I tried to hook up my new high-speed internet connection last night, and I got an error message saying I didn't have a network interface card. I'm assuming that would be the kind of card that would have the larger, phone-jack style port sticking out of the back of tower? BTW... this computer is about ten years old, so it's not the newest technology we're working with here.

How hard would this be to install myself? How much should I expect to pay for one of these? If I can cannibalize one from another computer will that work? Is this basically a plug and play board or is there also software involved? Thanks in advance...

I tried to hook up my new high-speed internet connection last night, and I got an error message saying I didn't have a network interface card. How did you connect the computer to the high speed internet if you don't have a network card?

I'm assuming that would be the kind of card that would have the larger, phone-jack style port sticking out of the back of tower? Yes. Ethernet card. Most (all?) computers nowadays have them built into the motherboard.

How hard would this be to install myself? Not hard at all. As long as you have an open PCI slot on the motherboard. Just open the case, then insert card into open slot.

How much should I expect to pay for one of these? If I can cannibalize one from another computer will that work? Is this basically a plug and play board or is there also software involved? Thanks in advance... Cost - $5-$15 for a cheap one. Plug and play depends on OS software and maybe brand name of card. If it is PNP then you should be able to use a card from another computer without problems. Otherwise you may need device drivers.

-Mike

I had the same problem in that I had to buy an Ethernet card. I have both an 8 year old desk top and a 6 year old laptop. Since I wanted to get my high speed access immediately without any fuss, I first bought an Ethernet card that went into the pcmcia (PC card) slot of my laptop. This way I could plug my high-speed modem directly into my laptop.

A few weeks later, when I had more time, I did the following: I bought an Ethernet card for my desktop (which is what Micheal is recommending for you), which I had a computer friend of mine put in because I am klutzy with my hands and he knew what he was doing and would take a fraction of the time I would. (I am always short on time.)

But I also bought a router. This enabled me to connect any other computer I had to the high speed broad band wirelessly. In particular, my laptop, which is what I use mostly. Then I bought a wireless PC card for my laptop and I can use it anywhere in my place and also friends who come over can jump on with their own computers and don't have to use mine. (I guess I hang out with a crowd who almost always bring their laptops with them everywhere.)

I bought everything from Belkin who constantly has sales, and I got them at half-off. Everything together amounted to about $80.

Since my operating system on both machines is the ancient Win98, I had to make sure that what I bought was compatible with that, or go on-line to download drivers for it.

I am extremely happy with my set-up. I carry both the wireless and the Ethernet PC Cards with me everywhere. This way when I am visiting someone who does not have a router I can hook up my laptop directly to their high speed network with my Ethernet PC card.

And since Belkin was extremely late in sending me my rebates of $80, they gave me a credit of $80 toward any Belkin product.

They recently came out with a travel router that lets you convert any high band access in someone else' place or a hotel room into a wireless network. That means when I go to friends' house without wireless, I can put on mine and not interfere with their access to the internet. It also means that when I go to a hotel, I can plug the travel router in and use my laptop to sit anywhere in the room I prefer instead of awkwardly at the desk that it is usually at. (I prefer to prop up in bed when I am working.)

:gl:

Thanks for the info, Michael and Justitia...

I currently have dial-up, so this whole high speed thing will be new for me. I'm also running Win98, so that will have to be addressed when I go buy a card. We have a pretty good used computer store nearby, so I am sure they will have what I need and be able to help if I run into trouble.

I also have a laptop (which is newer and runs XP)... I will be picking up a wireless card for it today from a buddy of mine. I also got a wireless router when I received my start-up kit for the DSL (Verizon) so I should be able to use that to connect the laptop. We may also be getting another laptop from Santa, and I think that has a wireless card built in.

I'll post up and let you know if I have any problems or questions.

That's a good deal! When you start up your router....it may need special drivers for Win98. I may be wrong here... I never got completely straight exactly the flow of connection from the source of the high-speed through the router and Desk top. Probably Mike knows. But if you need special drives for it, your ISP should have them on-line to download.

(And I am jealous of your laptop... I have been planning to buy a new laptop for 3 months now and one thing after another has interferred... one which was that a shipment of the laptop I wanted was having problems all around the country and the manufacturer only figured out the source of the problem and fixed it just recently. But now a whole host of new models are slated to come out in the next few weeks so I am waiting for those. In the meantime, my current laptop dies on me almost daily....:rolleyes: )

Do you know what the clock speed is on the pc? Also does it have a usb port?