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Wireless PCI network adapter doesn't work?

I just bought an Encore PCI 802.11G Wireless Adapter so the old computer in the basement can be hooked up to the internet for the kids. The computer is about 8-9 years old and when I plug the card in the computer won't boot. The power light will come on, the hard drive and disk drive will spin, and the monitor will come on and show a black screen. I have tried every PCI slot in the computer and each one has the same result. Once I take the card out and power the computer on it boots as normal. I know the card works because I am using it right now in my 5month old Dell to ask this question. Is the computer just too old for the card? Is there something I am doing wrong? Thanks for any help!

2 Answers

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  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    it sounds like the computer is too old and can't handle the card. it probably is a hardware incompatibility, where when you put the pci card in, it stops up the motherboard, so that only certain parts work (think of a circuit, and how a break in it will block electricity from flowing to the rest of the stuff).

    u might want to make sure that the connection is in properly, you should hear a dull click sound as your pci card is completely in the pci slot on your motherboard.

    you might also try blowing out all the dust in the computer, and the pci slots as there might be dust getting in the way.

  • 1 decade ago

    Odds are the computer is too old for the hardware you are trying to install, and you are running an old operating system such as windows 95/98? Most wireless hardware needs windows 2000/xp. Check the box to see what operating system is compatible.

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