How to update Realtek NIC drivers during Bare Metal Restore

Tue, 31 Mar 2009 18:44:29 Z

How to update Realtek NIC drivers during Bare Metal Restore

During a Bare Metal Restore, the NIC drivers for the Realtek family of network cards may need to be manually updated using the XP/Windows Server 2003 driver. The Windows Home Server restore CD will indicate the "inbox" driver for the restore CD is present; however, this driver may not work and there will be no network connectivity. The solution is to download the drivers from the Realtek site and install them during Bare Metal Restore using a USB key outlined in the process below.

Note: Passively placing the drivers on the key will not work as the existing drivers are already loaded. You must follow the steps below.

1. Download network driver from the Realtek Website:

http://www.realtek.com.tw/downloads/downloadsView.aspx?Langid=1&PNid=7&PFid=10&Level=3&Conn=2

a. Download the Windows XP(WinServer2003) Driver.

2. Extract the zip file onto the USB flash and plug the USB flash into the client PC.

3. Apply the downloaded NIC driver with Windows Home Server Restore CD

a. On the detect hardware screen, select the appropriate time/currency format and keyboard/input method

b. Detect hardware dialog will detect one network device but it will not be usable because of hardware and driver incompatibility.

c. Manually update the driver from the USB flash

i. Select the “Show Details…” button

ii. Scan USB flash to update the driver

iii. Press the “Install Drivers…”

iv. Push “Scan” button to scan for new/updated drives

v. A dialogue box will pop up:

"Drivers were found for your hardware.

Click OK to see all detected hardware."

vi. Select OK

d. Verify that you have updated the Network driver. You should see your specific hardware listed in the “Detect Hardware” dialog screen.

Lara Jones [MSFT] | Program Manager
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