LAN Card Drivers

The LAN, local area networking, Card is a device used for computer networking. These devices allow for the interconnection of computers and similar equipment in the same general area. Due to the complex nature of such devices the need for good quality LAN Card drivers is imperative.

A LAN Card driver is a software program that acts as a translator for the LAN Card and the computer operating system that will be accessing it. The only time such programming is unnecessary is when the LAN Card is manufactured by the same company that created the operating system, and even then this is only the case when it is designed specifically for their latest OS in mind.

Some of the most common problems that can occur due to driver failure or corruption are:

* Inability to connect with the network. This is an often occurring issue with improperly installed or corrupt drivers. The LAN Card will be unable to ping the network or even find it at all without properly programmed and up-to-date drivers.

* The computer cannot find the device in question. I.E. the drivers are in conflict with the computer and the operating system does not recognize the hardware’s existence. This can often occur with various “windows” based operating systems due to registry issues, for instance.

* All the cables and external components are properly connected but the LAN will still not function properly. This is a definite sign of poorly crafted or damaged drivers.

Troubleshooting these issues can be as simple as re-installing the LAN Card driver if that is all that is of concern. The first thing to do when determining if this will need to be the case is to make certain that the LAN is actually active and working. If the LAN Card is not “on” it will, of course, be unable to function. Once this is determined check all cables and connections to be certain that everything is solidly connected.

If the connections are properly working and the LAN Card is active then try to ping the network again. This will allow you to see if it was just a temporary issue such as the cables being a little loose or damaged in some fashion. If it still will not work, and everything is fine with the hardware, try to re-install or upgrade the drivers. The disc that comes with the LAN Card may be damaged in some manner if the drivers continually fail to work properly. If this is the case the best course is to contact the manufacturer directly or locate their website online and download the necessary driver information.

If the network still seems to have trouble then it may need to be re-configured or the LAN Card may be internally damaged. If the issue with the connectivity of the LAN Card is due to something akin to doubled IP addresses then this is not a driver related issue and it is a programming and installation one. Refer to the owner’s manual if available to be certain the device is set up appropriately.