"Server not found" on PC2

[Sylvander]

1. I have PC1 and PC2 sitting side-by-side near a broadband modem.
When I connect the network cable from the modem to the NIC of...

2. PC1
And boot PC1...
It connects normally to the web using either Win2000 or Puppy Linux [e.g. BoxPup-413].

3. PC2
And boot PC2...
I get "Server not found" when attempting to connect to the web [e.g. the PC-Guide forums], within either Win2000 or this-or-that Puppy Linux.
Mailwasher Within Windows also reports no connection to the web.
Almost all looks OK on PC2; Device Manager shows the NIC working normally.
It had been connecting normally the day before yesterday.

4. Using Firefox-3.6.3 in each case.

5. PC2 Windows reports:
[Probably has no bearing on this problem]
"svchost.exe has generated errors and will be closed by Windows.
You will need to restart the program."
I don't know how to restart the program.
Also related I believe:
When I go into ntmsmgr.msc and try to open a folder:
"The connection to the removable storage service has been broken."
...And it auto-restarts svchost.exe

[Sylvander]

On PC2...
Within [recent Puppy Linux release] Lupu-501...

1.
(a) Ran "Linux-Firewall Wizard" [to make sure a firewall was running]...
Then...

(b) "Internet Connection Wizard" [ICW][to make sure of a connection to the web]...
As follows...

2.
(a) Chose ""Wired LAN"...
Then...

(b) ICW found: PCI->"National Semiconductor DP83815 (MacPhyter) Ethernet Controller".
Then...

(c) Clicked "Test eth0":->Result="...able to find a live network".
Then...

(d) Clicked "Auto DHCP":->Result= "Broadcasting for a lease"+"Timeout=30 sec",,,[it timed out]...Then...
"Configuration of eth0 UNSUCCESSFUL"...[this is normally ALWAYS successful!][on every Puppy on the old PC1]

[classicsoftware]

This will not work without a router unless you are plugging the PC's in one at a time. If you are, then the easiest thing to do is to replace the NIC in PC2.

[Sylvander]

1. I am indeed, not using a router, and "plugging the PC's in one at a time".
DETAIL:
(a) Powered down PC1.
(b) Disconnected cable [that comes from the powered-on broadband modem to the NIC] from PC1 NIC.
(c) Connecting the cable [broadband modem continuously powered on] to PC2 NIC [PC2 is powered off whilst doing this].
(d) Power-on and boot PC2.

2. "the easiest thing to do is to replace the NIC in PC2"
(a) You confirm my suspicions. :)

(b) I have already looked through my odds and ends, and found a couple of NIC's from discarded PC's [previous/older PC's, but NIC's may be newer=recent][PC2 was made 2002] as follows:

(c) 3COM Fast Etherlink XL PCI NIC = 3C905B-TX-NM (http://www.xiertekusa.com/product.php?pid=384)
And...

(D) Netgear FA331-Rev-C1 (http://www.zmaxtech.com/fa331.html)

3. Which is best to use?
Any links for drivers?

[jlreich]

They are both the same speeds, so either is fine. A little googling should find your drivers for both cards. You can probably go to Netgear's site to find that driver.

[classicsoftware]

I would bet Windows may have the driver native....

[Sylvander]

1.
(a) Downloads for FA330 and FA331 PCI Adapter (http://kbserver.netgear.com/kb_web_files/n101403.asp)

FA331v20.zip (ftp://downloads.netgear.com/files/FA331v20.zip) Drivers and Diagnostics, 486 KB.

Suitable for Win2000Pro?

(b) I downloaded the the manual linked here. (http://www.retrevo.com/s/Netgear-FA331-review-manual/id/425bh740/t/1-2/)
This manual says the driver disk [same or similar to the driver above?] has drivers for Windows 2000.

2. "I would bet Windows may have the driver native...."
(a) The existing card in PC2 is identified [either in the Win2000 Device Manager, or by "Unknown Device Identifier"] as:
"Netgear FA311/312 PCI Adapter [Manufacturer = Lite-On]
After originally finding it marked as an "Unknown Device" in Device Manager...
I downloaded/installed->[into Win2000Pro] a driver for FA311->[F31XV18.zip], which worked.

(b) Perhaps this [older card?] FA331 will indeed have a driver natively included in Win2000Pro.
Here's hoping. :)

[Sylvander]

Success! :)
Typing this from the newer PC2.

1. Swapped in the "Netgear FA331" PCI card mentioned above.

2. Booted Win2000Pro on PC2.

3. Different NIC was detected, and driver asked for.

4. Told the wizard to look for a suitable driver [clicked the option button].

5. Navigated to the driver .inf file [NETFA33x.INF] for FA331 ver2.0 and chose that file.

5. The wizard reported that a suitable driver had been found.

6. The "Online Armor" firewall required me to OK that a run of certain files were being attempted, and also that a new network was being communicated with.
OK'd those.

7. Mailwasher no longer reported no connection.
However...
When I attempt to use Mailwasher to fetch mail from 3 accounts that have been set up, that times out, and reports that "Connection timed out (possibly caused by firewall)" on all 3 accounts.
I've been unable [just prior] using Boxpup on PC1, to fetch any emails from the POP3 server, so perhaps there's a temporary problem there.

8. Checked "Online Armor->Configuration->Firewall", and 11 programs [including Mailwasher] are all "Allowed".