Proper procedure to change NICs

[Jeff S]

Sorry if this is a stupid question, but what is the proper way to swap out
one NIC for another in WinXP? I always assumed it was as simple as replacing
one with the other, and letting Windows do its thing.

The thing is, if I just pull my current card out of the system and replace
it with the other one, Windows XP detects it and apparently installs it
fine. However, no internet stuff actually works. This appears to be the same
whether I try going through my router or plugging into the DSL modem
directly (connects via PPPoE, but then can't load websites, MSN, e-mail
etc.)

I'm using an MSI KT3 Ultra with BIOS v5.7.

[Len]

If you pull the card and install another you probably left software from
your previous NIC in the system. It seems the best (maybe only) way to
change NICs - particularly different NICs (mfg, version, etc) is to
uninstall the software (if any) the card uses such as diagnostics, setup or
whatever.

After the software is removed then uninstall the actual NIC from Device
Manager. With all of this done shutdown the computer, open the cover,
install the new NIC in whatever slot then start the system.

FWIW,
Len

"Jeff S" > wrote in message
.. .
> Sorry if this is a stupid question, but what is the proper way to swap out
> one NIC for another in WinXP? I always assumed it was as simple as
replacing
> one with the other, and letting Windows do its thing.
>
> The thing is, if I just pull my current card out of the system and replace
> it with the other one, Windows XP detects it and apparently installs it
> fine. However, no internet stuff actually works. This appears to be the
same
> whether I try going through my router or plugging into the DSL modem
> directly (connects via PPPoE, but then can't load websites, MSN, e-mail
> etc.)
>
> I'm using an MSI KT3 Ultra with BIOS v5.7.
>
>