I recently uninstalled a Wifi card that wasn't working properly (no
internet connection) and during the operation, more likely a
short-circuit occured and forced me to take out my old USB 2.0 card
from Adaptec. I even think the slot is "dead". I also had to install a
new network card as the one on my motherboard (Dell) appeared to be
dead as well (NIC failure when starting the PC). Since then, the PC
works fine like the new network card. Although I cannot install the
new LaCie USB 2.0 PCI Card...once it is put in another working slot,
it is effectively recognized by W2k with the right name of it...and
during the "plug&Play" procedure to install the new card...it suddenly
freezes the computer...I then have to force the reboot and take out
the card. Any idea why and how can I resolve this problem?

Howdy spendrup-ga,

There are several pathways that can be used in common between PCI slots, so
there could be the possibility that one of these pathways is damaged on the
motherboard.

If so, the OS, etc. might recognize but can't properly communicate with it
for the rest of the installation.

If you do indeed have a bad slot(s) then getting a replacement motherboard
might be your only solution.

Looking Forward, denco-ga - Google Answers Researcher

Possible, however I succeeded in installing a new network card and the
other card is recognized by W2K but freezes in the middle of the
installation...

Howdy spendrup-ga,

I still suspect the motherboard is damaged.  A PCI USB card and a PCI NIC
probably use some different pathways, etc. than each other, so one might
work while the other doesn't, no matter the slot.

Looking Forward, denco-ga - Google Answers Researcher