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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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