Date:	Wed, 19 Nov 1997 09:34:04 +1300
From:	physmsa AT cantua DOT canterbury DOT ac DOT nz (Mr M S Aitchison)
Subject:	Re: 3Com Fast Etherlink XL 3C905 Adapter
To:	opendos AT delorie DOT com
Message-id:	<199711182034.JAA10026@cantua.canterbury.ac.nz>

One important thing to remember with networking: make sure EMM386 isn't
mapping any upper memory area the card may need, and turn Plug'n'Play
off... er TWO things. *Two* important things to remember with
networking: turn off EMM386 while experimenting, set the BIOS to
"non-PnP O/S", and power cycle the computer after running a different
O/S or wrong network setup utilities in case they left the card in a
strange state.  *Three*... (with apologies to Monty Palin, er Python).

Unfortunately, there can be all sorts of reasons why networking becomes
netnotworking, many of which (to do with config files) obviously aren't
the case if 3com's own setup program doesn't work.  Make sure the model
of card and setup/install program match but especially make sure the
PC's CMOS (BIOS) setup is correct for the PCI, IRQ's, PnP etc.  For
example, I had an SMC card that has a reputation of only being suitable
for Win95 - it would show up in the list the BIOS generates at startup
as being IRQ zero!  Just remember PnP stands for "Plug and Pray!"

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Mark Aitchison,                 \_   Phone: +64 3 364-2947 home 337-1225
Dept of Physics & Astronomy,    </     Fax: +64 3 364-2469  or  364-2999
University of Canterbury,      /)   E-mail: phys169 AT csc DOT canterbury DOT ac DOT nz
Christchurch, NEW ZEALAND.    (/'     www.phys.canterbury.ac.nz/~physmsa
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