windows 2000 automatically detects the installation of new hardware. however, windows 2000 does not automatically detect removal of driver software. you must first uninstall the nic driver before removing the nic.

    if advanced server features are installed, they must be uninstalled before removing the driver software. see "uninstalling advanced server features" on page 30 for details.

    to remove the nic, do the following:

    1 start windows 2000 system and log in. you must have network administrator privileges to uninstall the driver software.

    2 open the windows start menu and select setting, control panel:

    3 the control panel window appears. double-click add/remove hardware wizard.

    4 the add/remove hardware wizard window appears. click next.

    5 the choose a hardware task window appears. click uninstall/unplug a device (recommended), and then click next. choose this option to uninstall a device or to prepare your computer for unplugging a device.

    6 the choose a removal task window appears. click uninstall a device (recommended), and then click next. choose this option to permanently uninstall a device and its driver.

    7 the installed devices on your computer screen appears. click the network adapter card you want to uninstall (3com 3c996 10/100/1000 server nic), and then click next.

    8 in the uninstalled devices window, click yes, i want to uninstall this device, and then click next.

    9 the completing the add/remove hardware wizard window appears. click finish.

    now you can shut down your system and you can physically remove the nic from the server.

    you must uninstall the driver before removing the nic and moving it to a different slot.