Configuring ARCNET Card in Windows 95

This article refers to G&L PiC application note AN000023 and describes how to configure ARCNET Card in Windows 95.

The following procedure can be used to successfully install the ARCNET card into a PC running Windows 95.  This procedure will describe how to reserve the resources required by the card so that Windows will not interfere with the operation of the hardware.  This is required since there is no Windows driver to install to access the ARCNET card via the G&L communication drivers.  If you fail to follow this process, the card will not function or will cause continuous network reconfigurations.

Pick Card Settings

Before the ARCNET card can be accessed by any communication software, it must be configured and installed into the PC.  Be sure to write down the settings selected since the communication software will need them to talk to the card.

1. Restart your computer in MS-DOS mode by clicking on Start, click on Shutdown and select Restart the computer in MS-DOS mode?
2. Run the program utility that comes from the manufacture of the ARCNET card, select and configure the jumpers on the card for an available I/O and memory address at which the new card will operate.  Reference the on-line help utility for more information on configuration options.

Note:  The ARCNET card does not require an IRQ to operate.  To save computer resources do not jumper any IRQ pins on the card.

3. When finished configuring the card, exit back to MS-DOS, type EXIT and press Enter to return to Windows 95.

Reserve Selected ARCNET Board Settings

1. Double click on My Computer - Control Panel - System.
2. Select the Device Manager tab.
3. Click on My Computer, click on Properties and click on Reserve Resources tab.
4. Reserve an I/O port address setting by selecting Input/output (I/O), clicking on Add and entering the I/O addresses that you selected for the card.
5. Reserve an Memory address by selecting Memory, clicking on Add and entering the memory addresses that you selected for the card.
6. Click on OK.
7. Reboot Windows 95