What Is Ethernet | Tools You Need | Hardware and Software | NIC Installation | Choose Protocols | Address & TCP/IP

Tools You Need

 For Windows networking you are going to have to open up your computers and do stuff to their insides.  Before you do this, you will need:

Required:
 

• Phillips head screwdriver (tip looks like a four-pointed star)
• Grounding strap (Any flexible conducting material will do -- you can buy a grounding strap or improvise one.  I use braided electric fence wire for mine.  A wire with insulator on it will NOT work.)


Optional (will make life MUCH easier):

• Phillips head screwdriver with magnetized tip
• Flat blade screwdriver
• Needle nose pliers
• Internet connection
• Bright lighting
• Magnifying glass
• Fabric softener
• DOS boot disk
• Notepad and pen or pencil


Easy Way to Set Up an Ethernet Network on Windows Computers

Before buying an Ethernet NIC, you should first open the case of your computer to see what card slots are available.  This is where you will need these tools.

Watch out!  You can kill your computer when you start messing with its insides!  This is because it uses CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor) chips.  These chips are wonderful because they draw little power.  But the price we pay for our computers not being hot enough to roast hot dogs is that CMOS dies if you zap it with static electricity. 

Have you ever noticed how in dry weather you can slide your feet along the carpet or wooden floor and then touch a door knob or little sister and ZAP!!! A spark of electricity flies off your finger.  Do this to a computer chip or card and it is really unhappy.  Like, dead.

You can get punched in the nose warning:  Zap your kid sister with static electricity and she might tell your girlfriend/boyfriend that you still play with Barbies.