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Install, configure, and troubleshoot
network adapters.
A network adapter (sometimes called a
network interface card, or NIC) is a
hardware card installed in a computer so it
can communicate on a network. The network
adapter provides one or more ports for the
network cable to connect to, and it
transmits and receives data onto the network
cable.
Every networked computer must also have a
network adapter driver, which controls the
network adapter. Each network adapter driver
is configured to run with a certain type of
network adapter.
A networked computer must also have one or
more protocol drivers (sometimes called a
transport protocol or just a protocol). The
protocol driver works between the
upper-level network software and the network
adapter to package data to be sent on the
network.
In most cases, for two computers to
communicate on a network, they must use
identical protocols. Sometimes, a computer
is configured to use multiple protocols. In
this case, two computers need only one
protocol in common to communicate. For
example, a computer running File and Printer
Sharing for Microsoft Networks that uses
both NetBEUI and TCP/IP can communicate with
computers using only NetBEUI or TCP/IP.
To add a network component
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Open Network and Dial-up Connections.
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Right-click the connection to which you
want to add a network component, and
then click Properties. Do one of the
following: If this is a local area
connection, click Install. If this is a
dial-up, VPN, or incoming connection, on
the Networking tab, click Install.
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In the Select Network Component Type
dialog box, click either Client,
Service, or Protocol, and then click
Add.
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Do one of the following: If you do not
have an installation disk for the
component, click the appropriate client,
service, or protocol, and then click OK.
If you have an installation disk for the
component, click the appropriate client,
service, or protocol, click Have Disk,
insert the installation disk into the
selected drive, and then click OK.
The most common network adapter problems are
interrupt conflict and transceiver setting.
Things to Check:
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Do the setting on the card match the
setting in the network software you
using
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Is there a conflict between IRQ's
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Is there an I/O address conflict
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Is there a memory conflict
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Is the cable attached securely
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Is the adapter card set to the correct
speed setting for the network
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