advice needed on getting internet going on old computer

[hotspur (Chris)]

HI

My kids have old computer(approx five years old)it runs XP,its a bit of an old bomb,we got given it,but it seems to work well considering how old it is.

We have been given an ether net card,i pulled computer apart on conected it,then to router,got green lights on all the correct port hole.

Now,what do i do to get its insides all hook up right?i know there is a process to go through to activate it,can someone tell me where to start,
and get it all going,i think i have done the hardest bit.

Thanks Chris

[mithrandir (Andrew)]

When you fired it up did XP say anything about installing drivers? If not the drivers for card were either installed before you got the PC, or it is a type that XP knows about. If it did ask, did you get a disk with the card? If not you'll need to identify the ethernet card type and download the drivers from the internet on another PC.

To connect multiple PCs you need a hub or switch. Most routers these days have several hub/switch ports so you don't need that extra bit of hardware.

You mentioned a router. Is it really a router or a modem? A router will have your internet configuration set up on it and supply addresses to your computers using NAT and DHCP. It may have ports to plug in more than one PC. In that case all you should need to do is tell XP to get an IP address using DHCP.

I'm not going to try explaining how to set up a modem, hub/switch, and internet connection sharing. The M$ wizard will walk you through the process. I've never used ICS becase I don't run Windoze. I bought Mum a router because it is simpler to set up and generally more reliable.

[bobson (Bob)]

Start-->Settings-->Network Connections
Do you see your Network card there? Make sure its "Enabled"

bob

[hotspur (Chris)]

Thanks for the replies,i posted question on another site

it appears all i needed to do was do the ISP bit,we have those details so,seems it was only a small issue to get it going.

regards Chris