Setup: Network Problems with EtherLink II on Interrupt 3 (93606)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows NT Server 3.1
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 3.1
This article was previously published under Q93606

SUMMARY

You may experience network problems during Windows NT installation if you choose interrupt 3 for an EtherLink II network interface card (NIC). If this happens, finish the installation. After rebooting your computer, you should be able to start your network from the Network icon in Control Panel.

Note: If you need to use both the serial port and NIC, you need to change the NIC's IRQ, since there is no true IRQ sharing under Windows NT except on MCA machines. (COM port IRQs can be shared on non-MCA machines, but two COM ports configured for the same IRQ cannot actually be opened at the same time.)

MORE INFORMATION

Normally, COM2 uses interrupt 3. When Windows NT starts, it loads NIC drivers first so that the serial driver can detect that interrupt 3 is in use and disable COM2. However, during Windows NT installation, the serial driver loads first, claiming interrupt 3 before the EtherLink II driver can initialize.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:10/30/2003
Keywords:kbnetwork KB93606
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