Vista does not detect Realtek LAN on DV7-1025nr

I have a dv7-1025nr, I used to run XP SP3 on it and it worked great, but I have to pass the laptop on to my brother and I am getting a dv7-2000. So I had to reinstall Vista, tried x64, everything works except Realtek LAN. It is only detected in Safe Mode, in Normal Mode or even in Safe Mode with Networking, the LEDs for activity stop lighting up during Vista loading.
I tried Vista x86, same problem. I tried XP SP3 again, LAN is there, no problems at all.
I tried Vista x64 again, Safe Mode, LAN works perfect, I can even browse the net.

What the heck is going on ? I tried all possible driver combinations, unless in Safe Mode, all drivers say the hardware is not even present.

 

First, in Normal mode, make sure that the adapter is turned on in the HP Wireless Assistant. It can be off there and still show the LED as being turned on. Also, when you first Boot, hit the F10 key and enter ROM based Setup. Some HP notebooks have a configuration setting that turns the Wireless adapter on or off. If you've been messing with OS changes it might be off. Check the Setup Utility Manual (click on Manuals at your system support site) for information on that.

Check this HP Bulletin concerning that model series:

Wireless LAN Card Not Detected After Notebook PC Image is Unbundled


This document pertains to the HP Pavilion dv7-1000/1100 Entertainment Notebook PC series with Windows Vista.

Recognizing the problem

The notebook PC does not detect the wireless LAN card after the notebook PC is turned on for the first time or after a system recovery. The wireless LED remains red or amber.

Resolve the problem

To resolve this issue, please download and install Atheros Wireless LAN driver, version 2.00, revision B, (SP39403) or later at the HP Drivers and Downloads page .

See also
Softpaq Description
Atheros AR5006 802.11a/b/g, AR5007 802.11b/g, AR5009 802.11a/g/n Wireless LAN Driver for Microsoft Vista, VERSION: 2.00 REV: B

Download
SP39403 File Download

Here is the link to the Support page for your system configuration:

HP Pavilion dv7-1025nr Entertainment Notebook PC

 

Problem is not the wireless(Intel 5100), that works just fine, I can browse the net and everything. Problem is the Realtek LAN(Realtek RTL8168C(P)/8111C(P) Family PCI-E GBE NIC) which is not being detected.

And I did not install from any recovery discs, I own my copy of Vista Ultimate SP1 x64, I also tried Ultimate x32 w/o any activation, both have the same problem. I now reverted to XP SP3, LAN working perfectly. Quite stupid....but I still need Vista and I have no idea what to do.

 

Hmmm.....Just a couple of thoughts......

.... Wipe the HD before you do another Vista install.

.... Try using either or both the manual or auto install drivers from here:
http://www.realtek.com.tw/downloads...d=5&Level=5&Conn=4&DownTypeID=3&GetDown=false

.... make sure that Vista power management isn't removing power from the NIC, either on battery or external pwr.

Very strange that XP sees the NIC and Vista doesn't ? ... but at least that tells you that it's a driver/software issue.

 

Since I had XP installed on FAT32 I obviouslt had to wipe the HDD. I installed all drivers I could find, none worked.
The LEDs of the NIC are turned off during starting up and that is it, just like the IDT sound does in XP. I could use devcon to restart the PCI-express bus, but that would be stupid, having to do that every time Windows starts.

 

…. NTFS to FAT32 to NTFS…. guess you did wipe the drive…. sorry, forgot about that.

At-any-rate…. you’ve eliminated the possibility of corruption. The only other thing I could think of would be installing the lastest and/or original chipset drivers with the –overall flag and then trying the NIC drivers again. This will assure that all the chipset drivers are overwritten and installed correctly. As you suggested, perhaps the NIC isn’t being powered through the bus?

Just another thought….

 

I did install chipset drivers first things, before anything else. I just think the PCI-Express bus simply does not restart the NIC upon Windows start, the LEDs blink, then they all shut down, along with mute button/indicator and wireless indicator, then mute and wireless turn back on to white and blue respectively, the NIC LEDs remain off.

 

Review…..

NIC works fully in XP SP3 = device, driver, and OS function correctly
NIC works fully in Vista _Safe Mode = device, safe mode drivers & OS function
NIC inop in Vista_ Normal Mode = device good, drivers or OS not ??????

Drivers or OS?. The only other things I could thing of would be to ask if you installed SP1 . Perhaps that sounds stupid, but there were gobs of driver issues with Vista before the first service pack. Also, I know you already checked the Realtek drivers …. But perhaps try uninstalling and using the one from HP’s downloads. Quick launch buttons … do they all work?? Wireless… Volume…. etc..

Not the device
Not the chipset drivers
Not the device drivers
Not the OS

That leaves… User Error. Just Kidding……. Sorry, but I’m stumped.

 

Yeap, that about sums it up. Only works in XP and Vista Safe Mode w/o Networking, when in Safe Mode with Networking it does not work anymore, only wireless does
SP1 is installed, the Vista that I have comes with SP1. I tried all drivers, but it's a simple case of the stupid OS, we're talking about Vista here Will simply not re-initialize the PCI-Express bus that the NIC is connected to.

 

I can see where that would be very frustrating, especially if you need the NIC.

You sound like you have a lot of experience so, if you have the time to tinker with it, as an outside shot, you might give the Windows 7 RC a try. While I haven’t messed around with this yet, I see a lot of posts where people have installed it and have very few drivers to install when the installation is complete and the OS works well. The remaining drivers needed seem to work, for the most part, using the ones supplied for Vista. Based on those kinds of posted experiences, if I had to guess, I’d guess Windows 7 would find your Realtek NIC and install the drivers.

Perhaps worth a try? Sorry….. I couldn't help you figure this one out.

Dave

 

Put WinXP Pro, waiting for Windows 7. The RC is nice, but since the computer is for my folks, I would preffer to wait for the final version.
Thanks for the help

 

Alexandrus,

I understand and …..thanks for checking back with your progress. I was wondering if you’d ever solved the issue…. ‘cause frankly it bothered me that we couldn’t figure out such odd behavior. I even goggled around a bit to see if I might luck across something…. but no luck there either. I did come across a guy who’d done a V-lite modified install that had caused some driver issues but unless you’d done the same or somehow had a corrupted Vista install disk….. I didn’t think they’d apply.

At-any-rate, I kind’a hoped we could get Miner, Flipfire, or others to give this some thought. Com’on guys….. where’s the brain trust?

 

Unfortunately I haven't got to the bottom of that, didn't bother trying anymore. Plus, I just hate Vista, but it would have been the better choice for mmy folk's notebook.
And no, no V-lite. The XP kit on the other hand was nLite modified and that might have caused the modem not to install at all, but since I do not need the modem, I didn't really care.