12.11 Windows Specific Networking Software Connection Troubleshooting
12.11.1 Error messages
This chapter has discussed troubleshooting the various error messages that will display due to operating system issues, application issues, and driver issues. As the technician, there will be troubleshooting calls to fix software issues with networking.

"Cannot log onto Network - NIC not functioning"
One error that is typically related to networking issues is the "Cannot log onto Network - NIC not functioning" message. This can appear as a result of a few different things. The Network Interface Card (NIC) may in fact be bad or malfunctioning. In this case, open the systems case and replace the old NIC with a new one. Check the NIC on the back of the system and verify if the NIC LED light is lit. A green light usually means that the card is good and most likely does not need to be replaced. ping the card with its local loopback address, which is 127.0.0.1 (ping LOCALHOST can also be used). This sends a packet out and back to the NIC to see if it is functioning properly. If a message displays stating that the packet was not received, then the NIC is bad and will need to be replaced. If there is a reply to ping, then the NIC is working.

NIC Driver Software Issues
The NIC driver software issues will most likely include incorrect versions of the driver, corrupt drivers, or incompatible drivers. In the event of an incorrect driver, contact the manufacturer to get the correct one. The correct driver can usually be downloaded from the manufacturer website. If the driver is corrupt, get a version that is not corrupt from the website. If there are other conflicts or errors with the operating system that produce an error, fix the cause of the conflict or error and the driver may work again. In the event of an incompatible driver error message, check to see which version of the driver is installed and update it to match the version that is required by the operating system.