Computing Center

How Do I Connect my Windows XP Professional PC to the Trinity Network via Ethernet?

The steps outlined in this document are meant to guide you through registering your computer on the network. You may register your computer at any time, however it must be done once every academic year if you wish to remain on the Internet. NOTE: These instructions are for XP Professional only. If you have XP Home you should upgrade to the Professional version. If you are unsure what version of XP you have, go to the Start menu and right-click on My Computer. From the drop down menu select Properties. If you have XP Home, please contact the Help Desk at x2007 for assistance in upgrading to XP Professional.

Preface: Setting Up the Computer

  1. The first thing to do is set up the computer itself. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for plugging together the computer, monitor, keyboard and mouse for desktop computers.
  2. Next, if you have a printer, follow its installation instructions as well.
  3. The network interface card or NIC needs to be installed and configured.
    • If your Windows XP Professional computer already has the Ethernet card installed and configured, you can move onto the next step.
    • If you have a computer and just purchased a network interface card or if your computer doesn't seem to recognize the network card, please follow the instructions in the document Installing a Network Adaptor Card at http://www.trincoll.edu/depts/cc/documentation/dorms_and_pcs/nic/nicXP.htm.
  4. Getting Plugged In:
    • Make sure your PC is turned off.
    • Take the network cable that came with your computer and plug one end into the back of the network interface card.  NOTE: If you didn't get a network cable (also called an RJ45 cable) with your computer or network card, they can be purchased at the book store in Mather.  This cable is different from a phone/modem cable as it has eight colored wires instead of four. 
    • Now you need to plug the RJ45 cable into the Ethernet jack in your room. Make sure it's not a phone/modem cable because these can damage your Ethernet jack! Depending upon which residence hall you are in, there are different ways of identifying the Ethernet jack
      • The Ethernet jack has yellow marking, so it is easy to tell which it is. Also, there is one (1) Ethernet jack per resident – roommates do not have to share a single data jack.
      • If you are living in High Rise or Doonesbury, you must use the data jack in your bedroom. The Ethernet jack in the common room is not active. These residence halls have one (1) Ethernet jack per resident – roommates do not have to share a single data jack!
  5. Turn on your computer.

Part One: Getting on the Network NOTE: Windows XP Professional should have automatically detected the correct network configuration.


Step I. Check to see if TCP/IP & Client for Microsoft Networks are set up correctly.  

If the network card was installed and configured correctly, there is little to do.  The following screens show the correct configuration for your network settings.  If the following screens do not concur with your own, feel free to call the Student Help Disk for assistance, x2007.  

To get to the proper screens, following the directions below:

    1. Click the Start button.

    2. Find the Control Panel button and click on it.

        

    3. Click on the Network and Internet Connections icon.

        

    4. Click on the Network Connections icon.

       

Note: Windows XP Professional has two ways to view the Control Panel. If  you are in Classic  Mode, you will not see the Network and Internet Connections icon shown in step 3. Instead you need to find the Network Connections folder and double click on it. Then go to the next step.

    5. Under "LAN or High Speed Internet" check your Local Area Connection to see if it is Enabled.  If it is not enabled, Right-click on the Local Area Connection, and click on Enable.

       

    6. Right-click the Local Area Connection and click on Properties.  The following screen should appear.

       

In "This connection uses the following items" section, these two basic components should be shown.  Other components such as Dial-Up Adapter might also be in this section.  This is not a problem. Click on "Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) so it is highlighted. Click on the Properties button.

 For Internet Protocol (TCP/IP):

 

Make sure the settings are set as shown above. When you are done with the Network settings, please select OK to exit these screens. Restart your computer and continue onto the next part.


Part Two: Register Your Computer on the network.

Everyone needs to register their computer on the network each academic year if they want to be able to access the Internet.  Computers that are not properly registered will not be able to access web sites outside of the Trinity domain nor will they be able to use other internet services like instant messaging.  Registering your computer is easy, just follow these simple steps:

  1. Open a web browser (like Firefox or IE Explorer). The only page you should have access to is http://ipassign.trincoll.edu.
  2. The ipassign page will not let you view any other web pages or have any internet activity until you have registered your computer on the network. You will need a valid username and password to register your computer.
  3. Follow the directions that appear.  When asked to enter your Student ID Number, enter your student or faculty ID number located above the bar code on your Trinity ID.
  4. Select your dorm and whether your computer is a desktop or a laptop (portable).
  5. You do not need to enter any "additional description" unless you wish to.

Part Three: Activate you E-mail account.

First year students will need to activate their e-mail accounts if they have not already done so by following the instructions below. Make sure you have a pen and piece of paper handy to write down your account name and password.

  1. Open a web browser and enter http://mail.trincoll.edu/ in the address box.
  2. Click on the first "Activate Your E-mail, Blackboard, and other Trinity Accounts (Students Only)" link.
    Follow the directions that appear.You will need your Student ID number on your Trinity ID.
  3. Confirm the information that follows.  Please write down your email address and password!

Part Four: Customize your E-mail Client.

After you are done activating your e-mail account, you should setup your e-mail client (the program that you use to check your e-mail: Outlook, Outlook Express...). You will find these programs more convenient to check your mail than using webmail, and you'll be able to download e-mail from the mail server and save onto your computer so you will not run out of server storage space. We provide the documentation for the most widely used e-mail clients for Windows computers. Select the proper link below and you will find documentation for the corresponding e-mail client.

Windows E-mail Clients:
 http://www.trincoll.edu/depts/cc/documentation/default.htm#Email

 You may now reboot your machine. **NOTE: After restarting your computer, you will see the "Microsoft Networking login" window.  Log in using your e-mail username (first initial and last name up to 8 letters) and e-mail password.   NOTE: never hit cancel, or else you will not have access to the Network Neighborhood.

Be sure to read about all the resources you have available to you in the Handbook of Student Computing. Important detailed information--such as how to obtain virus protection and Microsoft office through the Trinity Campus Agreement, help guides, etc.--is also available on the Trinity College Computing Documentation web page at http://www.trincoll.edu/RaetherCtr/ComputingCenter.

Questions or problems?

Please write down any error messages that may have appeared and give the Help Desk a call at x2700. In most cases, a consultant can diagnose your problem over the phone. If the problem can’t be fixed over the phone, they will help you arrange for a technician to come to your room.

Before calling please have the following information handy:

  • Where in the instructions you encountered the problem(Part # and Step #)
  • What operating system you are running (XP Professional Service Pack 2) and
  • Any error messages you got.  Please don't try to recall them from memory or paraphrase.  If you write them down verbatim it will MUCH more helpful.

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Last Modified: 08/31/2009