, it's just blank, nothing is listed under the 1394 Net Adapter
 
HardwareGuru said:
Under + network adaptors, do you see another device with a yellow question mark under 1394 Net Adapter? Or, it's just blank, nothing is listed under the 1394 Net Adapter
Click to expand...

Only the 1394 Net Adapter listed under the expanded Network Adapters
 
RudeJoe said:
bigDchris- as soon as I click on "Update driver" in the Ethernet Controller Properties window the Hardware Update Wizard pops up.
Click to expand...
Do you see a button that says Have Disk? Press that then navigate. I forgot to mention that.
 
HardwareGuru said:
By the way, is the onboard ethernet controller enabled in the BIOS?
Click to expand...

In the BIOS I don't see anything that specifically mentions an onboard ethernet controller and the options to enable.

The closest section that I found is the "Integrated Peripherals" section which lists:
USB Controller- enabled
USB KB/Storage Support- enabled
Onboard LAN Controller- Auto
Onboard LAN Option ROM- disabled
Onboard IEEE1394 Controller- Enabled
Onboard Sil3114 RAID- enabled
Onboard Gigabit LAN- enabled
Onboard Gigabit LAN ROM- disabled
AC97 Controller- auto
>I/O Device Configuration
>IDE Devices Configuration
>SATA Devices Configuration
 
Your onboard LAN Controller is the one. If its set at Auto then it should be enabled.
 
bigdogchris said:
Do you see a button that says Have Disk? Press that then navigate. I forgot to mention that.
Click to expand...

The "Hardware Update Wizard" pops up as soon as I click "Update Driver" in the Driver tab in the Ethernet Controller Properties window.

Questions asked in the Hardware Update Wizard:
Can Windows connect to Windows Update to search for software?
- Yes, this time only
- yes, now and everytime I connect a device
- No, not this time

When I select "No, not this time" a window pops up:

What do you want to do?
- Install software automatically (recommended)
- Install from a list or specific location (advanced)

If I click the first option the next message is: The wizard could not find the software on your computer for...

If I click the second option (Install from a list or specific location (advanced)) It allows me to choose the driver to install. But then the Hardware wizard brings up the "Hardware Type" window that I mentioned earlier.
 
RudeJoe said:
If I click the second option (Install from a list or specific location (advanced)) It allows me to choose the driver to install. But then the Hardware wizard brings up the "Hardware Type" window that I mentioned earlier.
Click to expand...
That is the option that I'm looking for but it should not bring up that wizard. It should bring up a window that lets you choose a location.
 
This is frustrating. Any more thoughts on how I can fix this?

Would it help to reformat the drive and try again (I doubt it but I thought I'd ask.

I'm sure the answer is to have the setup CD that came with my Mobo. I just don't know what I did with it. It should be in the Mobo box with the rest of the set up stuff but its not. I wish MSI would put that up on its web site. Of course if I could at least get on the internet I might be able to use their more automated update system.
 
Yes socket 939.

I down loaded the drivers for my specific mobo, the K8N Neo4 Platinum. (I assume its the PCB 1.0 since there is an ID on the board that says MS-7125 ver: 1)

I installed the nForce4 System Drivers. That used a more conventional method for install. No change, I even tried installing it yet again.
 
Oh yah, try this. Since you already installed the mobo chipset drivers, right click on each driver that has the yellow question mark and then click on Scan for hardware changes. Or, uninstall each driver that has an ? next to it and have the pc reboot again and see if Windows loads the proper drivers for each of those devices.
 
RudeJoe said:
Not sure how I can include an image. This forum doesn't appear to allow it like other forums I am familar with. Looks like the insert image icon requires a url, not sure how to use that when I'm trying to post an image that's on a flash drive.
Click to expand...

You need to upload it to an image hosting site, like imageshack or something like that, then use the URL with the IMG tags. Use alt+screenshot to take a screenshot of just the current active window. Please post a shot of the Network Controllers heading expanded.

When you plug the ethernet cable into the LAN port on your system, do the LED activity lights light up?
 
HardwareGuru said:
Oh yah, try this. Since you already installed the mobo chipset drivers, right click on each driver that has the yellow question mark and then click on Scan for hardware changes. Or, uninstall each driver that has an ? next to it and have the pc reboot again and see if Windows loads the proper drivers for each of those devices.
Click to expand...

I did the scan for hardware changes for each of the ? items. A window popped up and was there about 15 seconds and then went away. The question mark was still there. I did this for each and then restarted the computer. The question marks were still there.

So, I uninstalled each driver with the yellow question mark and rebooted. The "Found New Hardware Wizard" window popped up and wants me to find the various components that I removed. If I go through the dialogue boxes to install automatically it doesn't find what its looking for. If I try any of the manual search or selections it says it can't find the necessary software. So, If I cancel out of each Found New Hardware Wizard window and go to the Device Manager window the yellow question marks now have an "!" over top of them.

Looks like I may have gotten into more trouble by deleting?
 
enginurd said:
You need to upload it to an image hosting site, like imageshack or something like that, then use the URL with the IMG tags. Use alt+screenshot to take a screenshot of just the current active window. Please post a shot of the Network Controllers heading expanded.

When you plug the ethernet cable into the LAN port on your system, do the LED activity lights light up?
Click to expand...

I'll have to try to find a site. Thanks.

There is no "Network Controllers" heading in the Device Manager. There is only a "Network adapters" heading. The only thing that shows up under that when expanded is the "1394 Net Adapter". Nothing else.

Thanks for your continued help.
 
You sure you downloaded and installed the proper drivers from MSI website? This is the zipfile you downloaded CK804_XP_WHQL.zip?
 
Okay, got impatient and reinstalled XP pro. Still showing the same thing- ?! in them. Installed the drivers in the CK804_XP64_6.66_WHGL and still showing ?! by the items listed in the expanded "other devices" section.

"1394 Net Adapter" is still the only Network adapter

And, responding to an earlier suggestion- there is no light anywhere around the LAN connection.
 
What are the "? other devices"??

Are you using XP 32-bit or XP 64-bit?
 
He downloaded the XP 64 bit driver for Nforce.

RudeJoe, you need the Marvel LAN drivers. And make sure you are not downloading 64 bit drivers unless your using 64 bit OS.

Also, the reason only the 1394 adapter shows up under adapters is because it's the only one installed. Your NIC (NETWORK INTERFACE CARD) which is what you need, will have the ? by it. You told me yesterday that there was a ?- ethernet controller (Your NIC) , which is under the Other Devices tab. That means there is no driver for it and you need one.

Download the Marvel LAN driver and install it.

I haven't found one post where someone tells him to install LAN drivers to get his NIC to work. Crazy .... His motherboard must be using a NIC that is not part of the Nforce chipset tech. He needs separate drivers.
 
Last edited:
bigdogchris said:
... I haven't found one post where someone tells him to install LAN drivers to get his NIC to work. Crazy .... His motherboard must be using a NIC that is not part of the Nforce chipset tech. He needs separate drivers.
Click to expand...

You and HG both told him already...

bigdogchris said:
... Your NIC probably does not have a driver installed. ...
The best method to install drivers imo is to right click on the item, and go to properties, then click Update Driver, and from there choose manual and browse to the folder for the drivers you downloaded.
Click to expand...

HardwareGuru said:
Dude, you network adapter driver is not installed. Check device manager and see if it installed the driver for it. You may have forgotten to install the network driver from the MSI driver cd that came with the motherboard. They should post the drivers for that MSI K8N Neo 4 mobo on MSI website. Try this

http://www.msi.com/index.php?func=downloaddetail&type=driver&maincat_no=1&prod_no=177
Click to expand...

As you already noted, he DL'd the wrong driver. It's challenging to help people do these things if they're unfamiliar with it, which the OP obviously is.
 
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