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Updating the Via Rhine II Fast Ethernet Adapter driver

Anonymous
2011-08-18T11:00:42+00:00

Please help!

Can I update my Via Rhine II Fast Ethernet Adapter driver with the 3.84.0.1 version for 64 bit WinXP even dough I'm running a 32 bit WinXP?

I wasn't able to find a version for 32bit Win XP. 

My current driver version is  3.32.0.417, and a few free driver scanning programs I found on the Internet have graded it as "ancient". My Internet connection isn' t doing very well.

My system information:

Widows XP, home edition, service pack 3, version 2002, intel celeron CPU 420 @ 1.60 Ghz, 160 Ghz, 384 MB of RAM

Thank you very much and God bless you!

Tiberiu, from Romania

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Internet and connectivity

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  1. LemP 74,925 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2011-08-19T21:25:13+00:00

    Not quite.  If you click on the VIA Technologies link on the search result page, you get to a "details" page for VIA:  http://www.pcidatabase.com/vendor_details.php?id=648

    That page lists all of the VIA PCI devices, and the one with DEV_ID of 3065 is

    Chip Number: VT6103
    Chip Description: Rhine II PCI Fast Ethernet Controller
    Notes: http://www.via.com.tw/en/support/drivers.jsp

    So your product uses a VIA VT6103 chip, and if you go to the link, you'll find the driver (which happens be the same one for the VT6107 that I had picked above).

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  1. LemP 74,925 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2011-08-18T13:33:04+00:00

    No.  Not if it's only for XP-64.

    Just because a driver is "ancient" doesn't mean that you should replace it.  The general rule for Windows drivers is, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."  You should only update a driver if (a) the device isn't working properly and you have reason to think that the driver is at fault or (b) the new driver adds features that you want/need.

    OTOH, if you go to the actual VIA website (instead of random file download sites), you'll find a driver for both XP-64 and XP (i.e., XP-32) that seems to be newer than yours -- version 3.87a.  This driver is for the following models, one of which may be yours (you omitted to identify the specific model you have).

    VT8251 Integrated, VT8231, VT8233, VT8235 & VT8237 Integrated (Rhine & Rhine II), VT6103 Rhine (PHY), VT6105/L/LOM and VT6106/H/L/S series (Rhine III), VT6105M Management Fast Ethernet Controller (Rhine III), VT6115 Fast Ethernet Controller (Rhine III), VT6107 Fast Ethernet Controller (Rhine & Rhine II)

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  1. Anonymous
    2011-08-19T20:45:10+00:00

    Thank you again!

    I do have a  desktop.

    The msinfo32 didn't mention the product type ( it says: Adapter type....Ethernet 802.3 and Product type....VIA Rhine II Fast etc. ) but it did mention the PNP Device ID. The four digits after DEV are 3065.

    So now my product is VT3065?

    About the case opening ( even with the power off :-D) ain't no way I'm getting in there!

    Many thanks!

    Tiberiu

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  2. LemP 74,925 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2011-08-19T15:04:20+00:00

    There are a few possibilities for getting more information about your network adapter. 

    • I assume that you have looked at Device Manager.  That's probably what tells you "VIA Rhine II".
    • Start > Run > msinfo32 > OK should tell you more.  Look under Components > Network > Adapter.  If the "Product type" doesn't give you a model such as VT6107, look up the PCI Vendor and Device IDs (shown for "PNP Device ID") at http://www.pcidatabase.com/index.php The first part of your ID will probably be PCI\VEN_1106.  You want to look up the 4 digit number after DEV_.
    • SIW from http://www.gtopala.com/may give you more detail than msinfo32, but probably not.
    • Although you didn't identify your computer, the fact that you have a Celeron 420 means that you almost certainly have a desktop/tower (and not a laptop).  If you can't figure out which VTXXXX model you have, open the computer case (with power off, of course) and take a look at the Network Interface Card (NIC).

    Because VIA actually is the chip manufacturer -- not the company that made the actual network interface adapter card -- just look for the big chip on the NIC. See this for what it should look like: http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2293/2085805104_7f7673dcc1.jpg

    Note that the VT6107, which is identified as Fast Ethernet Controller Rhine & Rhine II on the driver download page, is intended to be used on the motherboard of a computer rather than on a separate NIC adapter card.  I picked that one because it was the only product in the list that was identified both as "Fast Ethernet" and "Rhine II", which were the two characteristics you gave in your original question.  If you do open your computer, you can see if the network connection goes to a PCI card or the motherboard.

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  3. Anonymous
    2011-08-19T10:45:42+00:00

    Thank you very much for your superfast answer!

    I do seem to have problems with the driver because the connection would, at first, keep dropping, and now, after vacuum cleaning ( ! ) the plug-in place it's just slow.

    The thing is I can't tell wich specific model I'm using because it's never mentioned in the properties lists I get on the screen.

    Another thing is that the VIA site seems obscure and hard to use and it confuses me because of all the "VT8 whatevers" they use insted of the proper product name "Via Rhine...etc."

    If there's anything else you could teach me I would greatly apreciate it !

    Thank you very much!

    Succes vith your work!

    Tiberiu, from Romania

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