Looking for a recent an983.sys

[alb?]

Hello from France.
For some time now I've been having this problem: when I want to switch off the
Ethernet connection from my XP SP3 machine, I get a dialog box stating that the
connection cannot be interrupted manually (...). The only way I can stop the
connection is go Peripherals (?) Manager>Network Cards>right click on
Deactivate--a bit tedious, really.
This has been occurring for a few weeks now, though I changed nothing to my
configuration except using WinUpdate.
From what I could find on the internet I should either update the driver of my
Ethernet card or download a more recent copy of netcfgx.dll to
c:\windows\system32. I have tried the latter, with no avail.
As for the former, I just can't find any place from which to downloads the
driver.
My card is Carte PCI ADMtek AN983 10/100, and the installed pilot, an983.sys, is
version 2.12.507.2001, dated 01/07/2001.
Problem is, when I check sites that offer pilots, I can't find mine, as the
query "Carte PCI ADMtek AN983 10/100" brings back things I don't understand.
So I'd be very grateful to anyone who could help me with the following:
1. apart from the two clues listed above, is there any other I could try?
2. from what I could find the builder of my PCI ADMtek AN983 10/100 card is/was
Novell (?), but they don't seem to exist anymore, they are never listed with
existing makers?
3. where can I find a an983.sys file?
Thanks a whole lot in advance!
--
a.

[mark adams]

"Alb?ɬ

[alb?]

"Mark Adams" :
> The first thing to try would be to download the latest driver from the website
> of the maker of your computer. You haven't said what the maker is. If you
> built the computer, you will have to download the driver from the website of
> the maker of the PCI card.
Problem is, I bought the machine from Rueducommerce, an on-line "assembler"
(i.e. a firm who builds configurations and sells them). I have been through
whatever documentation came with the machine but there was no indication I could
find about the PCI card. All I know is that the mainboard came with its own
manual and it is a K7S5A PRO. I guess this doesn't help much?
I may ask Rueducommerce, but I bought the thing back in 2003 (decent stuff
after all, I'd say), and seeing how fast things change is the computer
business... but I'll ask them right away anyway.

> If the builder of your PCI card doesn't exist anymore, an updated driver may
> not be available. Drivers from other maker's cards are likely not to work.
That's precisely why I thought I'd ask here first, because I've experienced
before so-called "compatible" hardware which were not.

> You may need to buy a new ethernet card, they are not expensive.
I thought that's how it'd end, but then again the machine is 7 years old.
But then again again it still works fine, so maybe you're right and I should try
that.

Have you tried reinstalling the original driver that came with the card?
The only CDs I was then given (see how way back it all dates!) were the
mainboard's, the videocard's (nvidia GForce4 MX) and XP's. So I guess the
relevent driver is to be found on one of these, possibly XP if it is a generic
driver? I'll looking through the three of them, though the driver may be in
compressed form.
At the moment an983.sys can be found here in my system:
- C:\WINDOWS\ServicePackFiles
- C:\WINDOWS\system32\dllcache
- C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers
I'll try to copy-paste the file; is there any precaution I should take (like
do it in safe mode)?

> Google might help you find a driver;
As I mentioned before I just can't seem to find a simple, plain answer to my
query: it looks I have to download some unindentified "bundle", which I am
reluctant to do.Or else I just can't tell what maker I should chose, so...

> however I would be reluctant to download a driver from any source other than
> the website of the maker of the computer or the PCI card, including Windows
> Update.
I am pretty sure that it is some update from WU that started messing with my
PCI.
Mark, I am aware you've already done quite a bit of an answer; I'd be
grateful if you'd spare some more time and answer the few questions I may ask
here again soon after I've been through the solutions mentioned hereabove.
--
a.

[alb?]

....Wow, Paul! I'd never think someone would bother to go this far to help
me. I am *very* grateful. Now, all that vocabulary really beats me (by far),
so I'd just like to ask you (no guarantee included of course): knowwing that
I am plain unable to perform whatever "modification or work" you mention, do
you think I should download that file and install it? And if so, what
precautions should I take, do you think?
Thanks again, thanks in advance!
--
a.

[alb?]

I have tried to reinstall an983.sys manually through the device driver (?)
interface, but though the file appears in three different locations:
- C:\WINDOWS\ServicePackFiles
- C:\WINDOWS\system32\dllcache
- C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers
the first two failed (the driver was not found); as for the third, the "OK"
button remained greyed.
--
a.

[alb?]

I have downloaded the zip file and extracted the .sys (which appears to be
slightly different from the one I got: 38 Ko instead of 36, and dated 08/11/2002
00:00 instead of 28/08/2002 23:59--don't these people work late at night to
the Desktop, but when I try to install it through the device maganer (?)
interface, I get a greyd "OK" button. Should I just replace the file manually
(under safe mode)?
--
a.

[alb?]

....Hi again, Paul.
*Many* thanks for the detailed explanations.
I'll be on holidays in a few days and in the meantime I need to backup my old
hard disk so I'll postpone the maneuver you mention until I'm back and can give
it some time.
Then I'll be back and let you know how it went!
Cheers from France.
--
a.