Just a couple of things
 
1. Are you loading the latest OEM drivers before you install the hardware?
 
2. Have you tried other PCI slots? .... possible IRQ assignment problems.
 
 
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=256841
 
http://www.jsifaq.com/SUBF/TIP2600/rh2629.htm
 
Whats the brand for the NICS .... Intel, 3com, cisco, Ibm, Dlink, .... etc?

The cards are Realtek RTL 8139(A) - Based PCI fast ethernet.
 
I have found something though. If I remove the Firewire card the NIC seem to be fine, it boots up anyway. If I plug the firewire card back in I get the blue screen. So it appears to a IRQ conflict between them. At present the NIC grabs IRQ 16, I also have GeForce 4 Graphics card, Another Firewire controller on the sound card and a USB host controller all running that IRQ. I'm just going to try and change the request for the NIC to another one, then plug the firewire back in. Never had to change IRQs before so expect more questions later 8)
 
BTW, what's OEM drivers, am I correct in thinking they aredrivers for the motherboard and suchlike if so yes I have updated them.

Right, so I can't change the IRQ as the option is greyed out. Any other sugestions. All the IRQs in the BIOS set up are set to Auto and I tried changing the PCI select (OS does support)to Yes/No with no affect.
 
I'm just going to remove the NIC and replace the Firewire card and see what IRQ that commands. My this is fun is'nt it?

Is the plug and play option in your BIOS set to have the BIOS or the OS control PNP?

I've tried both, OS controlling and BIOS neither solved it. I've decided to take the easy(?) way out and remove the Firewire card (remember I have a port on the sound card) and install it in the second PC. (I only use it at the moment to Ghost the drive to a back up sat on the shelf). I just hope I don't get the same problem with that one as I will be running Win 2000 Pro on that as well.
BTW when I removed the NIC and reinstalled the Firewire card the FWC was using IRQ17 not 16 which the NIC was comanding.
 
As this will be my first attemp at networking two Pcs at home, be prepared for inthralling questions later
 
Oh and another thing when I reflashed the BIOS (which I understand now was not needed) it reset the FSB to 100! So my 2.1 Athon was showing as a 1500? I reset to 133 and it's returned to 1733 as before. I don't know if I can stand as much fun as this on a Sunday :x

Out of curiousity, is this a name-brand NIC or a 'generic' NIC with the Realtek chipset?
 
Glad everything is working at the moment. If you have other questions, just ask.
 

I meant the OEM drivers for the NIC ... in other words, did you install the latest Realtek drivers before you actually installed the NIC.
 
Perhaps the latest drivers correct IRQ sharing and so on ....

It's a generic white boxed item. Both the Firewire and the NIC work in the other PC with Win 2K Pro. So that's where I left em.
 
Now can anybody reccomend a good site for a beginner in networking Win 2K? ;(

http://www.labmice.net
http://www.practicallynetworked.com
http://support.microsoft.com
 
The MSFT Knowledge Base is really invaluable when trying to track down some errors, that's why I included it.

Ta very much, I'll take a look.

No problem, hope those will help. Also, of course, you could post here.