Home Network

[IANUK]

Bit new to networking but Bought a Belkin home network kit with 2 pci cards 2 cat5 cables & a 5 port switch , my question after I connect up all the hardware & drivers , do I have to use the Belkin software that comes with it or can I just use the Network set up wizard , I plan to set the first one on XP pc then use the Xp cd with the perform additional tasks option on my ME pc , this seems quicker than the Belkin set up , sorry if this sound vague but this is my first setup & secondly will this method also give you internet sharing option on my dial up connection .

IANUK

[classicsoftware]

I would follow the instructions in the network setup kit provided by belkin if you are new to networking. If you are experienced, you need neither.

[CuratoR]

If its connecting two pcs only, atleast one nic on each pc and a cross-over CAT5 UTP cable is enough. Its not overkill to have a switch though or perhaps it is ;). I don't know whats included in the Belkin software. Its probably something to configure the switch, like assigning satic ip to ports and stuff like that.

In your case, setting the network manually is not a hard thing to do. Its just about making sure that
client for microsoft networks,
file and printer sharing for microsoft networks,
tcp/ip is installed on both pcs lan connections
and they are configured to share a common workgroup
and both of the pcs are given unique IP addresses within the same subnet mask.
For the internet connection sharing, you can enable ICS on the dialup connection in XP and configure tcp/ip properties in ME to use XPs IP as the gateway & the dns server.

There are many ways to acheive what you want. I jut pointed one. And there are other issues that need to addressed when sharing files betn XP & ME.
Let us know if you want further help

[IANUK]

Installed it through Network wizard & have got files & printing working ok , will get the internet sharing later , however there seems to be a problem on the pc that has ME , it often locks up when accessing programs & when you restart your pc it takes an eternity to boot up , if I take out the network connector it boots no problem .


IANUK

[classicsoftware]

This is probably an IRQ problem or a network configuation problem. Can I ask a silly question.

You admit to being new to networking, you ask for help, don't follow the advice you are given and now yoiu want more advice to ignore?

If you do not understand networking, use the installarion tools provided by the manuifacturer of the product you purchased. There will be help screens available that will explain each step and tech support available if things go wrong.

I do networks in my sleep. But when I started, I followed the directions. You should do the same.

That being said the most likely cause is an IRQ conflict problem.

[IANUK]

Did not mean to offend mate & did not ignore your advice , what I should have added was I did use the Belkin software but it would not let me install it on the 2nd pc message saying more than one adapter on this pc use Netork control panel , which complicated things , any advice I ever had on this forum has been taken very seriously & would not waste peoples time .

IANUK

[classicsoftware]

Please post all information. Not offended, just a little frustrated.

The probably means you already have an on-board NIC or a PCI nic in that computer. Please post everything listed under Network Adapters in the Device Manager.
Let's start there.

[IANUK]

Fitted my desktop pc with pci card/desktop network pci card installed the drivers also under Network Adapters on that pc is Dial up adapter .

On my Laptop it already had a 1394 net adapter , mac bridge miniport & real rtl8139/810x family pci fast eathernet nic ,

At first I tried the Belkin software install on the desktop after I installed the drivers , everything was ok up to that point .

Ithen tried to install the Belkin software on laptop & message came on as More than 1 adapter installed thats the point where I lost it & tried the Network Wizard method which has worked but the desktop system takes ages to boot up & certain progs stall.If you unplug the connector all boots up at normal speed.The laptop has no problems.

I have been through device manager & system info ect & no IRQ problems are showing up .

Thanks IANUK

[classicsoftware]

Lets take the laptop first.

Plug the Cat 5 cable into the hub and the on board ethernet card. Please note which port number you are plugging this into. Boot up the computer. The light on the front of the switch should light up indicating a solid communications link netween the hub and the NIC.

Post back with results.

[IANUK]

plugged in lights light up Port2

[classicsoftware]

Now lets move on to the desktop

Uninstall the network card in device manager.
Locate the driver on the CD from belkin
Shut the computer off
Open the case and remove NIC.
put it in a different slot
re-boot CD and allow Windoze to detect card.
Install Driver.
Connect the cable as in the above post to a different slot on the switch
report reults.

[IANUK]

Seems to have done the trick mate windows boots up at normal speed & both pc's are recognising each other , sometimes locks when on internet & try to use file access at the same time but that is not a problem , I did notice before I did what you asked that in the configuration settings in network some of the settings were in twice , anyway thanks a lot mate you have the patience of a saint ;) My hardware side of pc' is ok passed A+ core 2 weeks ago will be taking OS in 2weeks will have to dig deep on networking .

Cheers IANUK

[classicsoftware]

Glad you were able to resolve it......