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April 15th, 2004 23:00
10 BASE-T Network Interface Card (Ethernet NIC)
I have an XPS T500. I want to join the rest of the world and get rid of my dial-up. The fine print from my ISP [AT&T] indicates that before I can switch to DSL I need to install a 10 BASE-T Network Interface Card (Ethernet NIC). [As far a I can tell my machine does not have an ethernet card.]
I'm no whiz, but I did install my SCSI and added a CD burner to my system [i.e., I'm not helpless].
Are these NICs difficult to install? Expensive? Any particular kind I should look for? Are they readily available?
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volcano11
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April 15th, 2004 23:00
It would probably be difficult these days to find a true 10baseT ethernet adapter, but 10/100 ethernet adapters will work just as well. You can find these at places like CompUSA, BestBuy, Office Depot, Circuit City, or Office Max for less than $10 after rebate. Just about any brand will work. An ehternt adapter is a PCI card that installs easily in one of the empty PCI slots in your computer. After the card is physically installed, you will load drivers supplied with the card, and be happily connecting to broadband internet in about 10 minutes.
Steve
dg27
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April 15th, 2004 23:00
dg27
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June 12th, 2004 18:00
XPS T500, Win98:
I bought a Linksys EtherFast PCI Adapter because I'll be going DSL hopefully this week [waiting for the install kit].
Installing the adapter itself was straightforward and my system recognizes that it's there.
However, when I had the LinkSys install CD in my drive and was trying to install the software, it was asking for the driver and advising that I insert my Windows 98 CD. Can this be right? Shouldn't it be right on the LinkSys disc?
[I was really fearful that if I put the Win98 disc in it would start installing the OS on top of my present install--don't know if this fear is warranted, but sure didn't want to find out the hard way!!]
_Paladin
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June 12th, 2004 23:00
dg27,
The request for the Win98 CD is normal. Once the driver for the ethernet adapter is installed the operating system has to load the files to support networking. It's all quite normal. Nothing to be concerned about.
dg27
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June 13th, 2004 20:00
Paladin: Thanks for clarifying. I loaded the drivers from the Win98 CD [as you implied, the system asked for and got them very quickly]. Looks like I'm good to go as far the DSL is concerned--just waiting for the kit from the ISP [AT&T].--David