I just bought two ethernet cards that use 10 baseT format and i need to know how to link them i have win95 on one machine and win98 on the other can someone tell me the exact steps of link these computers together

Depends what type of cards you have, if they are Windows standard, you should be able to plug them in and allow the system to find them. In order for the PC's to connect, you will need to go into "Network" (off control panel") and install the "TCPIP" protocol... then in the TCPIP properties, allocate an IP Address and Subnet mask. The subnet mask can be 255.255.0.0 for both, and I suggest an IP address of 10.1.1.x (where x is a different number for each). Then make sure that in the "network identification" tab, the workgroup is the same for both computers. Also from the network properties setup "File & Print sharing"... Finally, when this is done and you have rebooted both PC's, dont forget to right click on the relevant drives in "My Computer" and enable "Sharing". As for connecting them, I don't know if you can just connect a 10 baseT cable between the two PC's or whether you will need a small hub... never tried I'm afraid Hope this helps

In order to physically connect them, you need one of the following two options: a) A hub and 2 cat5 UTP cables. or b) 1 cat5 UTP crossover cable. (This is obviously cheaper, but crossover UTP cables aren't easy to find in stores.) Once all physical connections are made and the cards have been put in each PC, Windows should detect each card and install the correct driver. To check the driver, go to Start/Settings/Control Panel/System/Device Manager tab. If, under "Network Adapters" you don't see an exclamation point (!) beside the driver for your card, then it is functioning correctly. Then you have to go to Control Panel/Network and setup everything else. The "everything else" can be found here: http://www.wown.com/j_helmig/basics.htm

How to make a crossover cable?

Pin out for a cross over cable is: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 on the one end and 3 6 1 4 5 3 7 8 on the other 1 orange stripe 2 orange 3 green stripe 4 blue 5 blue stripe 6 green 7 brown (?) stripe 8 brown I have never done it with an ethernet line before, but if you can't find a premade cable, and can't make your own. You should be able to go to a hardware store and buy two wall jacks and some ethernet line and change the pin out when you connect the screw the connections on for the ethernet line.