Computing & Information Services

Using Windows 98 at Reed

Attention: This page is no longer supported by CUS, and is archived for your convenience only.

These instructions were written specifically for Windows 98 Second Edition. Although the user interface varies slightly, all the information you need to configure and use Windows 95 and ME is here. If you get stuck at any point, call CUS (Ex. 7525) for help.

Accessing the Internet and Connecting to Reed's Network

Plug your computer into an Ethernet jack (it's right next to the phone jack on your wall) using a cat 5 Ethernet cable. Don't use a phone cord! The Ethernet cable goes in the only port on your computer wide enough for it.

Both the port on your computer and the port on the wall look like the jack into which a telephone cord plugs, only a bit larger.

Checking for Network Components

  1. Click the Start Menu, select Settings, then Control Panel.
  2. Double-click on the Network icon. This opens the Network Control Panel.
  3. Under The following network components are installed you should see three items: a network adapter for your network card, a TCP/IP protocol (perhaps pointing to your network card), and Client for Microsoft Networks. You may see other items as well.

If any of the three are missing, continue on to the next section.

If all three components are installed, skip to the section "Configuring your Network Components".

Adding Network Components

In order to add network components, you may need your Windows operating system CD. If you are adding a network adapter you may also need the disk or CD that came with your network card.

Adding a Network Adapter

If you are certain you have a network card installed, but have no network adapter listed, follow these instructions.

  1. From the Start menu, scroll up to Settings, then select Control Panel. Double-click on Network.
  2. Click Add, select Adapter, then click Add.
  3. Under Manufacturers select the manufacturer of your network card, then select the exact model of your network card from the list of Network Adapters. If your specific card is not listed, click Have Disk, insert the disk or CD that came with your Ethernet card, select the location to copy manufacturer’s files from, click OK.
  4. Click OK.

If you do not need to add other network components skip to the section Completing Network Component Installation.

Adding the TCP/IP Network Protocol
  1. Open the Network Control Panel by clicking Start menu > Settings > Control Panel > Network.
  2. Click Add, select Protocol, then click Add.
  3. Under Manufacturers, select Microsoft.
  4. Under Network Protocols, select TCP/IP.
  5. Click OK.

If you do not need to add other network components skip to the section Completing Network Component Installation.

Adding Client for Microsoft Networks
  1. Open the Network Control Panel by clicking Start menu > Settings > Control Panel > Network.
  2. Click Add, select Client, then click Add.
  3. Under Manufacturers, select Microsoft.
  4. From Network Clients, select Client for Microsoft Networks.
  5. Click OK.
Completing Network Component Installation
  1. Click OK to close the Network Control Panel. If asked for your Windows CD, follow the on-screen instructions.
  2. If prompted, restart your computer.

All three components are now installed. You are ready to configure your network components.

Configuring Your Network Components
  1. Open the Network Control Panel by going to the Start menu, selecting Settings, then Control Panel, then Network.
  2. From the installed network components, select TCP/IP, then click Properties.
  3. Click on the IP address tab. Select Obtain an IP address automatically.
  4. Click on the DNS Configuration tab. Select Disable DNS.
  5. Click on the Gateway tab. Select any installed gateways and click Remove.
  6. Click on the WINS Configuration tab. Select Use DHCP for WINS Resolution.
  7. Leave the Bindings, NetBIOS, and Advanced tabs alone.
  8. Click OK to close the TCP/IP properties windows.
  9. Make sure Client for Microsoft Networks is selected as the Primary Network Logon in the main Network window.
  10. Click the Identification tab.
  11. For Computer Name, type a name for your computer. Select a unique name, remembering that others on the network can see your computer's name.
  12. For Workgroup, type Reed.
  13. Click OK.

If you have made any changes, you must restart your computer.

Your Windows Network Login

In order to access Reed’s networked services you must give specific network logon information to Windows. When you have set the Client for Microsoft Networks as your primary network logon, you will be prompted to enter a User name and Password in the Enter Network Password dialog box at Windows startup.

  1. For User Name, type your Reed network username. This is usually the first seven letters of your last name and the first letter of your first name. For example, Rosa Lindsay would type lindsayr for User Name. Your username must be entered in lower case.
  2. Leave the Password field blank.
  3. Click OK to log onto Windows. You do want to disable DNS so that your computer gets its information dynamically from Reed’s computers.
Installing the Registry Patch

The final step in configuring your computer to access Reed’s network is to install a registry patch. Right-click on the link and save it to your computer.

  1. Click on the Win98_PlainTextPassword.reg file above and save it to a location on your computer such as the Desktop.
  2. Click Close when the download is complete.
  3. Double-click on the downloaded file to install it.
  4. Click Yes to add the registry information.
  5. Click OK, then restart your computer.

Once the registry patch has been installed, you can delete the original registry patch file you downloaded.

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Accessing Reed's Network Services and Servers

We describe the most common steps for accessing Reed’s Servers. Depending on your exact Windows setup and your particular connection to Reed’s network you may need to do a bit of extra navigation to find the servers.

  1. Log onto your computer using your Reed network username.
  2. Double-click on Neighborhood Network on the Desktop.
  3. Double-click on Entire Network. The Servers group contains Reed’s various networked services.
  4. Double-click on the Servers group to open it.
  5. Double-click on a particular server to access the service associated with it.
  6. In the Enter Network Password dialog box enter your Reed network password. Do not allow the computer to remember this password.
  7. Click OK.
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Disconnecting From Network Servers

After you’re finished with a server you can disconnect from it by going to the Start menu and choosing Log Off or by restarting the computer. This keeps the network speedy. It also keeps both your computer and personal work more secure. You’ll need the registry patch to see Reed’s server network, but your web browser should work just fine without it.

Setting Up Network Printer

There are two steps to printing to a networked printer: supplying your network password to the printing system and setting up a printer.

Setting Up a Printer

You can configure your computer to print to as many printers as you want. Simply follow these instructions for each printer. You only need to set up each printer once. Once the printer has been set up, it will appear on the list of printers in the print dialog of any program from which you want to print.

  1. In Network Neighborhood open the Servers group.
  2. Double-click on a group of printers.
  3. Double-click on the specific printer to which you want to print.
  4. Click Yes to set up the printer. This opens the Add Printer Wizard.
  5. Click No unless you print from MS-DOS based programs, then click Next. Most people do not print from MS-DOS programs. If you’re not sure whether or not this is something you do, chances are that you do not.
  6. Under Manufacturers select the printer’s manufacturer, and under Printers select the exact model. The IRC printers are the HP LaserJet 4100 model. If you do not see the model printer you are trying to set up (notably some of the older Apple printers) please contact your dorm T-watcher or CUS for help in selecting the right driver for the printer.
  7. Type a name for the printer. Select something that will help you identify the printer, click Next, then click Finish. If asked to insert your Windows CD, follow the instructions on your screen.

You have successfully set up a printer. When you restart your computer, the next time you print from within an application, you will be prompted for your network password. After entering your password, printing should proceed smoothly. You may need your Windows CD in order to set up your computer to print to a networked printer.

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