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Adjust the Network Configuration for Windows95/98/ME

This page is only for Windows 95/98/ME !
( there is a different procedure for Windows 2000 and Windows XP )

You should have now on your desktop the icon for the "Network Neighborhood":

Right-click on "Network Neighborhood" and select
from the context/pop-up menu "Properties" to display
the Network Configuration
or via the applet "Network" in the "Control-Panel:

Depending on your Windows version, different items will be shown in the Network Configuration:

Windows95:

(to get all entries listed, I copy/pasted all entries into one
graphic, you would have to scroll to see all of them)
On Windows95, the installation of a Network
card would also install:
- "Client for Netware Networks"
- IPX/SPX compatible Protocol
- NetBEUI protocol

Windows98 or ME:

Starting with Windows98, only the
"Client for Microsoft Networks" and the
TCP/IP protocol will be installed.

This requires now some clean-up.
If you like to know a little more about the "Why", have a look at Network Basics, explaining
the flow of information and the logical connection between the components.

Note: There is no need to be concerned about making mistakes in the Network Configuration:
	if you made a mistake and deleted too much (or you think you make a mistake), just exit the Network Configuration by selecting "Cancel": then none for your changes made since calling up the Network Configuration will be stored ! This allows to start again to make modifications.
	If you like, you can start all-over again: - select the PCI-network card and click on the button "Remove" to delete it. Then exit the Network Configuration by selecting "OK". You will be prompted to reboot, and when you reboot, Windows will detect again the network card allowing you to start again the configuration.

A word on the network protocols and its usage on Network adapters:

Have a look at the lines for Protocol:

Sometime protocols are listed multiple times,
with the "arrow ->" to different adapters:

It shows you, which protocol will be used
with the different network adapters.
(this is called a "Binding")

In the example on the left, I am communicating
both on the dial-up adapter (my modem to
connect to the Internet) and on the local
network with TCP/IP.

In case I decide to communicate only to
the Internet with TCP/IP, but with NetBEUI
on the local network, I simply "Add"
the "Protocol" "NetBEUI" provided by the
manufacturer "Microsoft"

	When adding a protocol, Windows assumes that you like to use it to communicate on all defined network adapters. Select now the un-wanted combinations (in my example: NetBEUI on the Dialup- adapter and TCP/IP on the LAN) and "Remove" them
	This system is now configured to communicate on the Dial-Up Adapter (to the Internet) using TCP/IP-protocol and on the local network (using the PCI Ethernet card) using NetBEUI protocol.

Lets adjust the Network configuration to our needs:

1) Delete everything, which is NOT required

	You have a Home network (or a company network) without a Novell-Netware server ? no need for the "Client for Netware Networks", select it (single click) and "Remove " it
	You had previously decided on the Network Protocol(s) to be used ? for the protocols NOT required (or the "Bindings" = Combination of protocol to Network Adapter not required), select the line listing the protocol and "Remove" them. (example: a home network without a Novell-server and no need to use IPX/SPX due to games, so I am deleting it)

2) Configure the protocols

NetBEUI:	Nothing to configure
IPX/SPX compatible	On a network WITHOUT a server , you need to define the Frame-Type
TCP/IP	I hope , that you first had a look at TCP/IP basics, so that you know what you are now configuring: usually just the IP-address, as you should have defined it already

There is usually no need to configure
TCP/IP for a Dial-Up Adapter, the default
values work for most connections (unless
otherwise requested by your Internet Provider)

Select the TCP/IP for your PCI-Ethernet card,
and ask for the "Properties":
On the tab: "IP-address" , by default your
system is configured to "obtain an IP-address
automatically" (via a DHCP-server or
Windows98 Auto-IP configuration).
Select to "Specify an IP-address" and
enter your IP-address (usually: 192.168.1.1 or
192.168.1.2 or 192.168.1.3 or....),
then define as "Subnet Mask" : 255.255.255.0.

For a simple home-network, that is all what is
required (Windows98SE/ME Internet Connection
Sharing ICS will require later more work).

tap: IP-address : "Obtain an IP address automatically"

3) Activate File and Print Sharing

By default, Windows only install the network
components to allow your system to connect
to a network to access data/files and printers
on other computers.

But since you purchase a network to
exchange data between multiple systems,
you need now to configure this system to
allow other systems to get to the data on
your disk and to print on your printer:

click on "File and Print Sharing", select
to give access to your files and to your
printer.

Note:
even if "File and Print Sharing" is installed,
no permission has yet been given to access
anything on your system !

You will need in a later step to give permissions
for other systems to access your system
(you will need to "Share" )

4) Select your "Primary Network Logon"

You will need later to Logon to the network:
to identify yourself.
Please, select as "Primary Network Logon"
to use the "Client for Microsoft Networks"

5) Define the names for the computer and workgroup

You have decided already on the
name for your computer and for your workgroup.
(you may have been prompted already
after the first reboot to define these names).

Select in the Network configuration the tab: "Identification" and enter your
"Computer name"
(MUST be UNIQUE on the network)
and your "Workgroup" name
(MUST the IDENTICAL on all systems)

just to cover the Network applet completely:

tab : "Access Control"

Windows 95/98/ME is only offers limited security,
one of the limitations is that you can only use
"Share-level access control" when later
sharing a disk, folder or printer
("User-level access control" is only
available , if there is either an NT-system
or Novell Netware server on the network,
from which Windows can borrow a
real User-Database).

6) Default Protocol

I strongly advise to use on the local network only 1 protocol.
However if you have to use 2 (or even 3) protocols, you need to tell the system, which
is the default protocol, which needs to be defined on ALL systems as the Default protocol.

	Select the main protocol communicating via the network card, and display the "Properties". Select on the "Property" page of the protocol the tab: "Advanced" and then place the checkmark on "Set this protocol to be the default protocol". You do that ONLY on ONE protocol, and it must be the same on all systems.

Once everything is configured, select "OK" to close the Network applet.
Any change to the network will require a restart :

Next Step:

Test the Network Connection