This device cannot start (Ethernet driver)  

I'm in the process of building a HTPC and am having problems with the ethernet drivers. The drivers weren't automatically installed after a fresh Win7 installation, so I tried installing them off the motherboard drivers disk (EVGA H55V). After driver installation, I get the error message in the device manager as stated in the title, "This device cannot start".

After some googling, seems that it means either the device is plugged in improperly or the driver is bad. Well, it's on the motherboard, and everything else works, so can't be that. I found newer drivers, tried installing them, and still the same error.

The device is the Intel 82578DC. Anyone have any ideas?

There are some generic drivers here you could try :
http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Sear...t+Ethernet+PHY

FQA's
Intel® 82578 Gigabit Ethernet PHY — FAQ for Intel® 82578DM and 82578DC Gigabit Network Connections

Thanks for your reply.

I tried those drivers already, as well as the one from my motherboard manufacturer. Both result in the same error message.

I tried reinstalling Win7 and it still has the same issue. I also checked the BIOS to make sure it was enabled, and it is.

ill just try to find your motherboard driver page

EVGA | Support | Download Drivers
ftp://ftp.evga.com/driver/Marvell_Setup.zip

yes notsograymatter is correct and i would say it maybe included in the package or work with it hopefully.

That Marvell driver has this in the readme:

Supporting: Marvell Yukon Ethernet Controller

This package contains the following software components:

- NDIS5 Miniport Driver version 11.23.3.3 for Windows 2000
- NDIS5.1 Miniport Driver version 11.23.3.3 for Windows XP/Server 2003 (32 bit)
- NDIS5.1 Miniport Driver version 11.23.3.3 for Windows XP/Server 2003 (64 bit)
- NDIS6 Miniport Driver version 11.23.3.3 for Windows Vista/Server 2008 (32 bit)
- NDIS6 Miniport Driver version 11.23.3.3 for Windows Vista/Server 2008 (64 bit)
- NDIS6.2 Miniport Driver version 11.23.3.3 for Windows 7 (32 bit)
- NDIS6.2 Miniport Driver version 11.23.3.3 for Windows 7/Windows Server 2008R2 (64 bit)


When I first saw this I ignored the driver as I don't have a "miniport" and figured this was for something else. But now that I've looked up what a miniport is (not a physical port), this is something else to try when I get off work. I'll report back with my findings later today.

But if that's the case, that was pretty lame on EVGAs part to have the wrong driver on the driver disk.

Thanks for all the help so far.

Nope! That driver did nothing. Installed, shows no driver installed for Network adapter.

I would contact evga now and ask them whats going on - they should provide you with a driver or a replacement motherboard - maybe the board, but not likely, but if they cant resolve the issue thats what they should do or whatever!
One other thing you can try from the cd and the driver is to install the driver in compatibilty mode if its written for a prior OS eg vista or find the info file thru device manager - here is a link below with the details. but briefly Ill just tell you how to - ok with the cd in the drive find the folder if its not immediately apparent with the set.exe file for the ethernet driver and do the following :
To install a driver OR program in compatibility mode - right click the setup.exe file - click properties - click compatibility - check run in compatibility with vista/xp etc - check run as administrator - leave the rest blank. Start setup.exe and install. (if its a vista driver use vista compatibilty to resolve the OS mismatch that causes an error)

Thru device manager is harder so try the above way. This works with W7 also.
You cannot install a device driver by using its installation program in Windows Vista