Article ID: 93169
Article Last Modified on 9/24/1999
APPLIES TO
- Microsoft Windows for Workgroups 3.2
This article was previously published under Q93169
SUMMARY
The Microsoft Windows for Workgroups Setup detects certain networks and allows for specific IRQ and I/O address settings for individual network interface cards (NICs). Setup does not accept any settings other than those it provides. This behavior can be a problem if you are using a network card that allows an IRQ or I/O address setting other than those provided by Windows for Workgroups. This article includes procedures that may help you work around such problems.
MORE INFORMATION
To change the IRQ or I/O address for a single installation:
- During Windows for Workgroups Setup, install the appropriate network card and select any of the available settings.
- Open the PROTOCOL.INI file in an ASCII text editor, such as Microsoft Windows Notepad.
- Locate the network card section for your card. Section headings appear as follows:
[netcardname]
- Once you locate the [netcard] section, find two lines similar to the following:
IRQ=
IOADDRESS= - Change these lines to reflect the settings that your network card is actually using. The IRQ value must be a valid number between 0 and 15. The IOADDRESS value must be a valid hexadecimal I/O address or must take the form 0xNNN, where "NNN" is the address, (for example, IOADDRESS=0x300).
- Save these changes, then reboot your computer.
Note: If you regenerate the PROTOCOL.INI file by reinstalling Windows or by removing and then reinstalling the network card in the Network dialog box of Control Panel, these changes are lost.
To change the IRQ or I/O address for multiple installations:
Note: The changes below affect all subsequent installations of Windows for Workgroups that have the specified network card. Be sure to make a backup of the NETWORK.INF file before you make any changes to it.
- Open the NETWORK.INF file in a ASCII text editor, such as Microsoft Windows Notepad.
- Locate the [netcard_protocol] section for your network card. These sections generally have the following form:
[netcardname_nif] or [netcardname_xif]
Once you locate the [netcard_protocol] section for your card, find the following two lines:
io=<description,type,range,default,flags> irq=<description,type,range,default,flags>
where "type" is the parameter type, "range" is the range of values for the parameter, and "default" is the default value or the parameter.
Note: Some fields may be missing in the actual statements. The following is an example:irq=IRQ,,text,"3,4,5,9",3
io=IOADDRESS,,hex,"0x280,0x3f0,0x10","0x300"The following table describes the common type, range, and default values:
Type Range Default Definition ------------------------------------------------------------------- Static Default N/A The value cannot be changed Text "Value, value,..." Yes List of text values Int "First, last, step" Yes Integer range Hex "First, last, step" Yes Integer range in hexadecimal
- The values for the I/O address or the IRQ can then be modified by changing the values inside a text list or the first, last, or step values of an integer or hexadecimal range. For example
irq=IRQ,,text,"3,4,5,9",3 can be changed to include irq 7.
irq=IRQ,,text,"3,4,5,7,9",3io=IOADDRESS,,hex,"0x280,0x3f0,0x10","0x300" can be changed to include I/O address 200h by lowering the first value as follows:
io=IOADDRESS,,hex,"0x200,0x3f0,0x10","0x300"
- Save the changes to the NETWORK.INF file. The Setup program then displays the setting that you added as a selection in the appropriate box.
For more information, refer to Chapters 5 and 6 of the "Windows for Workgroups Resource Kit" manual.
Additional query words: 3.10 3.11
Keywords: KB93169