Initial install of PCI Adapter MN-130

[Guest]

(Long intro from a networking newbie)

I'm going to have cable internet/cable modem installed this coming Saturday and am running XP Pro. There is a nominal charge for the installer to put in a Ethernet card but I thought that I could speed up the process by installing a card myself and I bought a Microsoft MN-130 card.

My plan is to have the cable access installed and in the future get a laptop computer (with XP Pro) and install a home 802.11g system to allow internet connection sharing and file/printer sharing.

On looking at the instructions for the MN-130 card it states that I should have the network established before installing if I want to use the Broadband Networking Utility and that the Setup Wizard will ask me for the type of network that I have. Obviously if I install it before Saturday, my network won't be installed.

My questions (finally):

Will I potentially mess up my future wireless plans by choosing certain options now during Setup?
Should I just use Plug-and-Play after the install now (rather that using Setup before the install?)? If so, would I be able to install the Utility by itself in the future?

Any insights for this neophyte would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Michael_L]

Windows XP has most hardware drivers that it needs. You
could just put the card in and XP should automatically
install it. All of the settings for your network are
fully adjustable at any time after the card is installed.
However if you are paying a professional installer to hook
you up to the Internet I would just let him do it. Just
look over his shoulder and ask questions.
Michael

-----Original Message-----
(Long intro from a networking newbie)

I'm going to have cable internet/cable modem installed

this coming Saturday and am running XP Pro. There is a
nominal charge for the installer to put in a Ethernet card
but I thought that I could speed up the process by
installing a card myself and I bought a Microsoft MN-130
card.

My plan is to have the cable access installed and in the

future get a laptop computer (with XP Pro) and install a
home 802.11g system to allow internet connection sharing
and file/printer sharing.

On looking at the instructions for the MN-130 card it

states that I should have the network established before
installing if I want to use the Broadband Networking
Utility and that the Setup Wizard will ask me for the type
of network that I have. Obviously if I install it before
Saturday, my network won't be installed.

My questions (finally):

Will I potentially mess up my future wireless plans by

choosing certain options now during Setup?

Should I just use Plug-and-Play after the install now

(rather that using Setup before the install?)? If so,
would I be able to install the Utility by itself in the
future?

 

[Guest]

Thanks for the response Michael. I went ahead and installed the card since I could save myself $20 by not having him install it and I didn't want to unhook and rehook the god awful rat's nest of my computer's cables while he/she was here. Good thing that I did - it was a drag to remove my computer cover

You were correct - the Find New Hardware wizard opened when I rebooted and I inserted the device's disk and all went fine. The card is recognized by XP with an icon now in my task bar showing "Local Area Network. A network cable is unplugged". I assume this is being shown since there is nothing connected presently to the card (is this correct?)

----- Michael_L wrote: ----

Windows XP has most hardware drivers that it needs. You
could just put the card in and XP should automatically
install it. All of the settings for your network are
fully adjustable at any time after the card is installed.
However if you are paying a professional installer to hook
you up to the Internet I would just let him do it. Just
look over his shoulder and ask questions.
Michae

 

[Michael_L]

That sound like everything is good. You are correct the
connection in your system tray will report the cable being
unplugged until the tech hooks up the router.
Michael

-----Original Message-----
Thanks for the response Michael. I went ahead and

installed the card since I could save myself $20 by not
having him install it and I didn't want to unhook and
rehook the god awful rat's nest of my computer's cables
while he/she was here. Good thing that I did - it was a
drag to remove my computer cover.

You were correct - the Find New Hardware wizard opened

when I rebooted and I inserted the device's disk and all
went fine. The card is recognized by XP with an icon now
in my task bar showing "Local Area Network. A network
cable is unplugged". I assume this is being shown since
there is nothing connected presently to the card (is this
correct?)