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Windows® ME Driver Software: Broadcom 440X Fast Ethernet Controller User's Guide

This chapter provides the following information:

Installing the Driver Software

Modifying Configuration Parameters

Power Management

Removing the Driver Software


Installing the Driver Software

NOTE – The Broadcom 440X Fast Ethernet Controller must be physically installed in your system prior to installing the driver software. See Installing the Hardware for details.


When the Windows ME system first boots up after installing a new hardware device (such as a Broadcom 440X Fast Ethernet Controller), the system automatically detects the new hardware and prompts you to install the driver software for that device.

A network device driver must be installed before the Broadcom 440X Fast Ethernet Controller can be used with your Windows ME system.

Installing the Adapter Software

To install the adapter software for Windows ME, complete the following steps.

NOTE – Before beginning this procedure, verify that the Windows ME system has been upgraded to the latest version with the latest service pack applied.
  1. Start your computer and log on to Windows ME. When booting up the Windows ME system after installing the adapter card, a series of Add New Hardware Wizard windows display.


  1. Choose the Automatic Search for a Better Driver (Recommended) option, then click Next.



  2. When Windows ME has finished installing the driver software, click Finish.

  1. To finish setting up your new hardware, click Yes to restart the computer.

Some early versions of Windows ME may display a spurious message requesting you to insert the Windows ME disk. If this occurs, leave the Dell CD-ROM in the drive and click OK. If asked to specify the location of the Windows ME CD-ROM instead, click Browse (do not use the text field) and locate the path to the Broadcom 440X Fast Ethernet Controller drivers that was previously specified.

When the installation of the driver software is complete, you are ready to modify configuration parameters.


Modifying Configuration Parameters

Although the default values should be appropriate in most cases, you may change any of the available options to meet the requirements of your specific system. Once the adapter driver software has been installed, you can use this procedure to verify or change the Speed and Duplex adapter properties.

Driver Properties Advanced Tab

The following steps show how to configure the adapter parameters using the Driver Properties Advanced window.

  1. Click Start, and select Settings then Control Panel from the menu.
  2. In the Control Panel window, double-click the Network icon to display the Network window.

  3. In the Configuration tab, double-click the Broadcom 440X Fast Ethernet Controller to be configured. The Broadcom 440X Fast Ethernet Controller Properties window then displays.

  4. Click the Advanced tab to display a window showing the list of configurable properties (and default values) for the adapter.

  5. Make the preferred changes. To change the adapter operating parameters, select the item to change in the Property list and then select the appropriate default or assigned value from the Value list.

Speed and Duplex Parameter

The Speed and Duplex parameter allows the user to set the connection speed to the network and mode. The full-duplex mode allows the adapter to transmit and receive network data simultaneously. The adapter is set to Auto (optimum connection) by default. To set the speed and mode, select the appropriate Advanced tab parameter from the Value list:

NOTES –

  • Auto is the recommended selection because it allows the adapter to dynamically detect the line speed and duplex mode of the network. Whenever the network capability changes, the adapter automatically detects and adjusts to the new line speed and duplex mode.
  • Half-duplex forces the adapter to connect to the network in half-duplex mode. The adapter may not function if the network is not configured to operate at the same mode.
  • Full-duplex forces the adapter to connect to the network in full-duplex mode. The adapter may not function if the network is not configured to operate at the same mode..

Save Settings

  1. When the adapter parameter configuration is complete, click OK at the Broadcom 440X Fast Ethernet Controller Property window to accept the settings.
  2. If prompted to restart the computer, click Yes. While it is not necessary to reboot the system for new adapter properties to take effect, rebooting is recommended to reinitialize all registers.
  3. Verify that the adapter port LEDs operate as described in Table 1 in the "Introduction."


Power Management

Power management specifies whether the operating system turns off the selected device if that device is able to be turned off. If the device is busy (such as servicing a call), the operating system does not shut down the device. The operating system tries to shut down every possible device only when it is hibernating. Some devices must stay on at all times. If you need the device to stay on at all times, do not choose this option.

To enable Power Management, complete the following steps:

  1. Click Start, and select Settings then Control Panel from the menu.
  2. In the Control Panel window, double-click the System icon.
  3. When the System Properties window appears, click the Device Manager tab.

  4. Under the Network Adapters list, click the Plus Sign (+) to display the list of currently configured adapters.

  5. Select the network adapter to be modified, and click the Properties button.

  6. Click the Power Management tab to display the following window.

  7. To activate the power management feature, choose the Allow the Computer to Turn Off this Device to Save Power option.

NOTE – To enable the Wake-on LAN in standby mode for the Broadcom 440X Fast Ethernet Controller, choose the Allow this Device to Bring the Computer Out of Standby option.


Removing the Driver Software

Before physically removing an adapter from your system, first remove the adapter driver software.

  1. Start your computer and log on to Windows ME. You must have Network Administrator privileges to remove the driver software.
  2. Click Start, and select Settings then Control Panel from the menu.
  3. In the Control Panel window, double-click the Network icon to display the Network window.

  4. In the Configuration tab, select the network component to be removed and click Remove. The Network Configuration window appears.

 

  1. Click OK to complete the uninstall procedure.

  2. Click Yes to finish removing your hardware and restart the computer.

NOTE – Not all driver files are removed as part of this procedure.

 



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