Hardware problems
 

So I was working on upgrading my HTPC recently - I bought myself a new DVD-ROM drive, a new soundcard, and a new NIC. However, when I installed them, the last two refuse to work - they aren't even seen by Windows. I tried all sorts of install tricks, and I even went as far as to format and install both Win2k Pro and WinXP - neither one worked. Because it's two pieces of hardware, and because it happens even after an OS reinstall, I think it might be motherboard related or something. Anyway, I'm hoping someone here has some clues as to what I should look into. I wouldn't be averse to upgrading my mobo and CPU, but they don't seem to sell SDRAM motherboards any more, and I don't want to buy a whole new set of RAM for this machine. So I guess a pointer as to where I could find a single-data-rate motherboard would be welcome, too.

Here are my system specs:

Gigabyte GA-7ZX motherboard
AMD Thunderbird, 800 MHZ CPU
512MB RAM
Toshiba DVD-ROM drive
2 HDDs, one 60 and one 80 GB
ATI All-in-wonder 128
300 watt power supply
Windows 200 Professional

I recently added the following hardware, which doesn't work:
D-Link 10/100 NIC (I was using a 10 Base-T SMC card before)
Turtle Beach Riviera (I was using the AC97 onboard audio)

I tried switching around the PCI slots for the new stuff, still no dice. I have disabled the onboard audio through the BIOS...

Anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks,
Bingle

Are they even listed under Device Manager? If not, then that is really weird. I would make sure that the BIOS version is up to date.

I'm not 100% certain on this, but you may need to install the drivers first for the network card before installing the card into the computer. Read the manual. I know that some wireless network cards do this.

Have you got something else to try in the PCI slots that you know has worked before? If so that would then rule out a faulty motherboard?

No, they're not listed under device manager. When I try installing drivers, the NIC drivers install, but the device doesn't start (Code 10, which seems to indicate Windows doesn't think it exists). The sound card drivers won't even install; the hardware wizard sees the INF file but when I load it there are no devices listed. Weird!

Also, these were both OEM products, so I didn't get a manual. I looked online, though, and found no mention of special installation instructions.

Bingle