network problem xp sp3

I have a yellow exclamation mark against my network ethernet icon in device manager. On attempting to update the driver I get ' updatedriver for plug and play' unable to find the file. I have looked in the bios, uninstalled, reinstalled the device, repaired xp, the driver files are all there. It looks like the update part of plug and play is the culprit, but where is it and how do you repair it? This happened while uninstalling and installing new firewall, Agnitum Outpost. This has now been removed but I still can't enable the ethernet. I tried a realtek card in the pci slot same result, incidentally the 1394 is the same, don't use it so don't matter.
Any help would be appreciated.

Hi,

Got similar problem before. This problem seems just happen on XP sp3 but OK for Sp2.

You may try run the latest chipset driver and restart the PC then install the NIC LAN driver for XP sp3 again.

The chipset driver should be available on your PC mainboard manuafacturer web site.

Hope this helps!
Bill

you said you've tried installing and reinstalling in BIOS your device? that is a good try..
this time uninstalling it in your device manager then reboot you PC.

upon rebooting your system will automatically look for your previous driver let it. if you still have the yellow ex look for manufacturer's latest driver. if still no luck...

buy your new NIC.

Thanks for replies, I have tried drivers from motherboard makers, it has made no difference, installing from device manager fails too, I am wondering if motherboard has blown something here. The Ethernet PC I card is separate from the built in ethernet but they both fail to install as does the 1394 firewire, they all come under network in device manager.

Problem solved thanks to those who gave advice. The problem was a corrupted registry, I found an old backup and restored to it, problem cured. The moral is backup your registry.