Cannot Access Network with Intel EtherExpress Pro Adapter

• Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0
• Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 4.0

SYMPTOMS

If you have an Intel EtherExpress Pro Ethernet Adapter installed in your computer, you may experience any of the following symptoms:

• You cannot access the network.
• If you are configured as a DHCP client, you receive the following message when you start Windows NT 4.0:

        The DHCP client could not obtain an IP address.
  

        If you want to see DHCP messages in the future, choose YES,
        otherwise choose NO.
  

• Event ID 1003 is logged in the System.log file and visible in Event Viewer with the following detail:

        DHCP failed to obtain a lease for the card with network address
        <12-digit hexadecimal MAC address of the local network adapter>. The
        following error occurred: The semaphore timeout period had expired.
  

CAUSE

The drivers for the Intel EtherExpress Pro Ethernet adapters included with Windows NT 4.0 default to a transceiver type setting of Thick Net (AUI/DIX). If your network adapter is configured for any other type of connection, such as Thinnet (BNC/Coax) or Twisted Pair (TPE), these errors can occur.

RESOLUTION

Configure the transceiver type for the Intel EtherExpress Pro adapter to use the Auto Connect setting. To do so, follow these steps:

1. Use the right mouse button to click the Network Neighborhood icon on the desktop, and then click Properties on the menu that appears.

2. Click the Adapters tab, click Intel EtherExpress Pro Ethernet Adapter, and then click Properties.

3. In the Transceiver Type box, click Auto Connect, or click the connection type that matches your installation.

4. Click OK.