Detecting a Network Card (NIC)


» Getting Started
» Windows XP
» Windows 2000
» Windows 95/98/ME
» Mac OS X
» Mac OS 8.5 – 9.2

Getting Started

An Ethernet DSL modem or a router require that you have a network interface card (also called a NIC, or Ethernet card) installed in your computer. Use the instructions below to find out whether you already have a NIC or to check the integrity of a previously installed card.

Most computers already have a NIC installed.

Windows XP

To find out if you already have a NIC installed:

  1. Click the Start button.
  2. Select Control Panel.
  3. If your Control Panel is displayed in “Classic View” you will see a System icon. Double-click it.
  4. Select the Hardware Tab.
  5. Click the Device Manager button.
  6. On the list of devices shown, look for Network Adapters.
  7. If it is present, to the left of it, select the ‘+’ to expand the list.
  8. On this expanded list, look for a device with the words “Ethernet Controller” or “Ethernet Adapter” in the name. The important word to look for is “Ethernet”.
  9. If you see this string of words, or some variation, that means there is a network card in your computer AND software drivers for it have been installed.
  10. To make sure the Network card is working correctly, please make sure there is not an exclamation point to the left, next to the Ethernet Controller.
  11. If you go to the properties by double-clicking on the Ethernet Controller Device, it should say “this device is working properly”.
  12. If step 12 is true, you do not need to install a NIC.

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Windows 2000

To find out if you already have a NIC installed:

  1. Click the Start button.
  2. Select Settings and then Control Panel.
  3. In the Control Panel, Double-click System.
  4. Select the Hardware Tab.
  5. Click the Device Manager button.
  6. On the list of devices shown, look for Network Adapters.
  7. If it is present, to the left of it, select the ‘+’ to expand the list.
  8. On this expanded list, look for a device with the words “Ethernet Controller” or “Ethernet Adapter” in the name. The important word to look for is “Ethernet”.
  9. If you see this string of words, or some variation, that means there is a network card in your computer AND software drivers for it have been installed.
  10. To make sure the NIC is working correctly, please make sure there is not an exclamation point to the left, next to the Ethernet Controller.
  11. If you go to the properties of the Ethernet Controller Device, it should say “this device is working properly”.
  12. If step 11 is true, you do not need to install a NIC.

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Windows 95/98/ME

To find out if you already have a NIC installed:

  1. Click the Start button.
  2. Choose Settings and then Control Panel.
  3. In the Control Panel, Double-click System.
  4. Select the Device Manager Tab.
  5. On the list of devices shown, look for Network Adapters.
  6. If it is present, to the left of it, select the ‘+’ to expand the list.
  7. On this expanded list, look for a device with the words “Ethernet Controller” or “Ethernet Adapter” in the name. The important word to look for is “Ethernet”.
  8. If you see this string of words, or some variation, that means there is a network card in your computer AND software drivers for it have been installed to make the hardware work.
  9. To make sure the Network card is working correctly, please make sure there is not an exclamation point to the left, next to the Ethernet Controller.
  10. If you go to the properties of the Ethernet Controller Device, it should say “this device is working properly”.
  11. If step 10 is true, you do not need to install the NIC.

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Mac OS X

To find out if you already have a NIC installed:

  1. In the Apple Menu, choose System Preferences.
  2. Click the Network icon.
  3. Under the TCP/IP tab, set the Show field to Active Network Ports.
  4. Make sure Built-In Ethernet is active.
  5. Set the Show field to Built-In Ethernet.
  6. If you see an Ethernet Address of the format xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx on the Built-In Ethernet Screen, then your Mac already has an Ethernet Network Card installed (the x’s are any character between 0-9 or a-f).

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Mac OS 8.5 – 9.2

To find out if you already have a NIC installed:

  1. In the Apple Menu, choose Control Panels -> TCP/IP.
  2. Under the ‘connect via’ field, select ‘Ethernet’
  3. Under the ‘File’ pull-down menu, select ‘Get Info’
  4. Under the TCP/IP info screen, look for a hardware address of the format xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx (the x’s are any character between 0-9 or a-f).
  5. If Step 6 has a hardware address, then your Macintosh already has an NIC installed.

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