Creating Windows NT DOS-CLIENT Startup Disks

NT DOS-CLIENT Startup Disks for the 3c59x or 3c90x Family

PLEASE NOTE: The third-party products discussed here are manufactured by vendors independent of 3Com; we make no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding these products' performance or reliability. This document is provided as a courtesy and is not supported. Please keep in mind that 3Com is not libel for any customized script files, we are able to provide you with a sample that has been tested in our NIC Support Lab. If you have any problem with this customized script please contact the Microsoft Technical Support Center.

There are 2 kinds of Network Client installation disks on the NT 4.0:

An installation disk set contains all of the Network Client software. For Network Client 3.0, this is just one disk. You install manually using only this disk.

A Network Installation startup disk contains basic MS-DOS and Network Client software, just enough to start a client computer and then copy the full Network Client software over the network from the computer running Windows NT Server v4.0. This is usually faster than installing manually.

This document will cover creating a Network Installation Startup disk only.

To begin with, you must format a clean 3.5" High Density floppy. To do so, go to a computer with MS-DOS. Insert the disk to be formatted and type FORMAT /S.

At the Windows NT Server 4.0 click on the START button

Click on PROGRAMS, then click on ADMINISTRATIVE TOOLS, then click on NETWORK CLIENT ADMINISTRATOR.

Select NETWORK INSTALLATION STARTUP DISK

Specify the path to your Network Client Installation Files

Click OK

Under Network Client, select, "Network Client v3.0 for MS-DOS and Windows"

Under Network Adapter Card select, "3Com EtherLink III"

Click OK

Enter your Computer Name, User Name, Domain and select the "Netbeui" protocol

Enter the destination path to your floppy drive, usually A:\

Click OK to copy files.

Click OK again

Click EXIT

IMPORTANT:
You must now modify 1 line in the SYSTEM.INI and one line in the PROTOCOL.INI on the diskette that has been created by the NT Server. It will be located on the a:\NET\ subdirectory.

You must also copy the driver file EL59X.DOS (for the 3c59x EtherLink III PCI family) or EL90X.DOS (for the 3c90x EtherLink XL PCI family) to the a:\NET subdirectory on your startup diskette.

SYSTEM.INI Changes:
Look for the following line under the [network drivers] section:

netcard=elnk3.dos

YOU MUST CHANGE netcard=elnk3.dos TO LOOK LIKE:

netcard=el59x.dos
(for the 3c59x EtherLink III PCI family)

netcard=el90x.dos
(for the 3c90x EtherLink XL PCI family)

Sample SYSTEM.INI

[network]
filesharing=no
printsharing=no
autologon=yes
computername=3COM_NIC
lanroot=A:\NET
username=Administrator
workgroup=CABRIOLET
reconnect=no
directhost=no
dospophotkey=N
lmlogon=0
logondomain=CABRIOLET
preferredredir=full
autostart=full
maxconnections=8

[network drivers]
netcard=elnk3.dos **** <------ Change this line as stated above ****
transport=ndishlp.sys,*netbeui
devdir=A:\NET
LoadRMDrivers=yes

[Password Lists]

PROTOCOL.INI Changes:
Look for the following line under the [ms$elnk3] section:

DRIVERNAME=ELNK3$

YOU MUST CHANGE DRIVERNAME=ELNK3$ TO LOOK LIKE:

DRIVERNAME=EL59x$
(for the 3c59x EtherLink III PCI family)

DRIVERNAME=EL90x$
(for the 3c90x EtherLink XL PCI family)

Sample PROTOCOL.INI

[network.setup]
version=0x3110
netcard=ms$elnk3,1,MS$ELNK3,1
transport=ms$ndishlp,MS$NDISHLP
transport=ms$netbeui,MS$NETBEUI
lana0=ms$elnk3,1,ms$netbeui
lana1=ms$elnk3,1,ms$ndishlp

[ms$elnk3]
DRIVERNAME=ELNK3$ **** <------ Change this line as stated above ****
; IOADDRESS=0x300
; SLOT=1
; MAXTRANSMITS=6

[protman]
drivername=PROTMAN$
PRIORITY=MS$NDISHLP

[MS$NDISHLP]
drivername=ndishlp$
BINDINGS=ms$elnk3

[ms$netbeui]
drivername=netbeui$
SESSIONS=10
NCBS=12
BINDINGS=ms$elnk3
LANABASE=0

If you do not have our latest driver, you can download it from our website:
1) go to www.3com.com;
2) scroll to the bottom and click on Jump to Drivers,
3) choose Latest Driver Files.
4) download file 3C90XN.EXE or 3C59xn.exe (for 3c59x family) to your hard drive and extract by running the executable file.

Troubleshooting: If the 3Com driver is installed and you are still having problems with your 3Com adapter, make sure you have the following:

1) an available IRQ
2) the adapter is all the way in the slot (try another slot if necessary)
3) the adapter is in a busmastering slot (usually the slot closest to the power supply)
4) the adapter passes 3com's configuration and diagnostics testing (refer to user's guide)
5) the latest 3c90x driver from 3com (Can download this from the BBS 408-980-8204 or see instructions above for WWW.)
6) the latest system bios upgrade (available from your motherboard vendor)