3Com (R) Corporation
3C90x EtherLink PCI NIC Family
Windows 98 Installation and Upgrade Information
------------------------------------------------------------
This document describes how to install a 3Com EtherLink PCI NIC
(3C90xB or 3C90xC) in a PC running Windows 98. It also describes
how to:
Install a 3C900 or 3C905 NIC in a PC running Windows 98.
Upgrade a PC from Windows 95 to Windows 98 that already
has an EtherLink NIC installed.
Perform a fresh installation of Windows 98 in a PC that
already has an EtherLink NIC installed.
Update the network driver and NIC software.
Remove the network driver and NIC software.
First Time Installation
-----------------------
This section describes how to install an EtherLink PCI (3C90xB or
3C90xC) NIC in a PC running Windows 98.
There are two ways to install the NIC:
- Using the EtherCD.
- Using the installation diskettes (created from the EtherCD).
Using the EtherCD
-----------------
The 3Com EtherCD and the Windows 98 installation media are needed
during the installation.
NOTE: Windows 98 has the built-in ability to support the
EtherLink family of network interface cards. Unfortunately,
the EtherLink driver that comes with Windows 98 is old and may
not work properly under some conditions. To avoid installing the
default driver that comes with Windows 98, follow the steps in
this section.
To install an EtherLink PCI NIC using the EtherCD:
1. Do NOT install the NIC in the PC.
2. Start Windows 98.
3. Insert the EtherCD in the CD-ROM drive.
The EtherCD Welcome screen appears.
If the EtherCD Welcome screen does not appear, enter
the following command from the Run option of the
Windows Start menu:
d:\installs\setup.exe
where d:\ represents the letter of your CD-ROM drive.
4. Click NIC Software, and then NIC Drivers and Diagnostics.
5. Click Install NIC Driver.
6. To install the network driver and the 3Com NIC Diagnostics
program, click Install with Diagnostic Program. To install
the network driver only, click
Install without Diagnostic Program.
Files are copied. A message box appears when the installation
is complete.
7. Click OK.
8. Select your operating system to continue the installation.
The Completing NIC Installation screen appears.
9. Click Done.
10. Exit the EtherCD, and then shut down Windows.
11. Turn off the power to the PC.
12. Remove the EtherCD from the CD-ROM drive.
13. Install the NIC in the PC and connect it to the network.
See the NIC's user guide for instructions.
14. Turn on the power to the PC, and start Windows 98.
Windows 98 detects the NIC. The New Hardware Found
dialog box appears.
15. In the New Hardware Found dialog box, select the
following path from the pull-down list:
c:\windows\options\cabs
16. Click OK.
Files are copied.
You are prompted for the Windows 98 CD.
17. Insert the Windows 98 CD and click OK.
Files are copied. You are prompted to restart the PC.
18. Remove the Windows 98 CD, and then click Yes to
restart the PC.
You must restart the PC to complete the installation.
After Windows restarts, double-click the Network icon in
the Windows Control Panel and make sure that the configuration
settings are properly configured for your network environment.
Contact your system administrator for assistance.
Using the Installation Diskettes
--------------------------------
The 3Com EtherDisk diskette 1 and the Windows 98 installation
media are needed during the installation.
NOTE: Windows 98 has the built-in ability to support the
EtherLink family of network interface cards. Unfortunately,
the EtherLink driver that comes with Windows 98 is old and may
not work properly under some conditions. To avoid installing the
default driver that comes with Windows 98, follow the steps in
this section.
To install an EtherLink PCI NIC using the installation diskettes:
1. Install the NIC in the PC and connect it to the network.
See the NIC's user guide for instructions.
2. Turn on the power to the PC, and start Windows 98.
Windows 98 detects the NIC.
The Add New Hardware Wizard starts.
3. Insert EtherDisk diskette 1 in drive A, and then click Next.
4. Select Search for the best driver for your device (Recommended),
and then click Next.
5. On the next menu, the Wizard allows selection of the media to
install from. Click Floppy disk drives, and then click Next.
6. Windows searches for a driver on the selected media and
asks 'What do you want to install?'. Click Next.
Windows displays the chosen device and the location of the
installation media.
7. Click Next.
NOTE: If the Insert Disk dialog box appears, prompting
you to insert EtherDisk diskette 1, click OK.
You are prompted for the Windows 98 install media.
8. Insert the Windows 98 CD, and then click OK.
Windows displays the message 'Windows has finished
the software ...'
9. Click Finish.
You are prompted to restart the computer.
10. Remove the diskette from drive A, and then click OK.
After Windows restarts, double-click the Network icon in
the Windows Control Panel and make sure that the configuration
settings are properly configured for your network environment.
Contact your system administrator for assistance.
Installing a 3C900 or 3C905 NIC
-------------------------------
This section describes how to install an EtherLink PCI (3C900 or 3C905)
NIC in a PC running Windows 98.
The 3Com EtherCD (or EtherDisk diskette 1 if using installation
diskettes) and the Windows 98 installation media are needed
during the installation.
NOTE: Windows 98 has the built-in ability to support the
EtherLink family of network interface cards. Unfortunately,
the EtherLink driver that comes with Windows 98 is old and may
not work properly under some conditions. To avoid installing the
default driver that comes with Windows 98, follow the steps in
this section.
To install an EtherLink PCI (3C900 or 3C905) NIC:
1. Do NOT install the NIC in the PC.
2. Make sure that Windows 98 is installed on the PC.
3. Run the preinstallation program on the EtherCD (or on
EtherDisk diskette 1) before you install the NIC in the PC:
a. Start Windows 98.
b. Insert the EtherCD in the CD-ROM drive (or the EtherDisk
diskette 1 in drive A).
b. Open the Windows Start menu and select Run.
c. Run the preinstallation program. Enter:
a:\preinstl to run the program from diskette, or
d:\preinstl to run the program from CD ROM, assuming
d:\ is the drive letter assigned to the CD ROM drive.
d. After the preinstallation program finishes, turn off the power
to the PC and remove EtherDisk diskette 1.
4. Install the NIC in the PC and connect it to the network.
See the NIC's user guide for instructions.
5. Turn on the power to the PC, and start Windows 98.
Windows 98 detects the NIC. The Add New Hardware Wizard starts.
6. Insert EtherCD in the CD-ROM drive or EtherDisk diskette 1 in
drive A, and then click Next.
7. Select Search for the best driver for your device (Recommended),
and then click Next.
8. On the next menu, the Wizard allows selection of the media to
install from. Click the CD-ROM drive if you are using EtherCD or
Floppy disk drives if you are using EtherDisk. Click the Next
button.
9. Windows searches for a driver on the selected media and displays
'What do you want to install?'. Click the Next button. Windows
displays the chosen device and the location of the install media.
Click the Next button.
NOTE: If the Insert Disk dialog box appears, prompting you to
insert EtherDisk diskette 1, click OK.
10. If you are using EtherCD and your Windows install media is a CD,
you are prompted for the Windows 98 install media. Remove the
EtherCD, insert the Windows 98 CD, and click OK.
11. Windows displays the message 'Windows has finished the software ...'
Click Finish.
12. Windows displays a message requesting to restart your computer. If
you installed from an EtherDisk, remove the diskette from drive A,
then click OK.
After Windows restarts, double-click the Network icon in
the Windows Control Panel and make sure that the configuration
settings are properly configured for your network environment.
Contact your system administrator for assistance.
Upgrading from Windows 95 to Windows 98
with an EtherLink NIC Installed
-----------------------------------------
This section describes how to upgrade a PC from Windows 95 to
Windows 98 that already has an EtherLink 3C90x or 3C90xB/3C90xC
NIC installed.
Follow the instructions for the type of NIC (3C90x or 3C90xB/3C90xC)
that you have installed in the PC.
NOTE: If you have already upgraded to Windows 98 without following
these instructions and are experiencing problems with the NIC, see
the next section, "Performing a Fresh Installation of Windows 98
in a PC with an EtherLink NIC Installed."
3C90x NIC family
----------------
1. Start Windows 95.
2. Open the Windows Start menu, select Settings, and then
Control Panel.
3. Double-click the Network icon.
4. On the Network configuration menu, select the
3Com EtherLink NIC.
5. Click Delete.
NOTE: Deleting the NIC may delete all network components
(such as the TCP/IP protocol stack, if present).
Record the configuration settings of the other network
components that may be needed when the NIC is reinstalled later.
6. Shut down the Windows, power off the PC, and then
remove the NIC.
7. Power on the PC, start Windows 95, and then install Windows 98.
8. After Windows 98 is installed, go to step 1 of "First Time
Installation" above to install the NIC.
3C90xB or 3C90xC NIC family
---------------------------
If you have an EtherLink 3C90xB or 3C90xC NIC installed,
no special installation or configuration is necessary.
The upgrade from Windows 95 to Windows 98 should not affect
your NIC's installation or performance.
However, if you upgraded from Windows 95 (OSR2) to Windows 98,
the NIC continues to use the NDIS 4 driver instead of the
NDIS 5 driver.
To update to the NDIS 5 driver:
1. Start Windows 98.
2. Right click on the Network Neighborhood icon.
3. Click Properties.
4. Double-click the EtherLink NIC listing.
5. Select the Advanced tab.
6. Click on the NDIS driver version.
7. Under Value, select NDIS 5.
8. CLick OK to close the Properties window.
9. Click OK to close the Network window.
The NDIS driver is updated to NDIS 5.
Performing a Fresh Installation of Windows 98 in a PC with an
EtherLink NIC Installed
-----------------------------------------------------------
Review the section for the type of EtherLink NIC (3C90x or
3C90xB/3C90xC) that you have installed in the PC.
3C90x NIC family
----------------
If you performed a fresh installation of Windows 98 in a PC
that already has an EtherLink 3C90x NIC installed, or if you
installed a 3C90x NIC in Windows 95 and then upgraded to
Windows 98 without following the instructions in "Upgrading From
Windows 95 to Windows 98," the installation is damaged. This is
because Windows 98 installs its own built-in driver to support
the 3C90X NIC. This driver is old and may not work properly
on some PCs. When you reboot the PC, both the EtherDisk and
Windows 98 drivers load and attempt to bind to the same NIC.
The symptoms of this problem vary. You may get a general
protection fault in module NDIS.VXD. If this happens,
you must reboot Windows in Safe Mode to recover. You will not
be able to connect to the network. If you run the 3Com NIC
Diagnostic program for Windows, you will get errors when you
execute the NIC diagnostic tests.
To correct this problem, update the NIC driver and EtherDisk
software. Follow the instructions in "Updating NIC Software"
later in this document.
3C90xB and 3C90xC NIC family
----------------------------
If you performed a fresh installation of Windows 98 in a PC
that already has an EtherLink 3C90xB or 3C90xC NIC installed,
or if you installed a 3C90xB or 3C90xC NIC in a Windows 95 PC
and then upgraded to Windows 98 and are experiencing problems
with the NIC, follow the steps below to properly update the NIC
driver and software.
1. Right click the 'My Computer' icon on the desktop and select
properties.
2. On the next select the Device Manager tab.
3. Double-click Other Devices.
4. If there is a generic PCI Ethernet Controller listed, do the
following:
a. Click the properties button.
b. Click the Driver tab, then click Update Driver button.
The Update Device Driver Wizard starts.
c. Click Next, and then click Next again.
d. Go to step 8 under First Time Installation above.
5. If a Network Adapter class is shown, do the following.
a. Click the plus sign to the left of the Network Adapter
class to expand it.
b. If you see a 3Com EtherLink PCI NIC listed, click on it to
highlight it, and press the Remove button.
c. Repeat step 5b until all 3Com PCI NICs are removed.
d. Go to the beginning of the First Time Installation section
above.
Updating the Network Driver and NIC Software
--------------------------------------------
If you are currently using a version of EtherDisk software that is
older than the software on this EtherCD, follow the instructions
below to properly update the driver and the Windows-based 3Com NIC
diagnostic program.
Using the EtherCD
-----------------
Note: Do not use the "Update Driver" button located on the driver
tab of the properties page for the NIC. This button updates the
device driver, not the NIC diagnostic software. It is important
to update both the driver and the Windows diagnostic
software together.
To update the driver and NIC software using the EtherCD:
1. Insert the EtherCD in the CD-ROM drive.
The EtherCD Welcome screen appears.
2. Click NIC Software.
3. Click NIC Drivers and Diagnostics
4. Click Update NIC Driver.
5. Click Update Drivers and Diagnostic Program to update both the
network driver and the diagnostic program, or click
Update Drivers and remove Diagnostic Program if you want
to update the network driver only.
The update begins as soon as you click on your selection.
The update is complete when the update message box appears
stating that you must restart your system for the changes
to take effect.
6. Click OK, and then click Exit to quit the EtherCD.
7. Open the Windows Start menu, select Shutdown, and then
Restart Computer.
After the computer shuts down and restarts, the EtherCD
software is ready to use.
Using Installation Diskettes
----------------------------
The NIC diagnostic program is not available on the EtherDisk
installation diskettes.
To update the network driver and NIC software:
1. Delete the NIC, following the procedure in the next section,
"Removing the NIC Driver and Software.
2. Install the NIC and software, following the "First Time
Installation" procedure above.
Removing the NIC Driver and Software
------------------------------------
To remove the NIC driver and software:
1. Double-click the My Computer icon, then the Control Panel icon,
and then the System icon.
2. Click the Device Manager tab.
3. Double-click Network adapters.
4. Highlight the 3Com EtherLink NIC.
5. Click Remove.
6. Click OK to confirm the device removal.
You are prompted to restart the PC.
If you are physically removing the NIC from the PC, click No.
Do not restart the PC until you shut down the PC, turn the
power off, and remove the NIC from the PC.
If you are reinstalling the NIC software, click Yes to restart
the PC.
(%VER WIN98.TXT - Windows 98 Information v5.3.0)
Download Driver Pack
After your driver has been downloaded, follow these simple steps to install it.
Expand the archive file (if the download file is in zip or rar format).
If the expanded file has an .exe extension, double click it and follow the installation instructions.
Otherwise, open Device Manager by right-clicking the Start menu and selecting Device Manager.
Find the device and model you want to update in the device list.
Double-click on it to open the Properties dialog box.
From the Properties dialog box, select the Driver tab.
Click the Update Driver button, then follow the instructions.
Very important: You must reboot your system to ensure that any driver updates have taken effect.
For more help, visit our Driver Support section for step-by-step videos on how to install drivers for every file type.