Computer Help Pages of
Washington College
Chestertown, MD 21620
Created on:
July 10, 1999
Created By:
A.K., J.B., L.D.S., J.J.
Last updated:
August 11, 2000
email us:
helpdesk@washcoll.edu
Setting up the
Network Connection
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BEFORE STARTING YOU NEED TO HAVE AN ETHERNET CARD INSTALLED IN YOUR COMPUTER AND AN RJ-45 ETHERNET CABLE TO CONNECT FROM YOUR COMPUTER TO THE ETHERNET JACK IN THE WALL OF YOUR ROOM. ETHERNET CABLES ARE AVAILABLE IN THE BOOKSTORE . DO NOT TOUCH THE ENDS OF THE RJ-45 ETHERNET CABLE. THE STATIC ELECTRICITY GENERATED BY WALKING ACROSS A CARPET CAN BE ENOUGH TO SEVERELY DAMAGE THE CABLE OR COMPUTER. |
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Locate the blue or black jacks for Ethernet in your room. (Blue or black is for data, i.e. computers, while white or ivory is for telephones.) It may be that only one jack in your room is activated, so if the first one you try does not work, try the other. Look for a little green or amber light on the back of your computer where the cable is attached and the computer is turned on. Most internet cards have this light. If the light is on, that means the computer "sees" the network. If neither of your jacks is activated, please call ext. 7777 to report this problem. |
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Make sure the RJ 45 ethernet cable is connected properly. The cable is similar to telephone wire, but the plug is wider than a telephone plug. It should be plugged into the blue or black wall jack. |
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Click on the Start menu, highlight the Settings arrow, and click on "Control Panels". |
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Double-Click on the icon for Network. |
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Scroll the menu and highlight "TCP/IP -> 3Com Ethernet Card" (or your brand of card). DO NOT select any option with the words "DIAL UP" in it. Now click the "Properties" tab. (In some Win 95 computers, you may need to Add TCP/IP.) |
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Click the "Wins Configuration" tab. Be sure that "Disable Wins Resolution" is selected. If there is no dark dot in Disable Wins Resolution, then click on it. |
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Click on the "IP Address" tab, and click on "Obtain IP Address Automatically". |
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Click "Ok". |
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Restart the computer, and your Ethernet network is ready to go! |
Be sure to test your connection by trying your e-mail and internet browser.