I have Windows XP SP2 on my eMachine T1105. This machine is on my wireless
network (2 computers). Everything was fine until recently when on a bootup I
got this warning: <Resource Conflict - PCI Network controller in slot 02.
Bus: 01, Device: OD, Function: 0. Press F1 to continue>. Pressing F1
advances the bootup and Windows starts and works normally.
May someone please tell me how to correct this problem?
"Press F1" messages typically come from BIOS instead of Windows. This would
be BIOS complaining about the configuration of the network controller
within the BIOS settings. On some systems, I've disabled COM port 2 in
BIOS. If using a dialup connection, everything should still work (COM port
1 is still available) but if not, easy to reverse the setting again. This
frees up a resource that could be used instead for the NIC.
Another tack would be to set "plug and play" operating system to yes. "Yes"
allows the operating system to handle the assignment of resources - BIOS
skips all but the most basic enumeration. "No" means BIOS enumerates the
hardware and the OS works with those results - building or moving stuff
around within the OS config to get the hardware operable. Because of the
alterations on the OS level, your computer appears to work fine even though
BIOS complains. By changing to Yes the BIOS should not complain about
configuration for the NIC.
NOTE: By changing to yes, you may trigger activation. All hardware is the
same but you are forcing the operating system to look at it differently.
Hopefully that won't happen but feel that I must mention the possibility.
An updated BIOS might get rid of the resource problem too but seems heavy
handed for such a small error.
A painless thing to try would be entering BIOS. Look over the config for
the NIC. Make no changes and exit choosing "save changes." Even though
there were no changes, the act of "saving" sometimes sets the proper
configuration info back to what it should be.
