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Thread ID: 15012 2002-01-26 02:51:00 Networking Guest (0) Press F1
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32855 2002-01-26 02:51:00 I am wanting to know how to network a computer with win 3.1 to a laptop with win98se. I have to get a network card for the win 3.1 machine, which is a 286, what network card will fit. Any other hints and tips to do with this would be received gladly Guest (0)
32856 2002-01-26 03:04:00 Crikey! that will be an old ISA card.

I've thrown lots of them away, come to think of it I've thrown lots of computers better than a 286 away too.

Mind you running 3.1 is about right.

Are you just trying to get information to the laptop once only, or is this going to be a permanent arragement? 		Guest (0)
32857 2002-01-26 03:06:00 Better look here too!

www.helmig.com 		Guest (0)
32858 2002-01-26 03:22:00 I am not totally sure, but I suspect that you will need W3.11 ('Windows for Workgroups').

In one I have on my network (386SX20) I have also got the Microsoft TCP/IP extensions installed (because it is on a Linux network). I tend not to use the Microsoft networking anyway.

The ISA Ethernet cards vary in quality: you should not pay more than $2-$5 for them (and they were 200-300 new). Good makes are 3Com
(3c509) SMC (Western Digital),
and Intel. There are various others, but some will be hard to get drivers for.There are a fair number of drivers on disk 7 or 8 of the W311 set). If you can't get a 'name' card, look for those with a red 'Netware compatible' sticker. If they work with Novell, they'll work with Microsoft.

If you want just to transfer files between the machines
there are easier ways ... 		Guest (0)
32859 2002-01-26 10:36:00 I've got a 286 running DOS6 on my network (Internet access and windows file sharing) so it can be done. I managed to get an old 3com Etherlink III (ISA) for $5.

I could be posting from it if I had the patience (6mins to load an average page, 15 with images).



The biggest problem you will have is a lack of memory. The MS networking drivers take up a lot of low memory (286s can't use the HMA easily).

On my system it leaves about 320KB free with TCP/IP and file sharing loaded (it can read files, but can't share them for some reason).

You probably won't be able to start win3.1 that much free memory, so you will have to use DOS (WFW3.11 needs a 386).


These sites will probably be of use to you:

www.helmig.com (it may be the same as the site K O found)

www.valiant-it.co.uk

and

www.arachne.cz/ (if you want a DOS based graphical www manager program, has its own TCP/IP stack)


If its just a one off copy, then PKZIP and floppies will be the easiest solution. Although if it has an IDE hard drive then you could just that in any desktop computer. 		Guest (0)
32860 2002-01-27 02:45:00 Also, look for a card which has jumpers on it for IRQ, I/O address and ROM address. You might not find the software to configure other types. P&P don't work with W3.

Also WfW (W3.11) does not work on a 286, according to the manual.
The MS TCP/IP is a DOS addon, so it's OK, though you may not find it easy to get.

Arachne is nice (so is the plain text browser 'Lynx').

If you want to get carried away, you can still get the NCSA TCP/IP package which gives you Telnet and FTP on any PC. I've got it on 640k XT. It works nicely with any TCP/IP network. You can fit a working installation on a 360k floppy. But you'll need to read the documentation to get it going. It's easy when you know it, but hard to get to that stage. 		Guest (0)
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