Dell that defies Logic!!!!! ARGH!

[davepoet]

Have a small office network running 6 machines. 5 of them I built and all network fine (2 Win95, 1 Win98 & 2 Win2000).

Then theres the Dell. ugh. It is a PIII 500MHz system with Win2000 on it. I installed the same network card that I have on the other 5 machines. It is setup for the network like the other 5 machines. However, it doesnt like to WORK like the other 5 machines.

When you first start the Dell up from a cold boot, it will not recognize the network. If you then go Shutdown and Restart, it will work just fine. Defies logic.

Who said computers were logical anyways?

[futuretech]

Try changing from the default auto in the media type to either 100 Full Duplex or 10 full. Sometimes auto just does not work very good.
I have seen somewhere before a timeout setting, but have not found that article yet.

[davepoet]

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Trebuchet MS, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Trebuchet MS, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by futuretech:
<strong>Try changing from the default auto in the media type to either 100 Full Duplex or 10 full. Sometimes auto just does not work very good.
I have seen somewhere before a timeout setting, but have not found that article yet.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Trebuchet MS, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Tried it. I dont think a timeout setting would be in effect because it is only when the computer has been completely off (no power) and then turned on, does it not recognize the network. When you immediately restart the machine, it works fine.

Granted, the system works but I hate when things do not make sense. Its kind of like the Chewbakka defense!

[Larommi]

How is your machine getting its address for the network? When it does not see the network do you have a proper network address?

[korpse]

What kind of switch are you using? If its a catalyst make sure portfast is enabled on the port.

[Low Level Owl]

I've noted that a certain card may work wonderfully with one setup but be a total pain in another. Have you tried another NIC card??

[Mauser]

I work on a number of Dell computers and most of them come with 3Com integrated nics. They are are pain where the sun does not shine. I normally disable the nic from the bios and install a Netgear PCI nic card. Netgear is cheap but very reliable.

You might want to check the port the last unit is plugged into as well. In addition, you will need to be consistent throughout with speed on the nics.