Setting up Windows 95/98/ME for University Condos

Step 1: Reaching the Control Panel
Click on the Start button and then Settings and then Control Panel. See figure A.

Figure A

Step 2: Getting to the Network...
When the Control Panel screen appears, find the Network Icon and double click it. See figure B.

Figure B

Step 3: What to do next?
After double-clicking the Network icon, you should see a screen similar to figure C.

Figure C

At this point, you may be in one of many situations.

The screen above looks similar with differences only in the type of Network Adapter shown. OR
HELP!!! I only have my Network Adapter in the box!!! In which case skip ahead one paragraph.

Let’s first quickly address the rest of you. Many of you who brought their computers from home will no doubt see a couple of extra things. For all of you who used some sort of ISP (Internet Service Provider) to dial in and connect to the internet, you should have two extra things. Dial-Up Adapter and TCP/IP -> Dial Up Adapter. See figure D. Having the extra items should not effect the way in which you set up your system for University Condos. Therefore it is suggest leaving all the settings for anything related to the Dial Up Adapter alone or write them down first. Now it's time to join the others who had nothing in their box and get things going.

Figure D.

Step 4: Setting up TCP/IP and Client for Microsoft Windows
These next few steps are for people with a box looking like Figure E

Figure E

Click on the Add button and on the screen which follows, click on Protocol. See Figure F.

Figure F

At the next box, go down the left half to Microsoft and click on it once. On the right half, scroll down to the last item which says TCP/IP and click OK. See Figure G.

Figure G

At this point you should be returned back to the Network Configuration screen and it should look similar to Figure C. Also, you should have Client for Microsoft Networks show up as well. If Client for Microsoft Networks did not show up (it does in Windows '98), then do the following. Otherwise skip to step 5.

Click Add once again. See Figure E. This time instead of clicking on Protocol, click on Client. See Figure H.

Figure H

At the next box, in the left half go down and click Microsoft, and in the right side select Microsoft Client for Networks. (If you are using Windows 98, you may also want to add Microsoft Family Logon.) See Figure I.

Figure I

Step 5: Proper Identification is key to getting in Control...
The next step will be to give your computer an identification which is different than any other computer on the University Condos network. Since every single person in residence could be using their computer on the network, it is very important to be able to tell them apart. The way this is done is by giving your computer a name which will not change and will uniquely identify your system. To do this, start by clicking Identification tab from Network Settings. See Figure J.

Figure J

Proceed by filling in the information. NOTE: For computer name, you may enter whatever you wish, but as a convention it is often writtin PC-yourname where yourname is your mail login ID. This way, even if every single person uses the network, it is guranteed that each computer will be uniquely identified since every person has their own mail login IDs.  The Workgroup can be anything you like. It is suggested that you enter your Residence name. And you can put anything you want in the Computer Description.

Once you complete filling out the Identification tab, go over to the Access Control tab and click it once. If it doesn't, make it look like Figure K.

Figure K

Step 6: Setting up TCP/IP for DHCP...
The next thing that we need to do is setup how your computer will talk to the rest of the University Condos network. From the main screen double-click on TCP/IP or click once on TCP/IP and then click properties. You should see a dialog box like Figure L. If you have more than one TCP/IP selection choose the one for your network card and NOT the one which says TCP/IP -> Dial-Up Adapter.

Figure L

If your computer does not have the "Obtain an IP address automatically" checked, then check it of. Next click the WINS Configuration tab. You should next see Figure M.

Figure M

Click on the "Use DHCP for WINS Resolution" option if it isn't allready done so. Next click on the Gateway tab at the top. Your screen should change to Figure N.

Figure N

If there are any numbers in the "Installed gateways" box, please click each one and hit remove. Lastly, click on the DNS tab at the top. Your screen should look like Figure O.

Figure O

Click on the "Disable DNS" checkbox and hit OK!

CAUTION: For your access to work properly it is CRUCIAL that Figures M, N, and O be exactly as they are shown. If not you could face problems. Finally hit OK at the main screen (Figure C) and supply your Windows '95/'98 CD if needed. When the computer asks to reboot, say yes.

Congratulations... your network connection should be set up and functioning with no problems. Good luck and have fun!!!