ethernet driver for asrock z77 extreme 4 motherboard

[ejames82]

hello,

I just built a computer on an asrock z77 extreme 4 motherboard.  I successfully installed windows7 but have an exclamation point in device manager.
I was able to extract and install XfastLAN but I still have no connectivity, and thus an exclamation point for ethernet controller.

I went right to the asrock site below and grabbed everything I could and put it on a flash drive:
http://www.asrock.com/mb/Intel/Z77%20Extreme4/?cat=Download&os=Win764

maybe I am not installing the driver properly.  I basically just copied the file on the desktop, extracted it there, and installed the exe (it said it was 'installed correctly'), then rebooted (which was my choice).  I now have an icon in the notification area.
it doesn't seem like this is the driver at all.  asrock gives no documentation on their site that I can see.
any guidance will be most appreciated as always.

[patio]

Didn't the MBoard come with a Driver CD ? ?...that's what you should run...

[ejames82]

hello patio,

yes it did.  I tried that first.  it didn't work.  I will double-check that right now.
thanks.

[ejames82]

it's funny.  this time it didn't do the same thing it did before.  it auto-ran and installed google chrome, but still didn't connect to anything.
sort of ironic.
I am still checking it out though.  I have two computers running.  thanks for getting back to me so fast.

[patio]

Anytime...
You need both the ethernet and WLAN 1's re-installed...

[ejames82]

yep.  and it looks like I just found it after some intense searching.
I had device manager search for the drivers on the cd, but I realize it was naive to think that device manager would find and install the drivers off the cd.

there was a choice of broadcom and realtek and under realtek
there were four drivers.  vista, xp, windows 7 and windows 8, so I had to find the one for windows 7.
I will let you know when I finally get a connection.

[patio]

It's never a good idea to let Windows find drivers for you...go straight to the MBoard manuf. site...

[ejames82]

yep.  I was just 'being naive'.

bad news.  the drivers didn't work.  still no connection.  it's being stubborn.
I installed the lan and the wlan and rebooted.  it looked very promising, but no go.

[patio]

Did it ever work ? ?...how are you connected ? ?if ethernet have you tried a different cable ? ?...did you try re-starting the router and waiting 1 minute ? ?

Also i just thought ...have you gone into Control Panel and setup the Network ? ?
It's not done automatically...

[ejames82]

I just tried swapping the cables between computers.  they're fine.

I got a message that I ignored before because I didn't think it was relevant, but maybe I was wrong.  when I repair installed the lan driver it said (again):

'the realtek network controller was not found.  if deep sleep mode is enabled please plug the cable'. 
I have never heard of deep sleep mode, so I don't know if it is enabled or where to find out if it is.
anyway.  you might know a little about this because I sure don't.

[ejames82]

I actually found some information about that error message 'deep sleep mode'.
I guess stored information blocks the network controller in some way.
here's the link:
http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-1659725/realtek-network-controller-found-deep-sleep-mode.html

the fix is to shut the power down for ten minutes.

[patio]

Interesting....leave it to RealTek to come up with something brilliant as this...

[ejames82]

it could be just me.  it's probably right under my nose and I don't see it.

[ejames82]

I am going to have to leave until tomorrow.  I will return.
I still have the exclamation point in device manager, so until that is gone, I think the problem will remain.
thanks patio.  I hope you keep an eye on my thread.  I will do more investigating after I get home from work tomorrow.

[patio]

No problem...the exclamation points to a driver issue though...