Thinkpads Forum

Trying to get an older model i1400 up and running correctly. Got everything installed without any problem (clean install of Win938SE with IBM drivers) but whenever I put a NIC in the PC card slot the computer freezes and I have to shut it down. When It comes back up I get a "Windows Exception Error" or a warning comes up that the graphics/dispay adapter drivers are set wrong. The colors are at 16 and very large screen. I have to then boot up in Safe Mode and uninstall the Video Drivers and reinstall them again and reboot without the NIC in and then all is okay again. I'm using an IBM Credit Card Ethernet II NIC.

Has anyone had similar problems and if so, what is the solution? Is there an upgrade to either the Video drivers or Cardbus Controller drivers or should I just stay away from this NIC and try some other method to connect to the network/internet? I really need to connect in order to upgrade all other features, such as the Antivirus program I installed and do all of the Windows updates, etc.

Well, tried a different NIC and same thing happened. Currently can't get on broadband to upgrade anything beyond the base install. I could upgrade through dial-up but I dread that so much....so SLOW.....

Still having the same issue...still waiting for someone familiar with this machine for help. Have considered a USB NIC as a last result, but afraid I'll have the same issue. I believe it has to do with the resource address of the NIC and Graphics driver colliding, but because the collision happens and kills the adapter, causing a reboot, I never get a message that there is a resource problem....HELP SOMEONE!

Just bought a USB ethernet (not wireless) adapter on eBay. Hope this works. If I can update windows and drivers with Windows Update, I'm thinking it may solve my problem anyway. Of course there is the chance of a crash with this process too, but for $11 with shipping included I thought it was worth a shot.

If it really is the graphics adapter causing a conflict you could try changing the adapter type to a standard VGA with 16 colours. Remove any IRQ using resources that you can as well until you see if you can get the network to talk.
Are you sure you have the correct network drivers ?? Also using a docking station can make things difficult as well sometimes.

Hope this helps.

No docking station....limiting the number of colors could make a difference. But I thought after I posted last night, why not upgrade the RAM to the max and load W2K instead of Win98SE. This in itself might solve all of my problems. Memory that's 66 speed is cheap. With shipping at about $70, I can get the full 256MB this machine takes. That's plenty to run W2K. Might try WinXP, but for only a 4GB HDD I don't think it's worth it. I know that W2K would be more stable anyway.

Anything I need to know before upgrading to W2K? I would of course do a clean install. BIOS is already at the latest release.

I have a 1400 (2611-412) loaded to the hilt with memory and run 98SE. I tried XP and found it satisfactory other than the size of the hard disk that you already mentioned. I intend to upgrade to XP again shortly after I get a 20 or 30 gig drive for the unit.
Having said all of that my guess on your problem could be driver problems with either video, nic or both. The unit is very picky on how you install the video. Due to the age of the unit you should:
1. Up-date the BIOS if you haven't

2. Go get ALL the drivers from the driver matrix at IBM.Com

3. Follow all instructions.

That is the route I followed and have no difficulties. Should work.

PS: if you have done all of this before, do it all again. That is my approach and more often than not the second try works a treat.

Thanks for all of the responses. I did steps 1, 2 and 3 but haven't done it twice. I'll try that. Should I uninstall all of the drivers first before I go through this again or should I just do it on top of the drivers that are there now?

Can I ask an obvious question . Before we assume that you have a video or nic driver conflict or a resource conflict can you get ANYTHING to work in the PCMCIA slots? This is an obvious prerequisite for things to function.
Apart from that I would agree that it is a driver issue. You can reserve resources in device manager so that the video does not share with any other device. You can also look in the bios and make sure you have 3 separate IRQs listed. Sometimes they are all set to 11 and this can interfere with a smooth W98 setup.
With drivers the best thing to do as they cannot be truly uninstalled is to make a note of their name and location in device manager and then after any uninstal procedures go and physically delete them. That way you are sure they are gone and the next instal will be a clean one.

JBUK,
No...as far as I can tell nothing works in the PCMCIA slot. I have not checked bios reserve for the IRQ but within windows there is "no conflict" indicated for both the PCMCIA slot and the graphics drivers.