Windows Vista

How do I configure my network card in Windows Vista?

While Windows Vista should work with the MHC network it is a new operating system and is not currently supported on the MHC campus. Vista has known network connectivity problems and sometimes does not identify new networks correctly. This is not a problem with the MHC network - it is a Vista issue.

The steps below seem to minimize connectivity problems on the systems we have tested but your system may, or may not, connect even with this configuration. The ITS department cannot guarantee your Vista system will connect since there is no definitive fix for these issues.

Network Configuration Settings

Step1

Click the Start button in the bottom-left corner of your screen, type in the word "sharing" in the search bar. The only result shown is Network and Sharing Center. Double click that selection.



Step 2

In the Network and Sharing Center, click on Manage Network Connections, which is located on the left column.



Step 3

Right-click the Local Area Connection icon and select Properties.



Step 4

Remove the check marks from Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6) and both Link-Layer Topology options. 

Step 5 

From the list in the middle of the window select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4). Then click on the Properties button.



Step 6

Verify the options shown are set to on Obtain an IP address automatically and Obtain DNS server address automatically under the General tab . You may need to clear out any information entered into the fields before choosing these options.

Step 7

Click on the Advanced button. The following dialog box should appear:

Step 8

Ensure that the Default gateways box is empty; otherwise, select each entry and click on the Remove button. 

Step 9

Click on the DNS tab. The following dialog box should appear:

Step 10

Remove the check mark beside Register this connection's address in DNS option. 

Ensure that the DNS server addresses, in order of use and Append these DNS suffixes (in order) boxes are empty; otherwise, select each entry and click the Remove button.

Step 11 

Select the WINS tab. You will see the following dialog box:

Ensure that the WINS addresses, in order of use box is empty; otherwise, select each entry and click the Remove button.

Ensure that the NetBIOS setting has the Default option selected. 

Click OK to close the Advanced TCP/IP Settings dialog box.

Click OK again to close the Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) Settings dialog box.

Click Close to close the Local Area Connection Properties dialog box.

Windows may copy some files and then ask to restart your computer. Click Yes to do so.

If you made any changes above, you may be asked to restart your computer. Click Yes and your computer will restart with the correct changes. Your computer's network settings should now be compatible with ResNet's network.