Configuring a Windows 2000 or XP 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 2000 or Windows XP.
• 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

Please note that the following steps are based on generic configurations of Windows 2000 and Windows XP.  The steps you will need to follow to configure your PC may vary, depending on how you have configured it.

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. If necessary, 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. Right click the Internet Explorer icon on your desktop, then choose Properties.
4. In the Internet Explorer Properties window, click the Connections tab.
5. On the Connections tab, click Setup.
6. Click in the small circle next to Connect to the internet so you can browse the web and ready email.
7. Click Next.
8. Click in the small circle next to Setup my connection manually, then choose Next.
9. Click in the small circle next to Connect using a broadband connection that is always on, then click Next.
10. On the final screen, click Finish.

This concludes the network configuration steps for Windows 2000 and Windows XP 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 January 2004