• Microsoft Vista Home Networking Setup and Options
The most daunting part of upgrading to Windows Vista may be trying to figure out where in the layers of menus the networking and file-sharing options are hidden.
• Tips for Securing Your Home Router
Seemingly minor and easily overlooked settings can still have profound security implications. Here are some steps you can take to make sure your wired or wireless home router — and by extension, your network — is as secure as possible.
Most Popular Reviews
• Microsoft Windows Home Server
If you have a home network, you'll welcome the easy file sharing, remote access and the image-based backup features of Windows Home Server.
• Iomega StorCenter Network Hard Drive
Iomega's fourth generation StorCenter Network Hard Drive brings many of the features found in higher-end storage devices down to an attractive price.
• MikroTik's The Dude
This free tool delivers many of the same capabilities that you'd find in pricey network monitoring tools. As long as you don't mind tinkering, The Dude is a decent network utility that should be worth the download.
Problems with Network
Cards
You’ve installed a network card (also known as a network interface card, network
adapter, NIC; if you're strictly using a wired Ethernet network, they're also
know as an Ethernet card or Ethernet adapter), and it doesn’t seem to work at
all. The computer can’t communicate with the network in any way. Here are some
possible solutions.
Install the Right Driver
Program
All major network card manufacturers have Web sites where you can go to download
driver programs. Download and install the latest version for each network
card, making sure that it supports the version of Windows that the computer
is running. If there’s no Windows XP driver, try the Windows 2000 driver.
Try a Different Slot
Un-install the network card in Device Manager, power down the computer, remove
the card, insert it in a different slot, and reboot. Let Windows detect the
card and install the driver program. On motherboards with an AGP graphics
slot, the top-most PCI slot can be unsuitable for use by a NIC.
Specify Explicit Speed and Duplex Settings
By default, network cards are configured to automatically detect the proper
speed and duplex settings. This automatic sensing can fail, preventing the
computer from accessing the network.
In Windows XP, right click the network connection and click Properties
| Configure | Advanced. In Windows 95/98/Me, go to Control
Panel | Network, double click the network adapter, and click Advanced. The
name of the appropriate setting depends on the particular network card. Specify
explicit speed and duplex settings that work on your network. Most switches
and hardware routers use 100 Mb, full duplex. Hubs use half duplex. Here’s
an example, showing how to configure an SMC 1211TX network card that’s connected
to a switch.
