Failed Netgear WPN311 Wireless card install - XP
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Failed Netgear WPN311 Wireless card install - XP
Recently decided to go wireless and purchased all Netgear kit - WPN824 RangeMax router which I am very happy with, 2 x WPN311 wireless PCI cards.
1 PCI card works fine in my Win2K PC but I simply cannot get the XP PC to accept the card.
It's an ageing HP Pavilion PC but exceeds the Netgear system requirements.
AMD Duron 1GHz CPU, 40Gb HD with 38Gb free, 512 RAM (maximum possible).
Basically any PCI slot that the card is installed into causes the PC to freeze during the 'Found New Hardware' wizard or on subsequent reboots after installation of the hardware. The software installation always works fine.
All the PCI slots work with a variety of cards - Soundblaster, Ethernet, Graphics and the slots pass an intensive hardware test using VCOM test software.
The PC has had a clean XP SP2 installation. The WPN311 card works in another machine and another known working WPN311 card exhibits the same symptoms. The BIOS has been updated to the latest level, No other PCI cards are present when the installation is attempted.
The driver software for the WPN311 that was shipped (v1.1) has been tried, and the latest supported version (v1.2) has been tried - same results.
HP state that the card should work. Netgear state that 'there MAY be a compatibility issue between the WPN311 and the Motherboard - an ASUS A7V-VM.
Problem is - the retailer won't accept the card back as it is not faulty. It is pointless me buying a different manufacturer's PCI card as I will not have the benefit of the Netgear proprietary RangeMax feature.
I have raised 3 separate Tech Support cases with Netgear but no progess has been made despite me insisting that the matter is escalated beyond the usual Level 1 support.
Any suggestions before I dig out my crimpers, reel of Cat5 cable and set of drain rods ?
1 PCI card works fine in my Win2K PC but I simply cannot get the XP PC to accept the card.
It's an ageing HP Pavilion PC but exceeds the Netgear system requirements.
AMD Duron 1GHz CPU, 40Gb HD with 38Gb free, 512 RAM (maximum possible).
Basically any PCI slot that the card is installed into causes the PC to freeze during the 'Found New Hardware' wizard or on subsequent reboots after installation of the hardware. The software installation always works fine.
All the PCI slots work with a variety of cards - Soundblaster, Ethernet, Graphics and the slots pass an intensive hardware test using VCOM test software.
The PC has had a clean XP SP2 installation. The WPN311 card works in another machine and another known working WPN311 card exhibits the same symptoms. The BIOS has been updated to the latest level, No other PCI cards are present when the installation is attempted.
The driver software for the WPN311 that was shipped (v1.1) has been tried, and the latest supported version (v1.2) has been tried - same results.
HP state that the card should work. Netgear state that 'there MAY be a compatibility issue between the WPN311 and the Motherboard - an ASUS A7V-VM.
Problem is - the retailer won't accept the card back as it is not faulty. It is pointless me buying a different manufacturer's PCI card as I will not have the benefit of the Netgear proprietary RangeMax feature.
I have raised 3 separate Tech Support cases with Netgear but no progess has been made despite me insisting that the matter is escalated beyond the usual Level 1 support.
Any suggestions before I dig out my crimpers, reel of Cat5 cable and set of drain rods ?
Last edited by Lost_luggage34; 6th Sep 2006 at 22:54.
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well theres always a possibility there is an issue with your mobo, if so then sell the card on ebay and try another brand.
maybe someone can lend you a card to try out first?
maybe someone can lend you a card to try out first?
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Try (just as a test) removing all the other PCI cards from the machine and installing this solo. You might just find it installs okay and then you know what you're looking for. Some cards had jumpers to set the IRQ channel.
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I know it's late/early (at least in the UK) and no offence intended, but please read my original post which does state ;
I agree - I thought it was an IRQ conflict. Everything possible/unused I.e. serial ports, parallel port, onboard sound has been disabled in BIOS. The BIOS on this particular PC does report IRQ conflict on bootup if there is one - this is not being reported in this case.
As for memory conflict - I don't have much of a clue where to start looking at that to be perfectly honest.
I have had one constructive suggestion - go USB. That would at least allow me to stick with the Netgear and the RangeMax feature. I did originally want to go Linksys but neither retailers that I use could provide the whole kit. With it being wireless I insisted that all the kit was from the same manufacturer.
No other PCI cards are present when the installation is attempted
As for memory conflict - I don't have much of a clue where to start looking at that to be perfectly honest.
I have had one constructive suggestion - go USB. That would at least allow me to stick with the Netgear and the RangeMax feature. I did originally want to go Linksys but neither retailers that I use could provide the whole kit. With it being wireless I insisted that all the kit was from the same manufacturer.
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On the non - tech side,there is a thing called the Sale of Goods act. I would talk to Trading Standards who may well be able to assist.
I get really fed up by Whitesock outfits that sneer and claim that it is nothing to do with them. Well - it IS! The getouts tried by one company on me with a faulty LCD monitor - I will not mention their name, but it begins with "PC" and ends with "World" - were a work of art. Five different answers from five different representatives. None, of any use. In this case, I simply called the manufacturers who were fabulous, but from that point on, I have no hesitation in bringing TSO in at an early stage. There are too many devious sh*ts who contrary to all of their publicity material, have absolutely no interest in your satisfaction whatsoever. They deserve personal attention.
Rant "Off"
Conan
I get really fed up by Whitesock outfits that sneer and claim that it is nothing to do with them. Well - it IS! The getouts tried by one company on me with a faulty LCD monitor - I will not mention their name, but it begins with "PC" and ends with "World" - were a work of art. Five different answers from five different representatives. None, of any use. In this case, I simply called the manufacturers who were fabulous, but from that point on, I have no hesitation in bringing TSO in at an early stage. There are too many devious sh*ts who contrary to all of their publicity material, have absolutely no interest in your satisfaction whatsoever. They deserve personal attention.
Rant "Off"
Conan
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I fully understand where you are coming from Conan - and I am not averse to involving TSO where necessary. I have found them to be extremely helpful in the past.
However, I basically entered into a contract when this WPN311 card was purchased. It has been back to the retailer who showed me that it works when he installed it into his XP PC.
It also works in my Windows 2000 PC.
The returns policy at this particular retailer is if the hardware is not faulty it will not be exchanged. I was aware of that at time of purchase so I am stuck between a rock and a hard place.
Netgear have been next to hopeless with their Technical Support. Over a week now and 3 cases later before it has now finally been escalated past Level 1 - the 'phone answering numpties.
How I wish I could have bought the complete kit from Linksys.
Would I purchase Netgear again - NO
Would I purchase from this retailer again - NO.
Some lessons to be learnt.
However, I basically entered into a contract when this WPN311 card was purchased. It has been back to the retailer who showed me that it works when he installed it into his XP PC.
It also works in my Windows 2000 PC.
The returns policy at this particular retailer is if the hardware is not faulty it will not be exchanged. I was aware of that at time of purchase so I am stuck between a rock and a hard place.
Netgear have been next to hopeless with their Technical Support. Over a week now and 3 cases later before it has now finally been escalated past Level 1 - the 'phone answering numpties.
How I wish I could have bought the complete kit from Linksys.
Would I purchase Netgear again - NO
Would I purchase from this retailer again - NO.
Some lessons to be learnt.
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You could try this
Netgear's recommended setup involves installing the WPN311 driver, then disabling Windows' Wireless Zero Configuration and replacing it with the Netgear Smart Wizard (all this is done for you by the installation program if you select the recommended option).
So after installing the WPN311 in my PC running Windows XP Pro SP2, I suffered from frequent 'blue screen' crashes, with the technical info on the blue screen confirming that the WPN311 driver was the source of the problem. I called Netgear technical support, who recommended uninstalling the drivers, then removing the PCI card and installing it in another slot, and then reinstalling the drivers. All this was to no avail - the problem persisted.
The solution - which wasn't given to me by the Netgear techies, but which I found on an internet forum - was to disable the Netgear Smart Wizard and enable Windows' Wireless Zero Configuration again. This didn't remove the problem entirely - I still get 'blue screen' crashes sometimes when using VPN - but crashes are now quite infrequent.
Netgear has released a new driver for the WPN311 (the installation process of which requires the physical uninstallation and reinstallation of the PCI card!), but it still doesn't fix the problem - "Some configurations using Windows XP Professional, SP2, cause computer to freeze with a blue screen" is still listed as a 'known issue'. Word on the internet forums is that the problem is unlikely to ever get fixed as Netgear doesn't have the necessary programming resources assigned to the task.
So after installing the WPN311 in my PC running Windows XP Pro SP2, I suffered from frequent 'blue screen' crashes, with the technical info on the blue screen confirming that the WPN311 driver was the source of the problem. I called Netgear technical support, who recommended uninstalling the drivers, then removing the PCI card and installing it in another slot, and then reinstalling the drivers. All this was to no avail - the problem persisted.
The solution - which wasn't given to me by the Netgear techies, but which I found on an internet forum - was to disable the Netgear Smart Wizard and enable Windows' Wireless Zero Configuration again. This didn't remove the problem entirely - I still get 'blue screen' crashes sometimes when using VPN - but crashes are now quite infrequent.
Netgear has released a new driver for the WPN311 (the installation process of which requires the physical uninstallation and reinstallation of the PCI card!), but it still doesn't fix the problem - "Some configurations using Windows XP Professional, SP2, cause computer to freeze with a blue screen" is still listed as a 'known issue'. Word on the internet forums is that the problem is unlikely to ever get fixed as Netgear doesn't have the necessary programming resources assigned to the task.
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The biggest causes of crashes on Windows pc's are: Drivers, drivers & drivers. After that it's psu's then drivers, then drivers.
I would also suspect Service pack 2 - that update shuts out a whole load of stuff your machine could do before. However, failing a driver update, I would look to do some reading around SP2 - it's a major change to your system.
I would also suspect Service pack 2 - that update shuts out a whole load of stuff your machine could do before. However, failing a driver update, I would look to do some reading around SP2 - it's a major change to your system.
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Jet II - thanks for that suggestion.
Problem is the installation - after drivers and then hardware - never gets through the Hardware Wizard before freezing the PC. It isn't a BSOD situation. Therefore, I don't ever get to the point where I can chose between the Netgear configuration utility or the XP Wireless utility. I don't think I can make the choice earlier in the installation process as the Netgear software does nothing without the car being physically present.
Parapunter - I agree. However, I only have the version of XP with SP2 bundled and I don't believe there is a method of installing good, plain old XP from this CD.
Problem is the installation - after drivers and then hardware - never gets through the Hardware Wizard before freezing the PC. It isn't a BSOD situation. Therefore, I don't ever get to the point where I can chose between the Netgear configuration utility or the XP Wireless utility. I don't think I can make the choice earlier in the installation process as the Netgear software does nothing without the car being physically present.
Parapunter - I agree. However, I only have the version of XP with SP2 bundled and I don't believe there is a method of installing good, plain old XP from this CD.
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I have come to the conclusion that it is not a driver issue.
HP have sent me a service pack for the VIA chipset which drives the PCI and AGP slots. This has at least allowed the wireless card to be fully installed and configured.
However, once the card has connected OK, about 1-2 minutes later the PC freezes.
This is the same for each of the 3 PCI slots.
I think I will attempt to swap the PCI card for the USB.0 version. That I am certain will circumvent the issue.
HP have sent me a service pack for the VIA chipset which drives the PCI and AGP slots. This has at least allowed the wireless card to be fully installed and configured.
However, once the card has connected OK, about 1-2 minutes later the PC freezes.
This is the same for each of the 3 PCI slots.
I think I will attempt to swap the PCI card for the USB.0 version. That I am certain will circumvent the issue.
Spoon PPRuNerist & Mad Inistrator
LL,
This is almost certainly an issue (which I have raised several times before) with the Version of PCI slots on the PC and the Version of PCI that the new card requires - see my post in the FAQ sticky on "adding a PCI card to your oldish PC".
I bet that if you dig a bit you will find the version of PCI that the card needs is PCI 2.2, and your PC slots are 2.1 compliant.
If you have a detailed product ID and serial number for the Pavilion you can probably find out the spec. from the the HP website - www.hp.co.uk - or you can use the on-line detection tool. You will have to dig around to find the detailed specs. for your particular product, but it should be there.
SD
This is almost certainly an issue (which I have raised several times before) with the Version of PCI slots on the PC and the Version of PCI that the new card requires - see my post in the FAQ sticky on "adding a PCI card to your oldish PC".
I bet that if you dig a bit you will find the version of PCI that the card needs is PCI 2.2, and your PC slots are 2.1 compliant.
If you have a detailed product ID and serial number for the Pavilion you can probably find out the spec. from the the HP website - www.hp.co.uk - or you can use the on-line detection tool. You will have to dig around to find the detailed specs. for your particular product, but it should be there.
SD
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Managed to swap the PCI version for a USB2.0 version.
It doesn't support WPA so everything else on the network has had to be downgraded to WEP.
The reception is not as good as the PCI card but it works.
No thanks to the lack of support from Netgear.
It doesn't support WPA so everything else on the network has had to be downgraded to WEP.
The reception is not as good as the PCI card but it works.
No thanks to the lack of support from Netgear.
