A20m: Intel mini-PCI Ethernet interface problem

[Icke]

I've ThinkPad A20m and a mini-PCI Ethernet adapter on it. The adapter is Xircom FastEthernet+56k modem combo card and it's Intel PRO/100 compatible. I run Win2k and Linux operating systems.

Problems with Ethernet adapter were first only error messages at computer bootup generated by Intel BootAgent. Errors were about EEPROM corruption. "PXE-E05: EEPROM checksum error". I disabled BootAget from ThinkPad bios and everything were fine for a some time.

Then my Internet connection began failing. My ISP's DHCP server was confused about strange MAC addresses my Ethernet adapter had. The MAC address in EEPROM memory was changed!! Sometimes it was correct and sometimes it was almost a random number. I tried to reset the EEPROM with Intel's BootAgent update utility but that didn't work. Got errors when tried to write EEPROM. Nowdays I get most of the time MAC address "04:00:04:00:04:00".

Linux is unable to initialize the Ethernet adapter driver because of EEPROM corruption. Win2k is still able to use Ethernet but the adapter is detected faulty sometimes, which causes driver reinstalling. I can change temporarely the MAC address with Intel's new Windows drivers. I had to check the correct MAC from a laber on mini-PCI card and then set it to the Windows drivers. Now DHCP works.

I guess the EEPROM chip has a faulty contact or something. If the problem is then only a EEPROM corruption, how can I re-program the EEPROM?

I've noticed that it's hard to find a replacecment for the mini-PCI card in stores. I wonder even if IBM service had a one... could cost a fortune.

Maybe I need to buy a PCMCIA Ethernet adapter. Yet another PCMCIA card to carry along with my ThinkPad...

[hausman]

Maybe I need to buy a PCMCIA Ethernet adapter. Yet another PCMCIA card to carry along with my ThinkPad...

That's what I did for my A21p and, yes, it's inconvenient. (See http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=5693)

[Icke]

Stunning facts: I called to IBM service and asked for mini-PCI Ethernet & modem combo card list price. They sell it for over 200 euros (w/o taxes)!!

Did I get it right?? Oh, [censored]!

I was so shocked I forget to ask price for another mini-PCI ethernet card.

There is a page about the part I've looking for: http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... IGR-4JW65C

It is that Intel version.