Altera Nios demos are failing

[Altera_Forum]

Hello again. I posted a thread here a few weeks ago about a problem I was encountering with the web server demo. I believed the problem to be the ethernet connection but am not so sure that is the case. Please keep in mind I have almost no experience at all with FPGAs or the Quartus/Nios software.  

  I did a few beginner programs in Quartus to introduce myself to the software and did not have an issue. I encounter issues as soon as Nios II ide is brought into the picture. So far the only 2 demos that I have tried that worked with Nios are the sample packet demo and the mouse demo (on the CD that came with the FPGA these are DE2_NET and DE2_NIOS_HOST_MOUSE_VGA respectively). When I try to do a simple "Hello World" or the web server demo that came with the Nios IDE download I just run into errors and nothing works.   I am using a DE2 board, Cyclone II EP2C35F672C6N, and the latest versions of Nios and Quartus. I make the Nios workspace C:\altera\91\nios2eds\examples\software\hello_world, go to File > New Project and select the Hello World template. I then need to select a SOPC Builder System file, so I go to C:\altera\91\nios2eds\examples\verilog\niosII_cycloneII_2c35\standard\NiosII_cycloneII_2c35_standard_sopc.ptf (the only one I can select that does not give me an error). I click Next then Finish to create the project.   I can build the project with no difficulty. When it comes time to run the project and put it on the FPGA is where I have problems and my questions begin. At this point I need a .sof file. The readme for the hello world says nothing about which .sof file to use, so I assume the .sof file that is inside of the standard folder. I go to the quartus programmer and add this .sof file (NiosII_cycloneII_2c35_standard.sof). I then click run in Nios and get the error   --- Quote Start ---  Using cable "USB-Blaster [USB-0]", device 1, instance 0x00 Pausing target processor: not responding. Resetting and trying again: FAILED Leaving target processor paused  --- Quote End ---  From google searching I see that "These errors indicate a communication failure between your PC and the Nios® II processor through the USB-Blaster™ cable." A couple of forum posts (from anywhere between 2 and 3 years ago) indicated that it could be because of a wrong .sof file.   I am sorry for all of the text but my question is essentially: what did I do wrong and how can I fix it. I know in my previous post I failed to really supply some information that could have helped. If you need to know something ask and I will try to answer it the best I can (with my limited knowledge). I thank whoever reads this for your time and hope you can help me.