Disappearing Ethernet?

[badun]

I have a vexing problem with my system built around an Asus A8N32 SLI Deluxe. I was using the onboard Ethernet with my SMC cable router. I attempted to upgrade the onboard audio to a Creative Audigy 4 using these steps:

Uninstalled the Realtek AC 97 drivers
Uninstalled the nForce sound drivers.
Disabled the onboard sound in the BIOS.
Installed the Audigy.
Installed latest Creative drivers.

No sound problems following the upgrade, but I lost my Ethernet connections somehow. No idea if they are connected to each other, but my troubleshooting steps assumed they were and I did the following:

Symptom - No access to Internet, systray icon said "Locan Area Connection 4 Unplugged" (or something close to that).
Tried swapping cables to and from the router, no effect (router status light indicates it is connected to PC).
Ensured router was working for other PC's, it was fine (all ports).
Removed Audigy, no effect. Did not remove Creative drivers, however (because I just thought of that).
Re-enabled onboard sound, no effect.
Reinstalled nForce drivers, no effect.
Surveyed BIOS for any changes I may have accidentally done, everything looked fine.
Gave up and threw in a spare NIC to keep me online while I try to figure this out! I also re-installed the Audigy and it works fine with my spare NIC.

Suggestions?

[syntronyx]

Which NIC is disappearing? Both of em? also which BIOS are you using If you are using the nForce NIC, do you have the forceware network access manager/nVidia firewall installed?
I had problems with my nForce NIC on that board, so I just disabled the nForce NIC and use the Marvell one that's onboard also along with wifi. BTW I'm using an audigy 2zs and the onboard audio simultaneously.
Good Luck.

[badun]

Here's the current view from Network Connections:

1394 Connection - "Connected, Firewalled"
Local Area Connection 4 (NVIDIA nForce Networking Controller) - "Disabled" (by me)
Local Area Connection 2 (Lite-On Communications LC82C115-Based 10/100 Ethernet Adapter) - "Connected, Firewalled" (my spare NIC)

Yes, I'm using network access manager and the firewall and have had no issues with them, no have I made changes.

[syntronyx]

I don't know if this will work, but try disabling your nForce Nic in CMOS setup and enabling the Marvell NIC
I believe the nForce NIC is labeled as onboard GBe 1 and Marvell is GBe 2; I could have it backwads though.

[badun]

Applying the latest Marvell driver from Asus seems to have done the trick. A new connection was found and it's working fine now. Thanks!