Networking a Personal Computer

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• INSTALLING HARDWARE:

  1. Verify what kind of network interface or “NIC” card you have.  There are two kinds of NIC cards available depending on the type of PC you have.  PCs today usually have 4 PCI slots and 3 ISA slots.  PCI NIC cards are preferable because they use a 32-bit interface, whereas an ISA NIC card uses 16-bit.  PCI NIC cards are usually easier to install, too.

  2. If you have not done so, turn off the PC and unplug it from its power source.  Next, remove the PC’s cover and find an open slot for your NIC card.  You may need to remove a metal piece covering the opening for the selected slot.  Be sure the NIC card is completely inserted and bolted to the back plane of the PC case.  Place the cover back on the PC and plug it back into its power source.

• INSTALLING SOFTWARE:

  1. Turn on the PC.  During its startup process, the PC will recognize that there is a new device to be found.  A device driver dialog box will display asking for the location of the device driver for the NIC card.  Some NIC cards use drivers found on the Windows 95/98 CD.  The NIC card manufacturer may have supplied a floppy disk or CD.  Place the manufacturer’s floppy disk or CD in the corresponding drive, or the Windows 95/98 CD in the CD-ROM drive.   Click the [Next] button and the appropriate drivers will install.  Click the [Finish] button when prompted.  A dialog box will display asking you to reboot the PC now.  Click the [Restart] button now.

  2. After the PC has rebooted, double click the “My Computer” icon.  Now find and double click the “Control Panel” icon.  Finally, double click the “Network” icon.  A dialog box will display with three tabs: “Configuration”, “Identification”, and “Access Control”.  You will need the following four components installed in the Configuration tab order to establish Windows networking:

     • Client for Microsoft Networks

     • (Ethernet) Card Adapter

     • NetBEUI or TCP/IP Protocol 

     • File and printer sharing for Microsoft Networks Service

       

  3. Adding a network client, adapter, protocol, or service:

     1. Click the [Add…] button and select a component category from the list.  Click the [Add…] button and select “Microsoft” from the list of manufacturers and the desired component from the list of components.

     2. If using TCP/IP protocol you also set the IP address of the PC by selecting [Properties]:
        
         

     3. After all the necessary components have been added, click [Cancel] to return to the “Configuration” tab.

  4. Click the “Identification” tab and enter the computer name, workgroup name, and optional computer description.  All the PCs must have a unique computer name; the workgroup name must be the same for all the networked PCs.  The description is optional.

  5. Select “Client for Microsoft Networks” and click the [Properties] button.  If you are attaching the PC to a Windows NT network, check the “Log on to Windows NT domain” box and enter the domain name in the box below it.

  6. Check the “Quick Logon” box for faster startup.

  7. Click [File and print sharing…] and click the [Properties] button. Check both displayed boxes and click the [OK] button.

  8. Now click the [OK] button at the bottom of the dialog box.  The PC will ask for the Windows 95/98 CD and it will install all the necessary components for networking.

  9. A dialog box will display requiring you to reboot the PC.  Click the [Restart] button.

  10. Once the PC has rebooted, you will be prompted to enter a user logon name and an optional password.  Enter your user name and click the [OK] button to continue with the startup process.  You will now have access to the Windows network.