How do I reconnect a computer to my network?

[Rmcta]

I have cable for the internet and a friend connected my 2 computers to it.
One of the computers was having too many problems so we gave it to someone who re-built it.
I now need to reconnect it to the internet but don't know how to.
Can someone guide me?

This computer has Win2000 while the one I am trying to connect has Win 98.

When I click on MY Computer/Control Panel
I see:
Local Area Connection 3: connected
Local Area Connection 4: connected

What do I need to do to make my win98 connect?

 

[SirNuke]

For starters, you will have to get a more equipment. Every computer connected to the internet has an address called an IP address. There are certian ranges that can be used for free internally but cannot be used on the internet. Your ISP is only assigning one usable IP address. To over come this, you need a device called a router. Routers connect all of the computer networks in the world. They make decisions about how to go from one network to another. Routers can also 'hide' the free internal IP address with usable IP address in a process called Network Address Translation (NAT, sometimes called IP masquarding). You will need a router that supports NAT, along with some more cables. Just about any Linksys or Netgear wired home router will do the job. You may also want a wired switch (a switch connects computers on the same network). You will need a standard ethernet cable to connect from the cable modem/dsl (or whatever you have) to the router, another standard to the switch, and another for every host.

SirNuke (first 1014)

 

[ImpetusEra]

Actually modem to router and router to switch uses crossover cable assuming the router has a built in ethernet switch that you wish to expand with an external switch. Rather than buying a router you could connect through one computer that is directly connected to the cable modem but it would be better to purchase a router.

 

[Rmcta]

I am sorry I confused you both, there is already what I believe is already a little box EtherFast10/100
5-Port Workgroup Switch
And all the cables are connected and working.

The only problem here is that the second computer (not the cables going to the router) but just all the cables going into the computer were disconnected, the computer was re-built, now the cables have been re-connected but I need to configure the second computer to see the connection.
That is what I don't know how to do.
Can someone help me with that?

 

[ImpetusEra]

In otherwords you need to setup the TCP/IP settings? On your desktop should be Network Neighborhood. Right-click on it and go to properties. There will be a list of things and I forget the exact wording but one will be your ethernet adapter, you want the TCP/IP one, then click properties. By default "Obtain IP address automatically" should be checked off. If your system is not connecting to the internet or other computers than there is probably no DHCP server on the network. In which case you would need to select "Use the following IP address:". You'll need to put in an IP address within the same range as your other system and the same subnet. If your subnet on the other system is 255.255.255.0 than use it for this one also. If the IP is 192.168.50.3 then use 192.168.50.4. Basically same subnet but different last number for the IP. That will give you a LAN at the least but depending on how your internet connection ties in may or may not give you internet access. Most routers act as a DHCP server. If you have no router than other settings come into place such as default gateways and proxy servers.

 

[Rmcta]

Thank you ImpetusEra
I followed your instructions and when I click on the IP address tab I see that the Specify and IP Address is checked and below I read:
IP Address: 192.168.#.### (Not knowing if it is safe to publish the numbers I am replacing some digits with the # sign).
Subnet mask: 255.255.255.0

Now what else I need to do?

 

[Rmcta]

============================================
ABC(win2000)------rounter------XYZ(win98)
ABC is working ok: can access the internet
XYZ needs to be connected to the network
============================================

In my own computer (win2000) (let's call it ABC), when I click on My Network Places, computers near me, only my computer comes up. It does not see my win98 computer (xyz).
When I click on Entire Network, Search for computers, Computer name: XYZ it does not find it.
I checked the yellow cable that goes from the router to computer XYZ and it is properly connected.

In ABC I click: Network and Dial-up connection:
- Make New Connection
- Local Area Connection 3 - Status: connected
- Local Area Connection 4 - Status: connected

What else must I do in computer xyz so it can see the network?

 

[ImpetusEra]

That's a LAN address which does any hacker type person not much good so it is safe to publish the whole address. On your 2000 system if you right-click "My Network Places" and select properties. In that popup window there is "Advanced" in the menu bar. Select that and "Network Identification". That will bring up another window and select the "Properties" button. In there will be computer name which needs to have something. Also there will be Member of with a choice of domain or workgroup. Selct workgroup and assign it a name such as workgroup. On the 98 system your going to right-click Network Neighborhood and go to properties. Select the identification tab and assign a computer name that is different from the 2000 system. For the workgroup assign it the same thing that you put in for the 2000 system. So in short different names but same workgroup. Assuming they are addressed IP address within the same subnet then at this point they should show up in network neighborhood. There may be some more steps to actually share resources though.

 

[Rmcta]

I did not do anything in this case.

Here is what I see on the Win2000 system:
Computer name: abc
Member of
Workgroup: WORKGROUP

Here is what I see on the Win98 system:
Compuper name: xyz
Member of
workgroup: WORKGROUP

 

[jrbarnett]

On the 98 system, go to start menu and click run then enter WINIPCFG and click OK.
Check it is getting an IP address (ie it is not 0.0.0.0) and let us know what it is here. The 192.168 range are private ranges, and are hidden behind your router.

John

 

[Rmcta]

PPP Adapter.
Adapter Address: 44-45-53-54-00-00
IP Address:0.0.0.0
Subnet mask: 0.0.0.0

 

[Rmcta]

I found a section of this forum just for TCP/IP connections.
I have put a message there as well. I hope somebody can help me.
Thank you all for your efforts!

 

[ImpetusEra]

The PPP adapter is not the one we want to see. There should be a drop down list with more options. On the 2000 box go to run also and put in cmd. That will bring you to a prompt where you enter ipconfig. List those numbers also and we can determine if they are within the same network. The computers names will work and being in the same workgroup is good. It appears to either be an IP addressing issue or there may be a firewall in place.

 

[Rmcta]

Thank you ImpetusEra for not giving up on me.

On my win 2000 system, I click on Start, run: cmd
it brings me to Dos
I type: .. to go to the C prompt
Y type: ipconfig
I get: ipconfig is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or bathc file.

I go back to start, run
I type: ipconfig
A script seems to have run very quickly. I wasn't able to read anything.

In the win98 system, from the drop down box I pick:

3COM ETHERLINK PCI

Adapter Address: 00-04-75-AA-53-DA
IP Address: 192.168.1.101
Subnet mask: 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway: 192.168.1.1

 

[ImpetusEra]

Don't change anything on the dos screen. Just put in ipconfig in at the prompt that it comes up at.

 

[ImpetusEra]

or at the prompt do cd winnt\system32 and hit enter. Then do ipconfig, maybe you have bad path.

 

[Rmcta]

Am I to do that on my win 98 system or on my win2000 system which is currently working fine?

 

[Rmcta]

Microsoft Windows 2000 [Version 5.00.2195]
(C) Copyright 1985-2000 Microsoft Corp.

C:\Documents and Settings\Rama>ipconfig
'ipconfig' is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file.

C:\Documents and Settings\Rama>cd winnt\system32
The system cannot find the path specified.

C:\Documents and Settings\Rama>

In the Win98 System: I type ipconfig and it run a script very quickly and closed the window.

 

[jrbarnett]

On the Win98 system, go to start -> run and type COMMAND, click OK then at the prompt type IPCONFIG.

On the Win2K system try:
CD \WINNT\SYSTEM32 <RETURN>
then
IPCONFIG <RETURN>
--
If you are interested in finding out more about what these numbers mean and the effect that they have on the network, my website

http://www.jrbarnett.freeserve.co.uk/

has an introductory guide to TCP/IP available for free download, which I wrote.

John

 

[Rmcta]

Done!
Win 98 IP configuration

0 ETHERNET ADAPTER:
IP ADDRESS.............0.0.0.0
SUBNET MASK............0.0.0.0
DEFAULT GATEWAY........

1 ETHERNET ADAPTER:
IP ADDRESS.............192.168.1.101
SUBNET MASK............255.255.255.0
DEFAULT GATEWAY........192.168.1.1