I am trying to install a NIC to set up a network via a switch to a W95 machine. I have installed the card and drivers as per instructions but cannot ping either localhost or 128.0.0.1. The system is assigning an automatic IP of 160.254.209.165. I have tried the suggested fix of clearing the TCP/IP then releasing and renewing the addresses without any success. I have also removed and reinstalled the card in a different slot. When I run the network repair utility it says that it cannot find DHCP, or something to that effect. I am a bit of a computer novice and would appreciate any help in getting the NIC working properly. I have a separate windows 98 3 machine wireless network and that was a dream to set up. What am I doing wrong? Regards Richard

Well 128.0.0.1 is not going to give you a reply cause it is 127.0.0.1 but localhost does the same thing so there is a problem but don't ping 128 cause it won't work. Also, once you can ping 127.0.0.1 or localhost it does not mean the NIC is good, it simply means that TCP/IP is working properly, do not take it as meaning the NIC is installed properly and working. After you install the NIC and load the drives does it show up in Device Manager properly? Go to the command prompt and type in "ipconfig /all" without the quotes to see if you at least get either a 169.xxx.xxx.xxx or a valid IP address. If you get a 169.xxx.xxx.xxx check the back of the NIC to make sure the link lights are green/amber and not red and that they are on. Check the cable. Also, what type of switch are you using? Is there a router in place? Are you using a static IP or a dynamic one? Anymore info will help us, help you. KTTD

Sorry, I did of course mean 127.0.0.1! To answer your questions, the IP address from the ipconfig/all is 169.254.209.165. The NIC light is green and the switch shows that there is a connection on that port at 100 Mbps. The switch is a 5 port 10/100 fast ethernet switch which I have used without problem on a different network. Status lights for the two computers connected are ok. I have set both machines to use a dynamic IP. I have changed both cables with ones that I know are ok. I can access the internet via a USB router and ping internet addresses ok. My intention is to use ICS on the XP machine to share internet access with the W95 machine. A novice question, but how does a local machine know that localhost = 127.0.0.1? Is there some kind of name server on a local server that resolves local names to IP addresses? If so, what is it and how do i check it is working? Thanks for taking the time to help KTTD. Regards Richard

Well we now know it is not pulling a valid IP and that is the problem :) and in your post where did you get the 160.x.x.x. IP Address from? Now, correct me if I am wrong. You are running the CAT 5 from the XP box to the switch. Now, you said you have a USB router, which router is it and what is it plugged into? If you can, tell me what you have connected into what. Starting with the cable/dsl modem. KTTD P.S As far as localhost and 127.0.0.1 being the same. I've never thought about it. You ping localhost it will display pinging 127.0.0.1 but they are both the same.

Firstly, I am having an off day with my IP numbers. For 160.x.x.x in my first post read 169.x.x.x. Sorry to mislead you. Your question about the kit I have. Firstly I have an ADSL connection which comes in via a Speed Touch USB network terminator (made by Alcatel) into a USB port on the XP machine. I have a 10/100 NIC card in the XP machine which is connected by Cat5 cable RJ45 connectors to the 10/100 5 port switch. The W95 machine also has the same make of NIC card and is connected by Cat 5/RJ45 to the switch. I hope the above makes sense. Maybe my use of the word router was a little free? Please bear with a relative network novice. Thanks for your time KTTD. Regards Richard

Localhost = 127.0.0.1 because it is in the hosts file which is in C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc -its a file called hosts edit it with notepad and take a look.

Ok, next question. Are any of the computers that are connected to the switch working? As in the Windows 95 system? What happens if you run "winipcfg" from the command prompt? What do you get for an IP on that system? Try this also, unplug the power cord from the switch and your DSL modem and shut down the XP box. Plug the DSL modem in first and wait for it to sync up. Once it does, plug in the switch and wait for it to sync up. Then fire up the XP box and see what you get for an IP address. If you want, feel free to e-mail me as the thread might get buried. KTTD