This is my brain on Windows 2003 Server

undefinedI made the mistake, I guess of upgrading from 2000 advanced server to 2003 enterprise server last night. Now, for whatever reason, I can not get a DHCP assigned address nor can I physically configure an IP address on either NIC interface.

This is a stand alone server with 2 nics a 3com pci and a DEC pci, both were just fine before the upgrade, now a big fat zero. IPCONFIG shows no interface cards at all and I have uninstalled and reinstalled the drivers. There is NO AD running on this system.

I am completely confused...Would appreciate any suggestions or, just plain someone telling me what a total dumass I really am.

Bob

In the Device Manager, are the NICs installed properly? Or do they have a yellow mark next to them?

Yes, the DM shows that the world is a happy place, no conflicts, no yellow stars, pink moons or green clovers. Uninstalled and reinstalled the drivers, reconfigured the BIOS to PCI/Legacy and set DMA and IRQ on the cards to force them still no success. It is as if something is not allowing the IP to register to the NIC's, but I can't figure out for the life of me why...

Bob

reset your hardware back to plug and play.

what is displayed when you go into networking properties and the lan properties? Protocols loaded? What is tcp/ip set to? Static or dhcp? Set a static address on one interface. Go to cmd and type "ipconfig". Does it show this ip address? Can you ping 127.0.0.1? or do you get "host unreachable"?

Have done exactly those steps. Used 192.168.0.1 with 255.255.255.0 and set blanks for WINS etc. Can't ping 127 on the local bus. No IP, MAC or any info is available when running IPCONFIG /ALL.

Um that address you used is usually a router gateway address. Try using something other like 200.200.200.200 so you KNOW you are not getting a ip conflict and having the interface disabled.

You should not need to reboot.

what does ipconfig say? Ping 127.0.0.1 say?

Whether I use 192.x.x.x class c or b subnet masking or any other IP address, the results are the same. The "Localhost" 127.0.0.1 is not available for ping on the local bus. Host Not Found is the reply. Neither NIC will take a visible IP address and ipconfig /all shows no NIC cards present.

thats very strange... uninstall w2k3 and reinstall it? Or uninstall all the networking in the add/remove programs under the extra crap and reinstall it after restarting the pc. that might help.. it has b4 whenever my nics wouldnt register with the os... i think the files didnt install fully or one got corrupted somehow during the install of windows networking... good luck man...tell me what solved it if u find out..

Hi

If you cannot ping 127.0.0.1 (the loop back address) and your system has correctly identified and installed the NIC's then you will need to uninstall and re-install the TCP/IP stack. It is unlikely that you will need to re-install windows.

cheers

K