» Getting Started
» Macintosh
» Windows95/98/ME
» Windows2000
» WindowsXP

Getting Started
An Ethernet DSL modem or a router require that you have a network interface card (NIC) installed in your computer. Use the instructions below to find out whether you already have a NIC (sometimes referred to as an Ethernet card) or to check the integrity of a previously installed card.

Most Macintosh computers already have a NIC installed.

Macintosh
Mac OS 8.5 or later
To find out if you already have an NIC installed:

1. Click on the Apple Menu
2. Select Control Panels
3. Select TCP/IP
4. Under the 'connect via' field, select 'Ethernet'span>
5. Under the 'File' pull-down menu, select 'Get Info'
6. Under the TCP/IP info screen, look for a hardware address of the format xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx (the x's are any character between 0-9 or a-f)
7. If Step 6 has a hardware address, then your Macintosh already has an NIC installed.

Mac OS X
To find out if you already have an NIC installed:

1. Click on the Apple Menu
2. Select 'System Preferences'
3. Click on the 'Network' Applet
4. Under the TCP/IP tab, set the 'show' field to 'Active Network Ports'.
5. Make sure 'Built-In Ethernet' is active.
6. Set the 'Show' field to Built-In Ethernet.
7. If you see an Ethernet Address of the format xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx on the Built-In Ethernet Screen, then your Macintosh already has an Ethernet Network Card installed (the x's are any character between 0-9 or a-f.  

» Back to top

Windows
Win95, Win98, WinME:
To find out if you already have an NIC installed:

1. Click on Start
2. Select Settings and then Control Panel
3. In the Control Panel, Double-Click the 'System' Applet
4. Select the Device Manager Tab
5. On the list of devices shown, look for Network Adapters
6. If it is present, to the left of it, select the '+' to expand the list.
7. On this expanded list, look for a device with the words "Ethernet Controller" or "Ethernet Adapter" in the name. The important word to look for is "Ethernet".
8. If you see this string of words, or some variation, that means there is a network card in your computer AND software drivers for it have been installed to make the hardware work.
9. To make sure the Network card is working correctly, please make sure there is not an exclamation point to the left, next to the Ethernet Controller.
10. If you go to the properties of the Ethernet Controller Device, it should say "this device is working properly".
11. If step 10 is true, you do not need to install the NIC.

Win2000
To find out if you already have an NIC installed:

1. Click on Start
2. Select Settings and then Control Panel
3. In the Control Panel, Double-Click the 'System' Applet
4. Select the Hardware Tab
5. Click the Device Manager button
6. On the list of devices shown, look for Network Adapters
7. If it is present, to the left of it, select the '+' to expand the list.
8. On this expanded list, look for a device with the words "Ethernet Controller" or "Ethernet Adapter" in the name. The important word to look for is "Ethernet".
9. If you see this string of words, or some variation, that means there is a network card in your computer AND software drivers for it have been installed.
10. To make sure the NIC is working correctly, please make sure there is not an exclamation point to the left, next to the Ethernet Controller.
11. If you go to the properties of the Ethernet Controller Device, it should say "this device is working properly".
12. If step 11 is true, you do not need to install a NIC.

WinXP
To find out if you already have an NIC installed:

1. Click on Start.
2. Select Control Panel.
3. If your Control Panel is displayed in "Classic View" you will see a 'System' Applet.
4. Double-Click the 'System' Applet.
5. Select the Hardware Tab.
6. Click the Device Manager button.
7. On the list of devices shown, look for Network Adapters.
8. If it is present, to the left of it, select the '+' to expand the list.
9. On this expanded list, look for a device with the words "Ethernet Controller" or "Ethernet Adapter" in the name. The important word to look for is "Ethernet".
10. If you see this string of words, or some variation, that means there is a network card in your computer AND software drivers for it have been installed.
11. To make sure the Network card is working correctly, please make sure there is not an exclamation point to the left, next to the Ethernet Controller.
12. If you go to the properties by double-clicking on the Ethernet Controller Device, it should say "this device is working properly".
13. If step 12 is true, you do not need to install a NIC.

©2003 Cruzio (revised 11/25/03)