Faulty LAN Card. Store said Check IRQ.. ? Help!

Riczter on 15/10/2013 - 16:08

Hi I bought a gigabit LAN Card, just a cheapie from hong kong, because the onboard LAN on my MB has failed. When I plug it into a PCIe x1 slot, and start it up, it doesn't POST, and doesn't start.
I thought it might be the PC, so I tried it in another computer, same deal. Both computers return to normal if the card is removed, so I'm assuming faulty card.

I sent this info to the store I bought from and asked for advice or replacement. They sent back the following: "Please check if your x1 slot is sharing the same resources (IRQ) with other slots or onboard function first."
Can anyone knowledgable explain this to me in simple terms? I've done a quick google/wiki search and can see it relates to Interrupt Requests, but not sure how I would see if that is affecting the card and how I would go about fixing it.

Any thoughts?
Thanks.

Computing

Comments

  • _Bruce_ on 15/10/2013 - 16:48
    +4

    This is a generic response because they don't care.

    In the bad old days IRQs had to be assigned manually and devices needed their own number. In the not-quite-so-bad days most devices assigned automatically, but some didn't so you had to avoid the others and sometimes manually assign extra devices.

    In 2013: Just No. Not unless you are already playing with these settings or you ahve some very strange hardware.

  • Colombian on 15/10/2013 - 18:09

    As stated above, that thing happened in the past with older boards but not today. Just ask for a refund/replacement.

  • [Deactivated] on 15/10/2013 - 18:32

    Stick with "I've already tried that and it's still not posting" unless of course you have 3 hours to update BIOS, reinstall drivers in windows for something that isn't working on boot or in linux, etc.

    Good luck and remember you should always try to talk to someone whos helpful. If you get someone who you know is never going to help just hang up and call back later and say the line was faulty.

  • jason101 on 15/10/2013 - 19:57
    +1

    When your machine POSTS (power up self test) hold down the delete key (you may have to tap it), this will allow you to enter the BIOS of the PC, the first thing to do would be to find the "onboard LAN" in one of the menu's you see and DISABLE it (usually you use the arrow keys to navigate and page up and page down (or enter) to change the variables).

    While I am not doubting that the card may be faulty I would at least try disabling the onboard lan first (note that most motherboards should work with more than 1 lan card / onboard present - but you never know), if you machine is hanging at the boot stage, there is a genuine probability of a resource conflict which prevents the machine from moving forward.

  • Riczter on 15/10/2013 - 20:05

    Thanks for the replies guys.

    The first computer I tried it in, had the onboard lan already disabled, because I had diagnosed the oboard LAN to be fried, as after a lighting strike the computer would always freeze at the windows loading screen, even after a clean windows install, the only way to get past that was to disable the onboard lan.
    So on the first computer I tried it with and without the onboard lan enabled in the bios, in both instances it failed to post with the new LAN card installed.

    But I tried it on a second computer as well with a functioning onboard LAN and with the onboard LAN enabled in the BIOS, and it wouldnt POST either. I haven't tried the 2nd computer with the onboard LAN disabled but I'm thinking it wont make much of a difference.

    I'll give it a shot when I get home tomorrow night.

    • GaryQ on 16/10/2013 - 10:57

      Wait, let me recap
      Lightning hit your computer
      The LAN socket was fried
      You bought a network card … and you are 'shocked' that it doesn't work.
      Any chance the PCI socket was also damaged - ie your mainboard is farked?
      It may well be that your smoking motherboard killed the new LAN Card

      I'd be replacing the entire board after a lightning strike - you're lucky the RAM and CPU are still functional.

      • Riczter on 16/10/2013 - 11:11

        Very high chance there is damage to the motherboard yes. Computer was behind a surge protector but surge protector didn't do its job. Trying to see if its salvagable.
        So far everything functions perfectly fine except the onboard lan.
        If the PCI Slot is damaged would it damage the card and cause the card to not work in another computer?

        I had hope that since I tried the card in 2 different computers it might be just the card, but its looking like that MAY not be the case…

        Another question, getting a low profile vs full height card… is the space between the screws that hold the bracket onto the card a fixed length apart across all cards, or does it change between manufacturers? I'm probably going to have to try another LAN Card, but the low pro ones are harder to find and more expensive. maybe I'll just get a full height and remove the bracket to test it in the low pro tower.

        This time i'll test it in the good pc first, then the fried pc, then the good pc again, if it doesnt work the second time I'll know its the fried PC that's the problem.

  • Geekomatic on 17/10/2013 - 17:35
    +1

    Here you go:

    http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/like/250781080553?lpid=87

    Cheers!

    • Riczter on 17/10/2013 - 18:08

      Hey good idea!

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