WinXP-Pro-SP2 reboots with PCI Realtek 8239 ETHERNET card

As requested I attach a few more details about my PC

Operating System Microsoft Windows XP Professional
OS Service Pack Service Pack 2
Internet Explorer 6.0.2900.2180
Motherboard:
CPU Type AMD Athlon, 700 MHz (3.5 x 200)
Motherboard Name MSI MS-6191 (1 ISA, 6 PCI, 1 AGP, 3 DIMM)
Motherboard Chipset AMD-750 Irongate
System Memory 512 MB (SDRAM)
BIOS Type AMI (01/06/00)
Communication Port Communications Port (COM1)
Communication Port Communications Port (COM2)
Communication Port ECP Printer Port (LPT1)

Display:
Video Adapter NVIDIA RIVA TNT2 Model 64/Model 64 Pro (Microsoft Corporation) (32 MB)
3D Accelerator nVIDIA RIVA TNT2 M64
Monitor Plug and Play Monitor [NoDB] (002111)

Multimedia:
Audio Adapter Ensoniq ES1371 AudioPCI-97 Sound Card

Storage:
Floppy Drive Floppy disk drive
Disk Drive FUJITSU MPE3273AT (26 GB, 5400 RPM, Ultra-ATA/66)
Disk Drive Generic USB CF Reader USB Device
...
Optical Drive HITACHI DVD-ROM GD-5000 (8x/40x DVD-ROM)
Optical Drive PHILIPS DVDR824P

Partitions:
C: (NTFS) 76308 MB (63124 MB free)

Input:
Keyboard PC/AT Enhanced PS/2 Keyboard (101/102-Key)
Mouse Microsoft PS/2 Mouse

Network:
Primary IP Address snip
Primary MAC Address snip
Network Adapter 2Wire Gateway USB (snip)
Modem HSP56 Micromodem

Peripherals:
Printer Epson Stylus COLOR 460 ESC/P 2
USB Device 2Wire Gateway USB
USB Device Camera
USB Device Generic USB Hub
USB Device MUSTEK 1200 UB
USB Device USB Mass Storage Device
...

Processor Properties:
Manufacturer Advanced Micro Device Incorporation
Version AMD Athlon(TM) Processor
External Clock 100 MHz
Maximum Clock 700 MHz
Current Clock 700 MHz
Type Central Processor
Voltage 1.6 V
Status Enabled
Socket Designation CPU M/B

BIOS Properties:
Vendor American Megatrends Inc.
Version A6191MS V1.2 01/06/2000 (370-Q01
Release Date 01/06/00
Size 256 KB
Boot Devices Floppy Disk, Hard Disk, CD-ROM
Capabilities Flash BIOS, Shadow BIOS, EDD
Supported Standards DMI, APM, ESCD, PnP
Expansion Capabilities ISA, PCI

I have more. What info do you need?

I noted that motherboard drivers are usually forgotten about. Try installing those before your NIC or the NIC's drivers.

Bob

As already mentioned the drivers for the NIC that i use

I realize that the following log shows RTL8023xp (which is what I had installed after downloading the driver from http://www.realtek.com.tw/downloads/downloadsView.aspx?Langid=1&PNid=14&PFid=6&Level=5&Conn=4 ) as kernel driver.

Once I had the first crash I uninstalled (thought I had) the driver from SysDriver/Hardware/DeviceManager/(ShowHiddenDevice).
But I can see the driver is stil there, even if it is stopped (but maybe because the NIC is out).
How does it work then?

P.S. I also realized that I had SysDevice/Advanced/Startup&Recovery/AutoRestart flag enabled, hence I couldn't see the message appearing within the BLUE screen before rebooting. I am going to try now and report back.

.... From AIDA32 ....
................
--------[ System Drivers ]----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2WIREPCP 2Wire USB Kernel Driver Running
Aavmker4 avast! Asynchronous Virus Monitor Kernel Driver Running
Abiosdsk Abiosdsk Kernel Driver Stopped
abp480n5 abp480n5 Kernel Driver Stopped
ACPI ACPI Kernel Driver Stopped
ACPIEC ACPIEC Kernel Driver Stopped
adpu160m adpu160m Kernel Driver Stopped
aec Microsoft Kernel Acoustic Echo Canceller Kernel Driver Stopped
AFD AFD Networking Support Environment Kernel Driver Running
Aha154x Aha154x Kernel Driver Stopped
aic78u2 aic78u2 Kernel Driver Stopped
aic78xx aic78xx Kernel Driver Stopped
AIDA32Driver AIDA32Driver Kernel Driver Running
AliIde AliIde Kernel Driver Stopped
amdagp AMD AGP Bus Filter Driver Kernel Driver Running
amsint amsint Kernel Driver Stopped
Arp1394 1394 ARP Client Protocol Kernel Driver Stopped
asc asc Kernel Driver Stopped
asc3350p asc3350p Kernel Driver Stopped
asc3550 asc3550 Kernel Driver Stopped
aswMon2 avast! Standard Shield Support File System Driver Running
aswRdr aswRdr Kernel Driver Running
aswTdi avast! Network Shield Support Kernel Driver Running
AsyncMac RAS Asynchronous Media Driver Kernel Driver Stopped
atapi Standard IDE/ESDI Hard Disk Controller Kernel Driver Running
Atdisk Atdisk Kernel Driver Stopped
Atmarpc ATM ARP Client Protocol Kernel Driver Stopped
audstub Audio Stub Driver Kernel Driver Running
Beep Beep Kernel Driver Running
cbidf2k cbidf2k Kernel Driver Stopped
CCDECODE Closed Caption Decoder Kernel Driver Stopped
cd20xrnt cd20xrnt Kernel Driver Stopped
Cdaudio Cdaudio Kernel Driver Stopped
Cdfs Cdfs File System Driver Running
Cdrom CD-ROM Driver Kernel Driver Running
Changer Changer Kernel Driver Stopped
CmdIde CmdIde Kernel Driver Stopped
Cpqarray Cpqarray Kernel Driver Stopped
dac960nt dac960nt Kernel Driver Stopped
Disk Disk Driver Kernel Driver Running
dmboot dmboot Kernel Driver Stopped
dmio Logical Disk Manager Driver Kernel Driver Running
dmload dmload Kernel Driver Running
DMusic Microsoft Kernel DLS Syntheiszer Kernel Driver Stopped
dpti2o dpti2o Kernel Driver Stopped
drmkaud Microsoft Kernel DRM Audio Descrambler Kernel Driver Stopped
es1371 Creative AudioPCI (ES1371,ES1373) (WDM) Kernel Driver Running
Fastfat Fastfat File System Driver Running
Fdc Floppy Disk Controller Driver Kernel Driver Running
Fips Fips Kernel Driver Running
Flpydisk Floppy Disk Driver Kernel Driver Running
FltMgr FltMgr File System Driver Running
Ftdisk Volume Manager Driver Kernel Driver Running
gameenum Game Port Enumerator Kernel Driver Running
Gpc Generic Packet Classifier Kernel Driver Running
hpn hpn Kernel Driver Stopped
hpt3xx hpt3xx Kernel Driver Stopped
HTTP HTTP Kernel Driver Running
i2omgmt i2omgmt Kernel Driver Stopped
i2omp i2omp Kernel Driver Stopped
i8042prt i8042 Keyboard and PS/2 Mouse Port Driver Kernel Driver Running
Imapi Imapi Kernel Driver Running
ini910u ini910u Kernel Driver Stopped
IntelIde IntelIde Kernel Driver Stopped
ip6fw IPv6 Windows Firewall Driver Kernel Driver Stopped
IpFilterDriver IP Traffic Filter Driver Kernel Driver Stopped
IpInIp IP in IP Tunnel Driver Kernel Driver Stopped
IpNat IP Network Address Translator Kernel Driver Running
IPSec IPSEC driver Kernel Driver Running
IRENUM IR Enumerator Service Kernel Driver Stopped
isapnp PnP ISA/EISA Bus Driver Kernel Driver Running
Kbdclass Keyboard Class Driver Kernel Driver Running
kmixer Microsoft Kernel Wave Audio Mixer Kernel Driver Running
KSecDD KSecDD Kernel Driver Running
lbrtfdc lbrtfdc Kernel Driver Stopped
LVUSBSta Logitech USB Monitor Filter Kernel Driver Running
mnmdd mnmdd Kernel Driver Running
Modem Modem Kernel Driver Running
Mouclass Mouse Class Driver Kernel Driver Running
MountMgr Mount Point Manager Kernel Driver Running
mraid35x mraid35x Kernel Driver Stopped
MRxDAV WebDav Client Redirector File System Driver Running
MRxSmb MRxSmb File System Driver Running
Msfs Msfs File System Driver Running
MSKSSRV Microsoft Streaming Service Proxy Kernel Driver Stopped
MSPCLOCK Microsoft Streaming Clock Proxy Kernel Driver Stopped
MSPQM Microsoft Streaming Quality Manager Proxy Kernel Driver Stopped
mssmbios Microsoft System Management BIOS Driver Kernel Driver Running
MSTEE Microsoft Streaming Tee/Sink-to-Sink Converter Kernel Driver Stopped
Mup Mup File System Driver Running
NABTSFEC NABTS/FEC VBI Codec Kernel Driver Stopped
NDIS NDIS System Driver Kernel Driver Running
NdisIP Microsoft TV/Video Connection Kernel Driver Stopped
NdisTapi Remote Access NDIS TAPI Driver Kernel Driver Running
Ndisuio NDIS Usermode I/O Protocol Kernel Driver Running
NdisWan Remote Access NDIS WAN Driver Kernel Driver Running
NDProxy NDIS Proxy Kernel Driver Running
NetBIOS NetBIOS Interface File System Driver Running
NetBT NetBios over Tcpip Kernel Driver Running
NIC1394 1394 Net Driver Kernel Driver Stopped
Npfs Npfs File System Driver Running
Ntfs Ntfs File System Driver Running
Null Null Kernel Driver Running
nv nv Kernel Driver Running
nv4 nv4 Kernel Driver Stopped
NwlnkFlt IPX Traffic Filter Driver Kernel Driver Stopped
NwlnkFwd IPX Traffic Forwarder Driver Kernel Driver Stopped
ohci1394 OHCI Compliant IEEE 1394 Host Controller Kernel Driver Running
Parport Parallel port driver Kernel Driver Running
PartMgr Partition Manager Kernel Driver Running
ParVdm ParVdm Kernel Driver Running
PCI PCI Bus Driver Kernel Driver Running
PCIDump PCIDump Kernel Driver Stopped
PCIIde PCIIde Kernel Driver Running
Pcmcia Pcmcia Kernel Driver Stopped
PDCOMP PDCOMP Kernel Driver Stopped
PDFRAME PDFRAME Kernel Driver Stopped
PDRELI PDRELI Kernel Driver Stopped
PDRFRAME PDRFRAME Kernel Driver Stopped
perc2 perc2 Kernel Driver Stopped
perc2hib perc2hib Kernel Driver Stopped
PID_0928 Logitech QuickCam Express(PID_092 Kernel Driver Stopped
PptpMiniport WAN Miniport (PPTP) Kernel Driver Running
PSched QoS Packet Scheduler Kernel Driver Running
Ptilink Direct Parallel Link Driver Kernel Driver Running
Ptserlp PCTEL Serial Device Driver for PCI Kernel Driver Running
PxHelp20 PxHelp20 Kernel Driver Running
ql1080 ql1080 Kernel Driver Stopped
Ql10wnt Ql10wnt Kernel Driver Stopped
ql12160 ql12160 Kernel Driver Stopped
ql1240 ql1240 Kernel Driver Stopped
ql1280 ql1280 Kernel Driver Stopped
RasAcd Remote Access Auto Connection Driver Kernel Driver Running
Rasl2tp WAN Miniport (L2TP) Kernel Driver Running
RasPppoe Remote Access PPPOE Driver Kernel Driver Running
Raspti Direct Parallel Kernel Driver Running
Rdbss Rdbss File System Driver Running
RDPCDD RDPCDD Kernel Driver Running
rdpdr Terminal Server Device Redirector Driver Kernel Driver Running
RDPWD RDPWD Kernel Driver Stopped
redbook Digital CD Audio Playback Filter Driver Kernel Driver Running
---->>> RTL8023xp Realtek 10/100/1000 PCI NIC Family NDIS XP Driver Kernel Driver Stopped <<<<----
S6U12BScanner MUSTEK 1200 UB Still Image Device Service Kernel Driver Running
Secdrv Secdrv Kernel Driver Stopped
serenum Serenum Filter Driver Kernel Driver Running
Serial Serial port driver Kernel Driver Running
Sfloppy Sfloppy Kernel Driver Stopped
Simbad Simbad Kernel Driver Stopped
SLIP BDA Slip De-Framer Kernel Driver Stopped
Sparrow Sparrow Kernel Driver Stopped
splitter Microsoft Kernel Audio Splitter Kernel Driver Stopped
sr System Restore Filter Driver File System Driver Running
Srv Srv File System Driver Running
streamip BDA IPSink Kernel Driver Stopped
swenum Software Bus Driver Kernel Driver Running
swmidi Microsoft Kernel GS Wavetable Synthesizer Kernel Driver Stopped
sym_hi sym_hi Kernel Driver Stopped
sym_u3 sym_u3 Kernel Driver Stopped
symc810 symc810 Kernel Driver Stopped
symc8xx symc8xx Kernel Driver Stopped
sysaudio Microsoft Kernel System Audio Device Kernel Driver Running
Tcpip TCP/IP Protocol Driver Kernel Driver Running
TDPIPE TDPIPE Kernel Driver Stopped
TDTCP TDTCP Kernel Driver Stopped
TermDD Terminal Device Driver Kernel Driver Running
TosIde TosIde Kernel Driver Stopped
tunmp Microsoft Tun Miniport Adapter Driver Kernel Driver Running
Udfs Udfs File System Driver Stopped
ultra ultra Kernel Driver Stopped
Update Microcode Update Driver Kernel Driver Running
usbhub Microsoft USB Standard Hub Driver Kernel Driver Running
usbohci Microsoft USB Open Host Controller Miniport Driver Kernel Driver Running
USBSTOR USB Mass Storage Driver Kernel Driver Running
VgaSave VGA Display Controller. Kernel Driver Running
ViaIde ViaIde Kernel Driver Stopped
Vmodem XP Vmodem Kernel Driver Running
VolSnap VolSnap Kernel Driver Running
Vpctcom XP Vpctcom Kernel Driver Running
Vvoice XP Vvoice Kernel Driver Running
Wanarp Remote Access IP ARP Driver Kernel Driver Running
WDICA WDICA Kernel Driver Stopped
wdmaud Microsoft WINMM WDM Audio Compatibility Driver Kernel Driver Running
WSTCODEC World Standard Teletext Codec Kernel Driver Stopped

--------[ Services ]----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Alerter Alerter Share Process Stopped NT AUTHORITY\LocalService
ALG Application Layer Gateway Service Own Process Running NT AUTHORITY\LocalService
AppMgmt Application Management Share Process Stopped LocalSystem
aswUpdSv avast! iAVS4 Control Service Own Process Running LocalSystem
AudioSrv Windows Audio Share Process Running LocalSystem
avast! Antivirus avast! Antivirus Own Process Running LocalSystem
avast! Mail Scanner avast! Mail Scanner Own Process Running LocalSystem
avast! Web Scanner avast! Web Scanner Own Process Running LocalSystem
BITS Background Intelligent Transfer Service Share Process Stopped LocalSystem
Browser Computer Browser Share Process Running LocalSystem
cisvc Indexing Service Share Process Stopped LocalSystem
ClipSrv ClipBook Own Process Stopped LocalSystem
COMSysApp COM+ System Application Own Process Stopped LocalSystem
CryptSvc Cryptographic Services Share Process Running LocalSystem
DcomLaunch DCOM Server Process Launcher Share Process Running LocalSystem
Dhcp DHCP Client Share Process Running LocalSystem
dmadmin Logical Disk Manager Administrative Service Share Process Stopped LocalSystem
dmserver Logical Disk Manager Share Process Running LocalSystem
Dnscache DNS Client Share Process Running NT AUTHORITY\NetworkService
ERSvc Error Reporting Service Share Process Running LocalSystem
Eventlog Event Log Share Process Running LocalSystem
EventSystem COM+ Event System Share Process Running LocalSystem
FastUserSwitchingCompatibility Fast User Switching Compatibility Share Process Running LocalSystem
gusvc Google Updater Service Own Process Running LocalSystem
helpsvc Help and Support Share Process Running LocalSystem
HidServ Human Interface Device Access Share Process Stopped LocalSystem
HTTPFilter HTTP SSL Share Process Stopped LocalSystem
ImapiService IMAPI CD-Burning COM Service Own Process Stopped LocalSystem
lanmanserver Server Share Process Running LocalSystem
lanmanworkstation Workstation Share Process Running LocalSystem
LmHosts TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper Share Process Stopped NT AUTHORITY\LocalService
Messenger Messenger Share Process Stopped LocalSystem
mnmsrvc NetMeeting Remote Desktop Sharing Own Process Stopped LocalSystem
MSDTC Distributed Transaction Coordinator Own Process Stopped NT AUTHORITY\NetworkService
MSIServer Windows Installer Share Process Stopped LocalSystem
NetDDE Network DDE Share Process Stopped LocalSystem
NetDDEdsdm Network DDE DSDM Share Process Stopped LocalSystem
Netlogon Net Logon Share Process Stopped LocalSystem
Netman Network Connections Share Process Running LocalSystem
Nla Network Location Awareness (NLA) Share Process Running LocalSystem
NtLmSsp NT LM Security Support Provider Share Process Stopped LocalSystem
NtmsSvc Removable Storage Share Process Stopped LocalSystem
Pctspk PCTEL Speaker Phone Own Process Stopped LocalSystem
PlugPlay Plug and Play Share Process Running LocalSystem
PolicyAgent IPSEC Services Share Process Running LocalSystem
ProtectedStorage Protected Storage Share Process Running LocalSystem
RasAuto Remote Access Auto Connection Manager Share Process Stopped LocalSystem
RasMan Remote Access Connection Manager Share Process Stopped LocalSystem
RDSessMgr Remote Desktop Help Session Manager Own Process Stopped LocalSystem
RemoteAccess Routing and Remote Access Share Process Stopped LocalSystem
RemoteRegistry Remote Registry Share Process Stopped NT AUTHORITY\LocalService
RpcLocator Remote Procedure Call (RPC) Locator Own Process Stopped NT AUTHORITY\NetworkService
RpcSs Remote Procedure Call (RPC) Share Process Running NT Authority\NetworkService
RSVP QoS RSVP Own Process Stopped LocalSystem
SamSs Security Accounts Manager Share Process Running LocalSystem
SCardSvr Smart Card Share Process Stopped NT AUTHORITY\LocalService
Schedule Task Scheduler Share Process Running LocalSystem
seclogon Secondary Logon Share Process Running LocalSystem
SENS System Event Notification Share Process Running LocalSystem
SharedAccess Windows Firewall/Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) Share Process Running LocalSystem
ShellHWDetection Shell Hardware Detection Share Process Running LocalSystem
Spooler Print Spooler Own Process Running LocalSystem
srservice System Restore Service Share Process Running LocalSystem
SSDPSRV SSDP Discovery Service Share Process Running NT AUTHORITY\LocalService
stisvc Windows Image Acquisition (WIA) Share Process Running LocalSystem
SwPrv MS Software Shadow Copy Provider Own Process Stopped LocalSystem
SysmonLog Performance Logs and Alerts Own Process Stopped NT Authority\NetworkService
TapiSrv Telephony Share Process Stopped LocalSystem
TermService Terminal Services Share Process Running LocalSystem
Themes Themes Share Process Running LocalSystem
TlntSvr Telnet Own Process Stopped LocalSystem
TrkWks Distributed Link Tracking Client Share Process Running LocalSystem
upnphost Universal Plug and Play Device Host Share Process Stopped NT AUTHORITY\LocalService
UPS Uninterruptible Power Supply Own Process Stopped LocalSystem
VSS Volume Shadow Copy Own Process Stopped LocalSystem
W32Time Windows Time Share Process Running LocalSystem
WebClient WebClient Share Process Running NT AUTHORITY\LocalService
winmgmt Windows Management Instrumentation Share Process Running LocalSystem
WmdmPmSN Portable Media Serial Number Service Share Process Stopped LocalSystem
Wmi Windows Management Instrumentation Driver Extensions Share Process Stopped LocalSystem
WmiApSrv WMI Performance Adapter Own Process Stopped LocalSystem
wscsvc Security Center Share Process Running LocalSystem
wuauserv Automatic Updates Share Process Running LocalSystem
WZCSVC Wireless Zero Configuration Share Process Running LocalSystem
xmlprov Network Provisioning Service Share Process Stopped LocalSystem

One more time. Microsoft does not supply the chipset drivers for your motherboard. You get to install those. These are often overlooked and result in your issue.

All those investigations and heavy detail is not needed yet. All I think you need to do is to install the "chipset" drivers for your board.

Bob

Hi,

I understand what you're saying. I hadn't thought about it.
As you have gathered my machine had originally Win98 with its own drivers CD. Now that I have upgraded to WinXP/Pro I have noticed that pretty much all the onboard ICs were recognized by the OS, although the drivers in some cases are generic, and not specific to the real IC.
I thought WinXP had a large database of drivers that covered a big quantity of hardware on the market.
Sorry for the stupid question for a mortal like me: by WinXP chipset drivers, you mean I need to have/load the WinXP drivers for all chips that are on the motherboard?
Is there a quicker way out, not involving buying a new PC (as mine is quite old and I might not find all drivers for WinXP)?

Thanks Giuseppe

"I need to have/load the WinXP drivers for all chips that are on the motherboard?"

Exactly. But this can be easy since all motherboard makers make a "chipset support package" so you don't have to find each small piece.

As to that idea that XP has some large driver library that's a myth.

Bob

Hi Bob,

After updating the drivers from the link you patientely posted (thks), the blue screen appeared again whenever the NIC card was in any one of the 2 PCI slots left free in my motherboard.
I managed to freeze the blue screen to read what the OS is complaining about:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/windows2000serv/reskit/w2000Msgs/6093.mspx?mfr=true

I have disabled memory caching of the BIOS, the antivirus without any luck.

Will keep find other possible reasons. Further suggestions are welcome.

Giuseppe

If it does then that card is truly suspect. Is there any other card available?

Bob

There is spyware that hijacks the TCPIP "stack" and this happens.

To fix this I have to scan the machine but this is troublesome without an internet connection. The best I can do is to go get Free AVG AntiSpyware and see what it finds.

Bob

I am currently writing using the same "allegedly faulty" NIC in the same motherboard, this time using Linux Ubuntu OS. It works a treat here.
Regarding other cards, I have 2 that are the same, and they create the same fault, as described above, only when using WinXP.

I will try the AV scan, to see if I have been hijacked somehow.

Giuseppe

I tried
Safe Mode (no Blue screen)
Safe Mode with Networking (Blue Screen)

That motherboard driver has always been an issue with Windows. You've covered that so next up is while in safe mode to look in the Event Viewer and see if Windows recorded any clue for us.

As to Safe Mode we can run the Free AVG AntiSpyware scan from that. I usually don't find "AV" scans to find this issue.

Bob

Bob,

I like the challenge though, and even if I can get a new NIC for 3 quid, I would like to fix this.
Unfortunately I have been out today, and was unable to spend too much time testing.

I did some of the tests you suggested.

1. EVENT VIEWER in safe mode:
I read
errors - EVENT ID 7001 (for DHCP Client, DNS Client, TCP/IP NEtBios Helper, all of them failing to start because of DEVICE ATTACHED TO SYSTEM NOT FUNCTIONING)
EVENT ID 10005 (DCOM)
EVENT ID 7026 (a list of programs/services didn't manage to start, one of them being Tcp/Ip)
I have done a few searches, and it seems that the above errors are normal in SAFE mode....

2. AVG Antispyware scan: It only found Tracking cookies with medium threats, which I deleted.

3. Regarding the BIOS potential issue, I don't find that in the Event Viewer, so should I ignore this possibility?

I will read through your other suggestions.
I use Mozilla Firefox 1.5.11(?) but I found that not having any antivirus or firewall (I use the SW WinXP one and the hardware one in-built in the router) is like a russian roulette, when using XP (Win98 wasn't so bad).
I got ads, pop-ups, at the very beginning until I realized the threats were very high, and tried to close the door. I will try your six-pack.

Many Thanks
Giuseppe

Hi,

After a long time of struggle, holiday, bidding on e-bay for a new NIC card, I found that, in fact, the driver that I was using "rtnicxp.sys version 5,671,0601,2007 built by: WinDDK" was the cause of the "PAGE_FAULT_IN_NON_PAGED_AREA".

I used WinDbg and checked the dumps I got at each crash, and that gave me the reason for the faulty driver.

I then deleted in windows and in registries all the occurrences of the above file, and used, instead, the "rtlnic51.sys version 5.607.1007.2003 built by: WinDDK" which worked straight away.

[in more details, with no NIC card inside the PC (obviously), I had to go under Device Manager/(View/Show Hidden Devices)/Network Adapters and update the drivers of one of the Realtek NIC, uninstalling all the others that were hiding in there. Shut Down. Insert NIC card in PCI slot. Restart WinXP. NIC working now!! Hurrah!]

Not sure if it will last, but so far, no BSOD (Blue screens]

Thanks to Bob for his help.

Hope this post will be useful to others like me who have moved away from Win98 for WinXP.

Giuseppe