ICS problems

BlueMak · Aug 17, 2007, 04:44 AM

Having problems making ICS work, or even appear, anywhere.
My system is in the sig.
Using XP Home with all patches.
AFAIK latest version of drivers for everything but the soundblaster (don't ask).

Windows Firewall disabled. Zonelarm both on and off, same results.

I want to connect my xbox 360 through my PC to xbox live. I did it once before last year with my old pc, but now with a new pc and fresh installation of windows I cannot.

Problems:
I can't find anywhere ICS. No advanced settings, no properties of my current connection (ADSL with USB modem). I even tried this http://support.microsoft.com/kb/238135 but something is wrong.
First, I can't find this in Add/Remove programs:
2. Click Internet Tools on the Windows Setup tab, and then click Details

I have no Internet Tools or Windows Setup tabs. The 4 tabs that I do have are:
Change or Remove Programs
Add New Programs
Add/Remove Windows Components
Set Program Access and Defaults

The only that is remotely similar is the third one. Even there there is not point 3 from the instructions, which says:

3. Click to select the Internet Connection Sharing check box, click OK, and then click OK again.
4. Follow the instructions to run the ICS wizard.

I checked every single option there and there is nothing named even close to ICS. Still, I enabled/installed everything that has anything to do with networks.

I tried to follow instructions form a greek site about using ICS and at one point they say to right click on the connection you have, click on properties, click on advanced and there is ICS. BUT, all I have there is a Windows Firewall paragraph. No ICS.

Very frustrating.

Help me Obi Wan Kenobi, you're my only hope.

BlueMak · Aug 17, 2007, 12:00 PM

Wow, that bad eh?

Dyre Straits · Aug 17, 2007, 02:44 PM

I have no idea if this will help, but, it does sound similar to what you're going through. It might at the least give you some things to consider:

http://www.wifizard.com/tutorialsXP/...tion/index.htm

BlueMak · Aug 18, 2007, 04:51 AM

Thank you for the link. It looked like the perfect solution, but it didn't work.
First I got a BSOD while installing the drivers for it. Then it installed ok, but there was no change on the ICS. In the device manager the new "card" would display with a yellow error message. I tried to update the driver without any luck. I uninstalled it and tried the other option I had during the add new hardware manual selection. I chose the MS miniport or whatever. Installed ok and then teh PC was stalling for everything. I disabled the new "hardware" but nothing improved. Oh and no, the ICS did not fix itself. I tried uninstalling it but icouldn't. Not even in safe mode. So I had to load a restore point from 2 days ago.
Very good idea Dyre, but unfortunately didn't go as planned.

Dyre Straits · Aug 18, 2007, 05:12 AM

Well, I was really hoping that would do the trick for you. Bummer!!

I'll have to get with my son as he's using not only one, but TWO Xbox 360s on our Home LAN and playing online almost every single night. We do have a Router and Firewall setup here and it still works fine.

I did come across this thread doing a Google search and the last post deals with setting it up through ICS. Check it out if you haven't already....

http://forums.torrentspy.com/archive...p?t-40094.html

BlueMak · Aug 18, 2007, 05:29 AM

Hmm, doesn't work.
BTW, when I go to the device manager, under network adapters I see 2.

ADSL USB MODEM WAN Adapter (which I guess is my adsl usb modem)

NVIDIA nForce Networking Controller (which I hope is the built in network card)

Also, different category, there is one
NVIDIA Network Bus Enumerator
|
|_NVIDIA Network Bus Enumerator.

Does this sound right?

Dyre Straits · Aug 18, 2007, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlueMak

Hmm, doesn't work.
BTW, when I go to the device manager, under network adapters I see 2.

ADSL USB MODEM WAN Adapter (which I guess is my adsl usb modem)

NVIDIA nForce Networking Controller (which I hope is the built in network card)

Also, different category, there is one
NVIDIA Network Bus Enumerator
|
|_NVIDIA Network Bus Enumerator.

Does this sound right?

I have a 650i board here but it's currently not in working order. I had to borrow the CPU to try out another board. Be patient. I'll put that board back into operation later tonight. (I need to, anyway.) And then I'll check the Device Manager System Devices.

One thing that I do know is that it "seems" that the built-in NVidia NIC card tends to 'go to sleep' very quickly. If I'm not actively browsing the 'Net, it will sometimes take up to 30 seconds or so to re-establish a connection.

If you have a spare PCI slot, and another NIC addin card, I'd suggest disabling the onboard NIC, install the addin and see if that remedies the problem. Just a thought.

BlueMak · Aug 18, 2007, 02:12 PM

Thank you for trying this. Though I do have the 650i ultra that has the less things on it. No internal USB for example.

Unfortunaly I don't have any other network cards to try that.
I am more worried now since I am considering of buying a router which will have to use the ethernet port. Though of course in that case I won't need the ICS, if there is some problem with the onboard network card, that could be bad.

Dyre Straits · Aug 18, 2007, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlueMak

Thank you for trying this. Though I do have the 650i ultra that has the less things on it. No internal USB for example.

Unfortunaly I don't have any other network cards to try that.
I am more worried now since I am considering of buying a router which will have to use the ethernet port. Though of course in that case I won't need the ICS, if there is some problem with the onboard network card, that could be bad.

Don't misunderstand me. The onboard NIC has worked....just seems to be slow to connect. Like I said, it seems to go to sleep and needs to 'wake up' if it's not actively communicating. This shouldn't be a problem during online gaming and such since the system will be active constantly.

When I get home later tonight from work, I'll put the system back together and let you know what's what.

Dyre Straits · Aug 20, 2007, 12:02 AM

UPDATE: I have the system up and running again. So far, so good.

How's the challenge coming on your end?

BlueMak · Aug 20, 2007, 06:21 PM

You mentioned something about Intel drivers, but I have no idea what you were talking about.

Dyre Straits · Aug 20, 2007, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlueMak

You mentioned something about Intel drivers, but I have no idea what you were talking about.

Call that a 'brain cramp' if you will. That's why I've removed it.

That would be ONLY for Intel Chipsets. Not all boards using Intel CPUs are using Intel Chipsets. Sorry about that.

So far, however, the system is working great since getting it back up and running. We spent some time last night working on Router configurations since we have both wired and wireless routers....due to having so many different PCs/MACs, etc.

Although this is a very silly question, are you positive that the onboard NIC is ENABLED in the BIOS? It definitely won't work if it's not enabled there. (It should be enabled by default, however.)

If you're still having problems with the onboard NIC, AND, if the board is under warranty, it might be a good idea to get it replaced/RMA'd.

Good luck!

BlueMak · Aug 20, 2007, 07:47 PM

Not sure about the BIOS. I will check it next time I reboot the PC. (I do this every 2-5 days, so perhaps in the next 12 hours I will do so)
Is it possible to check through Windows XP if the onboard NIC is enabled or not?
BTW, from what I read from the link you provided earlier, the problem appears when you only have one network connection/plug. Does your 650i ultra have 1 or more? Do you get the option for ICS?

It is extra annoying since this is not the first problem with the mainboard, if this is a problem with the mainboard. You see according to all EVGA info the 650i Ultra has external AND internal USB connections, but mine has only external. And one or two more things that I simply can't remember anymore.

I hope the NIC is fine cause I don't have room for another PCI device. I already have a USB card (needed more USB), plus the soundcard and things are VERY tight and while it might be possible to fit one more, everything will be too close to each other and the graphics card=no no.

Dyre Straits · Aug 20, 2007, 08:29 PM

The 650i I have (an ASUS model) has only one onboard NIC. So, there's no way for me to test whether ICS would work or not.

However, one thing that's quite 'iffy' is one of the USB connections seems to be rather flaky. If I plug in my wireless keyboard/mouse combo into a particular connection, it won't show up. I have to use a different one.

I understand what you're saying about needing additional USB connections.

I have a 4-port HUB and will likely have to install a PCI USB controller soon. (I found one that allows for the front panel connections so that you can use it like you would if the mobo had internal USB connections. As it stands, I'm already using both front panel USB connections and all the ones -- minus the dead one -- on the rear.

Let me know once you check the onboard NIC status.

Good luck!

BlueMak · Aug 21, 2007, 02:25 AM

The only thing I can find about the onboard nic is that it appears on a network boot up priority list as the only device, as an Nvidia something something. (yeah I know).

There are also options to wake on LAN (enabled). I can't find anything to turn it on or off.

In about a month (too long but...) I will have my new internet connection and since it is going to be at 24mbit (from current 2) I will have to use their router to connect since my old trustful adsl usb modem can work only up to 8mbit. Plus if I can't make the ICS to work, I won't be able to go to the new USB modem route.

I was never any good with network stuff. Not even at uni. The only thing I can think of now is to re enable the trial version of Vista to see if that works for this.
Don't know how to do this (enable ICS on Vista), but I am sure I will find out if I do.

Notice to myself. If I buy another PC, make it have 2 onboard NICs.

Dyre Straits · Aug 21, 2007, 04:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlueMak

Hmm, doesn't work.
BTW, when I go to the device manager, under network adapters I see 2.

ADSL USB MODEM WAN Adapter (which I guess is my adsl usb modem)

NVIDIA nForce Networking Controller (which I hope is the built in network card)

Also, different category, there is one
NVIDIA Network Bus Enumerator
|
|_NVIDIA Network Bus Enumerator.

Does this sound right?

Finally got around to getting a screenshot of my Device Manager listing. I have those same two devices as you can see in the following screenshot:

There should be no yellow or red warnings on either of them.

I wonder what your IRQ settings are? It's possible there's a conflict between the devices. But, I would hope that, in this day and age, the conflicts don't exist with IRQ Sharing being what it is.

As for the "Wake on LAN" option, I Disable that in BIOS. When you go into the BIOS, you should look for the onboard devices. When you get to the Network list, you should see the option "Enabled". Just press Enter and then you can select to Disable that option. OR, you SHOULD be able to do so.

BlueMak · Aug 21, 2007, 06:13 AM

Ok, I will try that in the BIOS later. As for IRQ conflicts, if there was a problem I should get some error message at least in the device manager, right?

BTW, why disable the wake on LAN?

>GSXR<mrbusa · Aug 21, 2007, 06:38 AM

You didn't by chance install the nvidia network manager when you installed the chipset drivers did you?

BlueMak · Aug 21, 2007, 07:23 AM

I think I did.

BlueMak · Aug 21, 2007, 12:05 PM

I uninstalled everything nvidia related, nforce and graphics card drivers.
Installed nforce 8.44 (latest) and the options I got are:
ntune
smbus driver
ethernet driver
mediashield

nothing about network manager, though I vaguely remember once installing it, don't know how or 100% sure.

Still same problem with network.

I went to check the bios.

IF WOL something something is Wake On Lan, then it is already disabled.

The only two other options related to LAN are the following.
1)network adapter priority or something similar, which has only one option available nvidia boot manager XXXX.XXX and I cannot change anything to it.
2)something called MAC Lan. It was on before, I have now disabled it. Nothing changed that I can see.

BTW, the little light where the network cable is plugged in, is blinking, so that is something I guess.

I tried also Vista, nothing changed.

EDIT:I read the original manual that came with the CD and for the MAC thing has no real explanation, but I am certain that i has nothing to do with Apple Mac, so I re enabled it.
I uninstalled the mainboard drivers again, and after a reboot am going to re install the original drivers that came with the mainboard.
Also, I checked the mainboard manual, the whole section about the BIOS, and while it has pictures of all BIOS functions, all of them are the same. So, I am not missing any network options, at least according to the manual.

Dyre Straits · Aug 21, 2007, 03:17 PM

I've encountered a problem on my board today and it won't boot. But, I have no time right now to troubleshoot it. I have to leave for work...a half hour ago.

So, when I get home later, I'll see what's going on...if I can.

I'm using my second rig to post at present.

EDIT and UPDATE: I got the system back up and running. I'm still at a loss as to why your onboard NIC is giving you fits.

There are some things you can Disable in the BIOS if you're not using them: If you don't use RAID, disable the JMicron SATA controller....if it's present. I found some trouble reports re: this controller in relation to the audio. BUT, if you don't use RAID, just disable it.

If you don't use FireWire connections, you can disable that as well.

Essentially, the goal is to remove anything that uses resources/memory unnecessarily. It will also free up IRQs ... possibly.

BlueMak · Aug 22, 2007, 06:41 AM

I don't think my mainboard has a firewire. I have RAID disabled already since I don't want to risk doing anything by accident that will cause me loss of data, again.
I have everything that I don't use disabled, not that there are many things.
I just wish there was some way to test if the network card is ok or if this is a software problem or what. The thought of getting my new connection in about a month (24mbit yeah baby!) and having to use my old usb modem that goes up to 8 is a bit, bad.
I could perhaps squeeze a pci card in there, but everything is so tight and I am worried that though I have no problem with temps, I will if i do this.