errors installing any nics

I have windows 2000 and noticed recently that I was no longer connected to my home network but still connected to the internet through broadband connection. If I tried to view properties fo network connection it would just give a quick error & shut window.

I had a usb nic and decide to change to a pci. I tried 3 different new ones & get "an error occurred during the installation of the device" when I install the driver. I uninstalled the usb nic to see if that made a difference, it did not. Plugged usb nic back in and now it gets same error message. I can't install anything? Keep getting same error no matter which nic I try & cannot connect it to internet

What should I try next? Everything was working fine & still is except nic card?

Thanks,
George

(^~;?(Something is weird upon this matter. Though I think there's no reason why internet is connected if NIC is acting up.)

DSL usually should use same Lan connection. Then the matter should be above hardware layer. What about testing with other OS. If it works, W2K components would be corrupted. I feel like you are making meaningless efforts.

Describe your network environs in details and all hardware spec..

More than likely issue is screwed up registry settings, additional or partially installed driver, etc.

I would recommend what is covered at the following link as that should help uninstall cards you may not be seeing.

http://www.eicon.com/support/helpweb/dc2ken/w2kuninst.htm

I would recommend uninstall all networking cards and delete OEM#.INF and .PNF files to recycle bin (you will have to reinstall all non-MS drivers if you delete the OEM# files, you may want to open the OEM#.INF files and only do the network ones). Make sure you delete the INF and PNF files before you let windows redetect network card (with the INFs deleted it should prompt for driver disk if the drivers are not MS drivers that come with Windows). The INF files are located in INF folder under Windows folder and the INF folder is a hidden folder so you need to turn on show hidden files if not already done.

I am guessing you are not missing files (missing NETDET.DLL, etc. is common on Win9x but not so common on Win2K). Dropping the dialog like that "may mean" missing DLL, etc. that Windows needs to operate. Many of files Win2K needs for network properties/install are in SYSTEM32 and look at NET*.DLL files to start.

Removed pnf/inf files & removed all hidden cards. Still get errors. Restored registry from a copy a few months old & still get error.

I do not have NETDET.DLL , could not find much info on that file, should I download it & where does it go.

Should I just try to re-install win2k over top of itself or will that fix anything?

also, this computer has been in use for at least 3-4 years used daily and I have been through 3 versions of photoshop, flash, dreamweaver etc, etc and have installed, uninstalled, tested countless programs over the years so it is probably time for a re-install or upgrade to xp anyways.

Thanks!

DLLs are hidden by default, have to change in the folder options to view OS files (if not already done). Bulk of files for installing network components are in WINNT\SYSTEM32 and WINNT\INF folders.

For Win2K you could try the
SFC /SCANNOW
from command prompt to see if it will correct problem of missing files or incorrect file versions.
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;222471

As for copying the files, not advisable as likely service pack dependent, etc. You could try rerun Win2K setup from boot-cd and choose repair option for missing/damaged files.