Post #115,423
8/26/03 11:24:10 AM
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Installing a NIC
How hard is it as far as setting it up under Windows Control Panel?
Since I'm looking at getting either Road Runner or DSL at the apartment, and both require a card which my current box does not have, I'd like to know in advance what hoops I'll have to jump through.
Easy solution would be to buy a new box, but the wife would shoot me if she saw a PC purchase on the credit card bill, so that's out of the question.
lincoln
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Post #115,433
8/26/03 12:28:17 PM
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Relativly simple
Depending on OS, it may already have the drivers you need. I would get the latest available from the manufacturers website though.
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Post #115,436
8/26/03 12:38:11 PM
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Real easy . .
. . provided you have the drivers and your Windows CD (unless it was installed off the hard disk, in which case you won't even be asked.
Some internet services now install the drivers for the card they sent you without bothering you with the detals. Existing card will generally be accepted as is.
If that isn't what hppens, you put the card in and start the machine. When Windooze detects the net card, put in your driver disk and browse to the right driver (something like d:\\drivers\\win98). It may or may not ask for the Windows CD-ROM depending on how Windows was installed.
You should now have a "Network Neighborhood" or "My Network Places" icon on the desktop. For most services, that's all there is to it because the network card will be set to "Get IP Address Automatically". That'll happen when your connection software sets up the PPoE connection (DSL) or TCP/IP finds a DHCP server provided your cable box. At most, you might have to enter DNS addresses in the properties for the TCP/IP attached to your network card.
If you insert a firewall router (Linksys, DLink, etc.) between your computer and your DSL/Cable device, you may need to set up IP addresses in the properties for the TCP/IP attached to the net card, but most of those provide DHCP too.
You will have to configure your firewall. We use Linksys, which is configured using your Web browser. Cable services around here key the user to the MAC address of the network card they provide, but the Linksys (and I presume others) has the ability to spoof the MAC address. You get it from a DOS window by typing ipconfig /all.
I always test connections by pinging 4.2.2.2 (a Verizon DNS server with an easy to remember address). If that responds, I test with ping www.aaxnet.com to see if DNS is working.
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Post #115,445
8/26/03 1:07:17 PM
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USB?
Some of the cable and DSL modems also support a USB connection. While USB isn't as fast as ethernet, it's still faster than the cable/DSL connection.
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Post #115,456
8/26/03 4:02:33 PM
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Yeah, PacBell was sending out USB for awhile
They gave up because it was a pain in the kazoo because USB never has worked quite right.
You want Ethernet anyway, because USB to the device leaves you wide open on the Internet. You want to put a firewall in between there, and they're just about all Ethernet.
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Post #115,629
8/27/03 9:11:36 PM
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Get a known good card
I havnt bought wintel for a couple of years but back in the day it would be the middle of the road 3com 3c50x series, lotsa drivers, little or no problems. Winders "understood it"
thanx,
bill
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Post #115,630
8/27/03 9:25:38 PM
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Pretty easy.
1) Buy and install card in chassis. Like Boxley, I'd recommend a 3com card (3c905c is $31 from newegg.com).
2) Boot Windows.
3) Win will probably find the card and install the drivers that Win has for it.
4) Open Control Panel -> Network and Dialup Connections (under Win2k).
5) Double-click Local Area Connection.
6) Click the "Properties" button.
7) Highlight "Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)" (assuming it was already installed), hit "Properties" button.
8) Fill out the General tab as instructed by your ISP.
9) Hit the OK button. Hit the OK button.
That should be it.
Like others, and in agreement with my recent experience, I'd recommend downloading the latest driver from the manufacturer's site.
HTH.
Cheers,
Scott.
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Post #116,176
9/1/03 4:58:49 AM
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Re: Pretty easy. Agreed+
Agree sith Scott, but personally I'd go for any NE2000 compatible NIC card.
That tends to make the process very easy. 3Com can get funny re bus mastering.
I'll bet you though you have a few friends who could config a NIC card blindfold, perhaps even a few of the neibours kids :-)
Cheers
Doug Marker
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Post #116,199
9/1/03 10:36:43 AM
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he's outa dodge, working remote
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