PC will not start Windows after wireless PCI card is removed.

[Blue Baron]

I am trying to remove a Linksys WMP54G V4.1 PCI wireless adapter from my PC.  I have uninstalled the drivers and software for it, but after I removed the card, the system would not boot.  The BIOS is set to boot first from a CD and then the hard drive.  However, it will not boot from a CD or the hard drive.  It completes the POST up to the point where it is supposed to start Windows (XP SP3) but Windows does not start.  I have tried setting the CMOS back to default values, but that did nothing.  If I put the card back in the machine, it will boot normally, but not without the card.  There are no error messages.  I have an Alienware Area 51 7500 desktop, 4GB of memory, a 1.5TB RAID 5 with 3 drives and a 1TB disk for the C drive, and a 2.7GH quad processor.

[truenorth]

Have you gone into your device manager and observed if it is still there? If it was have you removed it? truenorth

[Blue Baron]

Yes, I have gone to the Device Manager and the Driver has been removed.

[Accessless]

This may not be helpful but do you have any network boot option in your BIOS? (Usually found in the BIOS "Boot" menu.)

[truenorth]

Not what i was suggesting. In device manager under "networking devices" do you still see your device listed? If you do right click on it and remove it from there. truenorth

[Blue Baron]

To Accessless: Yes it does have a network boot option.

To Truenorth:  We seem to be using different terms.  I am running XP and cannot find the device manager you are talking about.  However, under Network Connections, the Wireless Network icon is gone.

[Blue Baron]

Under the system Device Manager under Network Adapters, It has been removed.  Maybe this is what Truenorth meant?

[Blue Baron]

In the Device Manager, under Other Devices, it shows a yellow question mark next to the Network controller. I assume that is because the wireless card is in, but it has not been installed by the system and there are no drivers associated with it.

[truenorth]

Blue Baron, I too am using a version of XP to base my suggestion on for you. My route to the device manager is: Start/Control Panel/System/Hardware/Device Manager. I am including a link that relates to your "yellow question mark" beside "network controller". I hope that following the guidance there that your issue will be resolved.
http://en.kioskea.net/forum/affich-5493-network-controller-is-not-working
truenorth

[Blue Baron]

When I reinstall the drivers for the card, the "Other Devices" item disappears from the Device Manager and there are no more yellow question marks.

I have tried going into the BIOS and resetting it to default values. I have reset the ESCD configuration data and removed the CMOS battery and reinstalled it.  Nothing has worked.

[Accessless]

To Accessless: Yes it does have a network boot option.

To Truenorth:  We seem to be using different terms.  I am running XP and cannot find the device manager you are talking about.  However, under Network Connections, the Wireless Network icon is gone.

Is it disabled?

[Blue Baron]

I think when I started all this it was disabled, but since setting everything to defaults, it is now enabled.

[Computer_Commando]

...I have uninstalled the drivers and software for it, but after I removed the card, the system would not boot....

It is never necessary to uninstall drivers before (or after) removing the hardware.  Just remove the card.

[Blue Baron]

But the computer will not boot with out the card physically installed, with or without drivers.

[mroilfield]

Why are you removing the card?

Are you replacing it with a new one if so what happens when you put the new card in?