Exactly what is an Ethernet Controller?

[Square]

I know what ethernet is, but what the hell is an Ethernet controller? Whenever I start up my PC, Windows tells me that it has found new hardware, and starts the installation wizard. If I continue, it tells me that it's found an ethernet controller.

It also will advise me again straight afterwards, as though there were two new pieces of hardware

The thing is, it's only recently started doing this; it was running fine for months before. I definately haven't installed new hardware since i've had the PC, and have only installed a few service pack updates. I'm using Windows 2000.

Can anybody help me out here, as this is becoming a really annoying problem.

[marcus]

What does your device manager show? There should be a cross beside whatever is missing.

[nigel1210]

It's a network card, what motherboard have you got?

is it an nforce 2 based motherboard?

[Super Stu]

Ethernet controller = network card, tmk.

[Square]

Thanks for the replies. I have a Belkin WiFi card in there.

Motherboard: Asus A7N8X-E-Deluxe nForce2, ATX, DDDR400, Gbit Lan, USB 2.0, 1394, 6Ch Audio, SATA, Raid

[marcus]

Id run windows update first and see if it picks the driver up from there. Failing that, grab the install discs for your NW card/Wifi card and run those, you wont stop windows wanting to install the missing hardware until you take the hardware out, or install it.

[Square]

Gah! I knew it. It took ages to get the settings right for the WiFi network/router. My big worry is that I won't be able to do it again. The odd thing is Marcus, the WiFi newtork is working ok most of the time...

Thanks again for the reponses guys - I'll let you know if it works!

[nigel1210]

Hasn't it got 2 network ports. On my old nforce 2 board, i port was handled by the nvidia drivers and the other one was a seperate driver install. There is a marvell network driver on the asus website have you tried that?

[Square]

No, but then when it comes to PCs I'm nowhere near as technically proficient as I'd like to be. My main strengths are with the Mac >_<

The guy who built and sold me the PC is sending me the driver cds for the Mobo and the WiFi card. I'll install both of them, and see what happens...

[nigel1210]

No, but then when it comes to PCs I'm nowhere near as technically proficient as I'd like to be. My main strengths are with the Mac >_<

The guy who built and sold me the PC is sending me the driver cds for the Mobo and the WiFi card. I'll install both of them, and see what happens...

Why not just download them?

[Square]

Because I don't know what the model numbers are, and I know that the CDs are definately the right ones.

[nigel1210]

Because I don't know what the model numbers are, and I know that the CDs are definately the right ones.

Motherboard is an nforce so uses the nforce unified driver.

This is for windows 2000 -

http://www.nvidia.com/object/nforce_udp_win2k_4.27

Have you got any exclamations in device manager?

[Square]

I don't have anything called 'Device Manager'. Would it be under another name?

[sam1981]

You do if you're using windows,

Start > control panel > system > hardware tab > device manager (presuming it's XP)