Alabama's Public Liberal Arts University

Computer Services

Configuring a Windows 9X or ME PC
for the University Network

 

Introduction

Each room in the residence halls has one Ethernet network connection, usually (but not always) in the wall plate where the TV cable is located.  The network connection looks very much like a telephone connection, only a little larger. This connection is made available for students who wish to use the University’s network for high-speed Internet and e-mail services.

In order to take advantage of the University’s high-speed Internet connection in your room, you will need to install a 10/100BaseT Ethernet adapter in your computer.  Purchase, installation and configuration of this adapter, as well as the patch cable necessary for connecting it to the network connection, are your responsibility alone.

Ethernet adapters can be purchased at the University Bookstore and at most retail stores that sell computer hardware.  Some computer stores in the area will also perform the installation of these cards for a fee.  Neither Computer Services nor the Bookstore will install or support these products.  Computer Services will only be responsible for checking the network connection in the wall of your room, and verifying that the network signal is reaching that point of access.

What You Will Need
(For computers with wired network cards)

  • A PC running Windows 95, 98 or ME.
  • A 10/100BaseT ethernet adapter
  • The operating system CD that came with your PC
  • The installation disks that came with your ethernet adapter
  • A patch cable of sufficient length to reach from your PC to the network wall jack
  • Up to date antivirus software installed on your PC
  • If you wish to connect more than one PC in your room to the internet simultaneously, you will also need to install a hub or switch.  Computer Services strongly discourages the use of routers, however, as these devices, when improperly configured, can cause severe network disruptions.

Configuration Steps

Also, the following procedures  require that you make changes to the way Internet Explorer is configured on your computer.  If you have already configured Internet Explorer to access the Internet from another location, such as your home, following these instructions may render your original configuration inoperable.  In other words, if you set up your PC to access the Internet from school, you may not be able to connect at home without reconfiguring.

  1. Install your ethernet adapter by following the instructions that came with it.
  2. Connect your patch cable from the ethernet card to the wall jack.
  3. Open the Windows Control Panel (Start >Settings>Control Panel).
  4. Open the Network Control Panel
  5. Examine the list of installed network components.  If you see TCP/IP listed for your ethernet adapter, skip ahead to step 13.  Otherwise, proceed to step 6.
  6. If you do not see TCP/IP listed, you will need to add it.  Clock Add.
  7. Highlight Protocol and click Add.
  8. Under Manufacturers, select Microsoft, then TCP/IP under Network Protocols.
  9. Click OK.  TCP/IP should now appear on your list of installed network components.
  10. Windows will probably need to install files from your operating system CD.  If so, you will need to put your Windows CD in the CD drive, and type the path to your CD-ROM drive in the Copy Files From box.
  11. Click OK and Windows will begin copying the files it needs.
  12. When prompted, reboot your PC.
  13. You must now configure Internet Explorer to access the network.  Right click the Internet Explorer icon on your desktop, then choose Properties.
  14. In the Internet Explorer Properties window, click the Connections tab.
  15. On the Connections tab, click Setup.
  16. Click in the small circle next to I want to setup my Internet connection manually, or I want to connect through a local area network (LAN).
  17. Click Next.
  18. Click in the small circle next to I want to connect through a local area network (LAN), then choose Next.
  19. The next window will ask you about proxy server settings.  Just click Next.
  20. The next window will ask you if you want to set up and email account.  Select No and click Next.
  21. On the final screen, click Finish.

This concludes the network configuration steps for Windows 95/98/ME computers.  However, before you can access the internet, you will need to register your computer online using the student computer network registration process (NETREG).

Common Questions About NETREG

More information about NETREG

 

Last Revised October 2004