Mobilepro 750c Networking problem

[stone5150]

I purchased a linksys pcm-cia card hoping i could network it to my dsl router, or use a proxy on my desktop system.

I was hoping that once the card was inserted that the "remote networking" icon would add it to my list of choices.

Since that didn't happen, I'm asking anyone here if they have a solution for me.

Any ideas on what i can do?

[bettyboop]

Is the Linksys PC card you have come with Windows CE drivers?
If not, have you tried checking the Linksys site for drivers?

Not all Windows laptop PC cards works on Windows CE PDA's.

:)

[stone5150]

I went out and got the linksys ec2t, based on what i read in one of the threads on this site. I was under the impression(albeit it could be a wrong impression) that no driver would be needed.

I'll check out the linksys site to see if that will solve the problem.

[Pilot]

Are you running stock CE 2.0 or did you upgrade your MP750c to the CE 2.11 ROM? It will definitely automatically recognize the card if you have the CE 2.11 ROM, but I was using that very same network card (still am) on both my CE 2.0 based MP700 as well as my current MP750c running CE 2.0 before buying the upgrade ROM. If memory serves, you just need to some extra stuff, namely the Redirector for CE 2.0 (available from the Microsoft H/PC download site at http://www.microsoft.com/mobile/handheldpc/downloads/default.asp ) and the CE 2.0 Ethernet Components that come on the companion CD included with the MobilePro MP700/750c but might be missing from your package if you bought it used. You can download the CE 2.0 Ethernet Components from here: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MobileProHPC/files/

THe EC2T is definitely NE2000 compatible, so it should work fine in any CE 2.0 or newer H/PC. I know that there is a 100 mbit LinkSys card that will not work without specific CE drivers, but their old 10 mbit cards all work just fine with the default drivers.

Once I installed the above two items and configured either my Wins or DHCP servers, I was good to go. Keep in mind that you still will not have a true "Network Neighborhood" like on a full fledge Windows machine, but as long as you know the initial network share (//servername/sharename), you can type that in to the Pocket IE address line and browse around from there. By the way, in addition to being able to surf the web and such faster, there is no faster way to run ActiveSync than over a Ethernet connection. You'll never go back to that lame serial cable again! For more information on networking with CE, go to: http://www.cewindows.net/wce/20/ethernet.htm

If you are still having problems, I can "downgrade" my system to the CE 2.0 ROM, go through the install, and do a more specific write-up on instructions. However, it might take a couple of days until I have time to do that, but if you can wait a little I bit, I am willing. It only takes about 10 minutes to restore my machine back to its current CE 2.11 configuration, so it's not too much of a big deal.

[stone5150]

Wow. THANKS.

I'm running ce 2.0, not 2.11.

the only question I have is this:

is it necessary to have a wins or dhcp server? I'm only running win 98 at home, and as far as i know it's not capable of either(I'm assuming this).

If I run these updates, will i have the option of manually setting the ip, netmask and router addresses?

Again, thanks pilot, i really appreciate your help.

[bettyboop]

Before you even go as far as installing proxy software or
anything complex, you need to verify that the network card is
working on the NEC.

If the card seems to be working on the NEC then you can do
more work but if not then why bother?

Does the NEC or did the NEC recognize that you have a net
card plugged it? You should have seen a message of some
kind like unknown driver or NE2000 networking card detected.
If not you shoul dbe able to select and configure a networking
driver if the card is recognized at least.

Good luck

[Pilot]

Originally posted by stone5150
Wow. THANKS.

I'm running ce 2.0, not 2.11.

the only question I have is this:

is it necessary to have a wins or dhcp server? I'm only running win 98 at home, and as far as i know it's not capable of either(I'm assuming this).

If I run these updates, will i have the option of manually setting the ip, netmask and router addresses?

Again, thanks pilot, i really appreciate your help.

No, you do not have to have a Wins or DHCP server running. Just hardcode your IP number (can be whatever you want as long as its not the same as you desktop), and you can put your desktop IP number in for the Wins server IP if you want. Yes, the CE 2.0 Ethernet components will allow you to configure things very much like you would on a Win95/98 machine. If you are familiar with configuring a standard computer for a network, then the MP750c should be pretty easy. Please don't hesitate to read the FAQ on the CEWindows.net website -- it's what I used to get my CE 2.0 handheld networking, and it really made things easy for me.

Good luck!

[stone5150]

Ok, I'm really feeling like a newbie here.

I installed the drivers, and the redirector, and i updated my activesync to version 3.5.

I read the readme files for the drivers and redirector, so i'm certain i did that right.

My 750c now has a network configuration icon in the control panel(woo-hoo!), and lists these two adaptors:

linksys combo pcmcia ethernet card(ec2t2)
ne2000 compatible ethernet driver

So that part works.

However, no matter what i do, 98 will not let me create a share(i've done this hundreds of times with NT, so i THOUGHT i knew what i was doing).

Also, now I cannot get activesync to recognize the serial connection. It says it's connection and just sits there forever. the nec says its connecting, authenticated, and then minimizes like alway.

I'm able to establish a terminal connection between my 98 box and the 750c, and its communicating.

I've tried reinstalling activesync 3.5 twice, altering the settings on both comm ports, and now nothing is working.

Any ideas, or helpful links on where to look online?

Sorry to be a pest guys, I really am trying.

[bettyboop]

Well, you have a number of issues.
First, why are you trying to sync serially when you have a
network card and network connection to your PC now?
Second, update Activesync to V3.6 which is the latest version.
Third, if you are connecting directly to your PC without using
a hub, then you should be using a crossover network cable.
Not a straight thorugh network cable.
forth when you say "98 does not allow you to create a share",
what are you referring to exactly?
If you plan on connecting to the internet through your PC then
I suggest getting a free proxy program to run on 98.

Good luck

:D

[stone5150]

>Well, you have a number of issues.
>First, why are you trying to sync serially when you have a
>network card and network connection to your PC now?

i am able to get the 750c portion working, but not the 98 portion. I can't test network connectivity from the 750c, and when i ping from 98, it doesn't go anywhere, which is why i'm trying to at least get serial working again.

>Second, update Activesync to V3.6 which is the latest version.

i'll try that out, maybe that will fix the problem.

>Third, if you are connecting directly to your PC without using
>a hub, then you should be using a crossover network cable.
>Not a straight thorugh network cable.

I am using a crossover cable, as well as using a hub(trying both)


>forth when you say "98 does not allow you to create a share",
>what are you referring to exactly?

I am trying to create a network share on a folder, any folder, for my 750c to browse and copy files to and from.

>If you plan on connecting to the internet through your PC then
>I suggest getting a free proxy program to run on 98.

First things first, I'd be happy just to be able to transfer files between the two at a decent speed.

[stone5150]

Ok, i installed 3.6, reset my 750c back to its original configuration, and resintalled the .dll's for the redirector and the ne2000 drivers.

I can now communicate via serial again, still no luck with the network though.

For whatever reason, i can't enable sharing on my desktop computer, and since there are no dos utilities on the 750c, i can't ping to see if the systems are responding.

Any ideas?

[Pilot]

Forgive me if I'm talking down to you at any point in this message. You seem like a knowledgeable person with MS networks, so I don't want to insult you. Keeping that in mind...

First, go here: http://www.cam.com/vxutil.html and download VXUtils. This is an excellent internet/network utility software package that has a ping function (among many other things) and it is extremely useful. Best of all, it's free!

Second, you do know that in Win98 to create a share you first have to install the File and Print Sharing service, right? Right-click on Network Neighborhood (if you don't have that icon, then you need to install network support first), choose Properties, and verify that "File and printer sharing for Microsoft Networks" is showing in the list of network components currently installed. If it's not there, then you need to click the Add button, select Service" from the type of network component list, and then click the Add button. You may get a message window about building a driver list. Select File and printer sharing for Microsoft Networks and click the OK button. There may be other prompts and such after this, but I cannot remember them and since I already have it installed on my Win98 system, I can't re-install it to tell you without deleting it, rebooting, etc. Oh, and you will be prompted to reboot before it will work. This should allow you to create shares and even share your printer for printing directly from the MP750c over your network connection (more of a cool, fun thing than a really useful thing).

Also, you need to configure ActiveSync to accept synchronization over a LAN. Open ActiveSync on your desktop computer, click on File, Connection Settings. Make sure the check box for "Allow network (Ethernet) and Remote Access Service (RAS) server connection with this desktop computer" is checked.

You should be able to use the VXUtils and your MP750c for troubleshooting basic network issues with your desktop. You do have Client for Microsoft Networks, NIC driver, and TCPIP (for the NIC) all setup on your Win98 box, right?

Once you get this working, you too will lament every time you have to go back to the serial connection for one reason or another. Ethernet is the only way to fly with these non-USB devices!

[stone5150]

I always tell people to talk to me like a five year old, that way I'll be sure to understand.

Having said that...

I was/am not aware of many utilities for the 750c, so thank you for the info. I'll get it on there immediately. Can you think of other utilities I might like or should have?

I've got file and print sharing turned on, I've got my networking software installed, and presumably configured correctly.

And I have very painfully rebooted every time i make the slightest change in the hopes of fixing whatever I may have missed or overlooked(One reason why I do like linux, fewer reboots...sigh).

I've read through the local help files on setting up shares, and read online troubleshooting tips, and from what i'm able to determine, i've got everything set up to allow me to share folders. Unfortunately, I never get a "share" option when i right-click, nor is there a button in explorer(what i'm used to seeing from an NT environment)

In activesync, I have turned on synchronization over a LAN.

The only thing I haven't tried is removing tcp/ip completely. The only thing that is preventing me from doing this is that I've got dsl through msn, and their software did some voodoo with my system, and added several network devices. But, this weekend I may bite the bullet, remove msn and see if that fixes the problem. I'm afraid it will, in which case I have to decide between fast internet, or fast connection between my 750c and my system.

God, sometimes I truly do hate Microsoft.

[Pilot]

I have personally never worked with DSL (only cable modems), but if the network card in your system is used to access an external DSL modem, then you are probably right -- you're going to have to decide. However, one solution that may be a lot easier is to just go pick up a $15 10-mbit NIC and install it in your system (if there's room), and dedicate it to the MP750c connection. Just a thought -- and again, I'm not really familiar with how DSL is usually configured (whether on an internal card or using an Ethernet NIC accessing a DSL modem/hub, or ???).

[stone5150]

I neglected to mention...

my dsl box is connected to my system via usb, leaving the nic card unused.