Prepairng Network Connections

I've seen this a couple of times & on both occasions it has been a problem with the NIC on the motherboard. Solution is to shut down the server and install a PCI NIC that Windows will recognise without needing the drivers, like an Intel Pro 100. Boot the server in to safe mode with networking, let the NIC install by P&P, and assign it the same IP address as the one on the MB. Windows will complain it is the same and say "do you want to change the address", say no, I want to keep the address, then reboot in to normal mode. Once you are logged in, change the IP on the motherboard NIC to something else, reboot, then disable it. You can't disable it straight off in safe mode, because all the network services will be bound to it and if you do, you'll be stuck with tha same problem. You could afterwards try updating the drivers of the NIC and try it again, diabling the PCI NIC, but usually I don't bother!

ok apart from the solution suggested above. Please make sure the cable you are using is perfect. The connectivity with DHCP server/ device is perfect.
One more thing, after a while do you get Windows private IP assigned? sometime like 169.*.*.*????

Good Morning,

     We removed a second NIC, uninstalled and reinstalled the on-board NIC, configured the network connection (Clicked "No" to keep the address), updated the drivers, and rebooted.  It's now on the network.

OK, that would undoubtedly give the same result!