Thinkpads Forum

I'm Brian and I live in the United Kingdom

I have recently purchased a Thinkpad 560 and I'd like to link it up with my home PC. The home PC has Home Edition XP and the laptop has Win 98SE. I don't know if it is possible wirelessly, or with cables It would be a great help if I could share the cable broadband we have in the house.

As it only has 40Mb Ram, and 2Gb Hard drive I'm wondering if this is possible

Because of the low spec, I'd also like to connect an external CD\RW but I'm not sure if this is possible, or what make of CD\RW I should purchase.

I'm very pleased to find a forum which I am sure will be able to help me. I've always wanted to own a laptop, and when the opportunity came I bought it straightaway. I'm sure it's a great laptop and want to be able to use it to it's full potential.

Thank you for reading this post.

Kind regards

Brian

Hi Brian,

Welcome aboard.

I don;t think you should have any troubles with the networking. Just remember to keep your "WORKGROUPS" with the same name. In other words, if you have the PC in a workgroup of say HOME, you will have to make that the same workgroup for the notebook. You can do that through the network settings in Control Panel.

Are you using DHCP from your broadband or setting an IP by hand? If DHCP, make sure the notebook is set to also use DHCP and when it boots, you should be good. Do also make sure the PC has file sharing turned on. You can use the link under network settings to set up a home network. That worls pretty well for most.

What wireless card are you planning on using? Make sure it is compatable with your Windows 98. You might also look into the latest BIOS for the Thinkpad, and the latest firmware for the wireless card just to be complete.

Good luck with that. You will find many extremely helpful and talented people here, enjoy.

Cheers
Bob

Bob

Thanks for the welcome, much obliged.

There a couple of things I don't understand, which I hope you can help me with?

1. Workgroups - how do I check these in Home XP and Win 98SE? Is this easy to do?

2. I'm not familiar with DHCP. What is this please?

3. How can I update the BIOS? I recently downloaded a Win98SE service pack. It's an unofficial one but I'm hoping to get this on the laptop when I get an external CD drive. Will a BIOS update fit on a floppy?

4. Are Wireless cards hard to fit? Will the manufacturer have the necessary specification to help me choose?

Thank you for taking the time to reply to my post.

Brian

Hi Brian,

I'll do my best to help out.

1. To check the workgroup, you will need to right-click on 'My Computer' and then 'Properties'. I am not 100% sure with Win98, as I never used nor supported it. Lucky me. Anyhow in the 'Properties' pop-up you should have some network information like computer name, and workgroup or domain name. If these are different on the two machines, change one of the machines to match the other and then reboot.

2. DHCP is Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol. It allows a DHCP server to have a series of settings and ranges of IP Addresses it can hand out as new machines come on the network. I ask about the DHCP wondering if it might be on the broadband router you have. If so, that is great, as each machine will get a unique IP Address and should be able to see each other. For a test you can go to START | RUN and then put in winipcfg and hit enter. This will give you a window with much information regarding your network settings. For example, my home network is a 192.168.1.x 255.255.255.0 network. So my machines are in the series of 192.168.1.2 or 192.168.1.3, 192.168.1.4, etc. The other numbers: 255.255.255.0 are the subnet mask, this is nothing to be concerned with at the moment unless your subnet masks are different on each machine.

3. The BIOS is the pea-brain smarts of the computer's hardware. If it is old, it may have some issues that keep it from working perfectly. I only suggest it as a matter of course. It will not come from Microsoft as a software update, but rather from the hardware manufacturer, IBM for example. You can use the machine that can get on the net to download the latest BIOS. Follow the instructions to install it, if in fact you do require an upgrade.

4. I am not sure on your system, but if it has PCMCIA slots, you can get the proper PCMCIA card for it, wireless, that is, and go for it. Make sure you do not get a cardbus adapter card, as the 560 I think does not support cardbus....

I cannot think of anything else at the moment, so give this a go and see what happens.

Bob

I hope you are well. I managed to sneek some time to look at the laptop

I'm looking at the Device Manager.

4. I am not sure on your system, but if it has PCMCIA slots, you can get the proper PCMCIA card for it, wireless, that is, and go for it. Make sure you do not get a cardbus adapter card, as the 560 I think does not support cardbus

It says that there is a PCMCIA Socket. Cirrus Logic PCIC compaitble PCI to PCMCIA Bridge. Does this mean that I could network the laptop with the PC??

Working backwards here

2. DHCP is Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol. It allows a DHCP server to have a series of settings and ranges of IP Addresses it can hand out as new machines come on the network. I ask about the DHCP wondering if it might be on the broadband router you have. If so, that is great, as each machine will get a unique IP Address and should be able to see each other. For a test you can go to START | RUN and then put in winipcfg and hit enter. This will give you a window with much information regarding your network settings. For example, my home network is a 192.168.1.x 255.255.255.0 network. So my machines are in the series of 192.168.1.2 or 192.168.1.3, 192.168.1.4, etc. The other numbers: 255.255.255.0 are the subnet mask, this is nothing to be concerned with at the moment unless your subnet masks are different on each machine.

The test on the laptop says :

Ethernet Adapter Information = PPP Adapter
Adapter Address = 44-45-53-54-00-00
IP Address 0.0.0.0.
Subnet Mask 0.0.0.0.
DHCP Server 255.255.255.255.

On my PC it has this :

Oh! it doesn't like winipcfg on the PC

Sorry to have to dash off Bob, it's getting late here, but I'm hopeful that this will shed more light on what the Laptop can do with regard to networking. The manual I have managed to get in pdf format says that there are PC card slots for networking??

Thanks for your help again.

Kind regards

Brian

One thing you need to be aware of is that the 560 and 560e do not have cardbus support (unlike the 560X). That means that you'll need a wireless or wired network card that is non-cardbus, i.e., 16-bit, i.e., without the gold strip with the bumps along it at the connector end of the card. These cards are available, though you may be limited to 10mbps neworking (?).

I'm not absolutely sure of what I wrote above, so I advise you to confirm it with some of the more knowledgeable members of the board.

Brian, Nolonemo is right, make sure you get a 16 bit PCMCIA card. The 32 bit Cardbus cards will NOT work, so don't try.

It does look good that you can see the PCMCIA slots, now you need a 16 bit network card for it. I think you will have to scrounge for that. Ebay may be a friend on this.

That is right for the PPP adapter, which is the dial up addapter. It will show nothing (0.0.0.0 and 0.0.0.0) when not connected to a network. The 255.255.255.255 for the DHCP server means the network adpeter is calling out on any network to get info from any DHCP server. So far, everything looks great. You would have another adapter listed when the PCMCIA card is installed. On the XP you will need to use cmd.exe to bring up a command prompt and enter ipconfig /all to see what you have set for networking on the XP box.

Right now you do need to find a 16 bit network card to go to the next step. If you ask nicely around here, someone may have one to sell or loan or whatever. A Netgear MA401 for example should work.

The ball is in your court.

Just to let you know, I have been looking out for a couple of things for the laptop with regard to networking it.

I found this on Ebay http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... gory=64051 a 16 bit network card, and I'm looking at this auction as well http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... %3AIT&rd=1 for a CD-RW for storage.

What do you think? I wonder if I maybe I'm trying too hard. It's a low spec laptop and I'd really like to be able to do much more with it. I saw a hard drive for the 560. It's a 40gb for $200 approx. But I don't want to spend that much money

Please if you can let me know about the network card. I'd appreciate it as the auction finishes later today. Sorry to be a nuisance if any.

God Bless

Brian

That network card looks like exactly what you need. I have worked with Belkin network cards and access points and have been pleased with the products. You should be good with that.

Not too sure about the CD drive. That is up to you. It is maybe not NECESSARY, but nice to have. Says some pieces are missing, so be careful.

$200 for 40GB seems a little high. I think you can find better prices.

As to what to spend on legacy hardware is something only you can determine. If you know the machine will meet your needs with those upgrades and does not require tremendous CPU and RAM for your normal work, go for it. If this is an exercise, maybe not worth it.

For example, I spent a ton upgrading an old Apple Powerbook G4 400. I maxed the RAM and put in a 60GB 5,400 HD in it as well as an Airport card. For what I do with it, perfect, as I do not require the power of the latest Apple Powerbook. I would like it, but do not need it. You must figure what is right for you.

Good luck and not a nusience!

Hi Bob

thank you for your advice and thanks for your promptness.

Bob Collins wrote: Not too sure about the CD drive. That is up to you. It is maybe not NECESSARY, but nice to have. Says some pieces are missing, so be careful.

I have lots of info products, stuff to read like ebooks. I could put them on a floppy disk, or on a CD, so I'm hopeful that something like the CD-RW will help me put stuff on the laptop to read at home or on the move.

Bob Collins wrote:$200 for 40GB seems a little high. I think you can find better prices.

That price is £100 in GB money, so I'm not sure of the conversion into dollars

I'm going to go for it in terms of the network card, and I'll look at the CD-RW in a couple of days time. Maybe I'll get a bargain?

Thanks for all your help again, I'll let you know how I get on.

Bye for now.

Brian

I got the Belkin card for £4.20 GB money

Have I got much more to get now? I know that I need a card for the PC.

I'll be in touch.

Bye for now.

Brian

Brian,

Great deal on the Belkin card. I think for networking you are all set, all you must do is install the software for the OS to use the card, and get a simple ethernet netwrok cable.

Does your broadband modem/router have multiple ports on it? If so, you need only plug ethernet cables into the ports and the notebook and PC.

So far so good.
Bob

Bob I've been looking at the prices for a larger hard drive as I have mentioned earlier.

Is this the correct hard drive in question : 9mm thick travelstar drive?

There are a few on Ebay, soooo I was wondering??? One I have seen is a 30 Gig going for $6 with no bids, but seller is not sure if it works, but presumes it does???

Here's the link http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... eName=WDVW. There's a few others I've yet to look at.

Am I kidding myself looking on Ebay?

Lots of questions and not sure what to do.

Thanks for any help Bob.

Brian

Brian,

Travelling right now, so a bit more out of touch than usual. Sorry about not getting back to you so quickly.

As a matter of fact the 9.5MM should be great. I think the older machine can even accept a 12MM drive but I am not 100% sure on that. The 9.5MM will be fine.

As usual with Ebay, buyer beware. With that said, I have been VERY fortunate to have many good buys through Ebay. Make sure the seller has great feedback, and from MANY different people. Some people fake their feedback by having friends bid and "Win" and write positive stuff. I knew of a jeweler who di this round robin thing with a group of jewelers to falsely run up their auctions. They have since gone out of business due to cheating the IRS! hehehehe, but that is another story.

If the price is right and you are sure the seller is good, go for it and maybe you will get a great deal.

By the way, have you found the Hardware Maintenance Manual for your Thinkpad? If not you should. Offhand I do not have a link for it, but I am sure it is listed in the FAQ here on the forum.

Bob Collins wrote: Travelling right now, so a bit more out of touch than usual. Sorry about not getting back to you so quickly.

Bob,

it's very kind of you to help me at all! There's really no need to apologise. I'm sorry for pestering you! I hope the travelling is going well

Bob Collins wrote:As a matter of fact the 9.5MM should be great. I think the older machine can even accept a 12MM drive but I am not 100% sure on that. The 9.5MM will be fine.

I was very hopeful that it might be the right size. My only concern will be the correct size of the hard drive in terms of Gigabyte size for this laptop, and also taking the information off the old hard drive and getting it onto the new hard drive. So what would be the maximum size, and how to move the necessary files.

Bob Collins wrote:As usual with Ebay, buyer beware. With that said, I have been VERY fortunate to have many good buys through Ebay. Make sure the seller has great feedback, and from MANY different people.

I'm quite an avid Ebay user, so I will make absolutely sure of who is selling and that their feedback is solid.

Bob Collins wrote:Some people fake their feedback by having friends bid and "Win" and write positive stuff. I knew of a jeweler who di this round robin thing with a group of jewelers to falsely run up their auctions. They have since gone out of business due to cheating the IRS! hehehehe, but that is another story.

There's a guy calling himself a Ebay Guru. No doubt some of what he has acheived is legit, but in a manual he is selling, he aparantely advocates shilling, which is what you are talking about. I have no time for cheats, so I'm not interested in any of his material.

Bob Collins wrote:If the price is right and you are sure the seller is good, go for it and maybe you will get a great deal.

Bob, I'll do my very best

Bob Collins wrote:By the way, have you found the Hardware Maintenance Manual for your Thinkpad? If not you should. Offhand I do not have a link for it, but I am sure it is listed in the FAQ here on the forum.

IBM do have the maintenance manual to download at this link below.
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-39298

Bob, with your help we are nearly there. Thank you so much.

All the best and I hope the travelling goes well.

Kind regards

Brian

Hi Brian.

The travel is quite nice. I am taking some time off with my wife and son (3) to go visit his cousins in South Carolina. It is about 9 hours from where we are in Florida to them in South Carolina. We are having fun. Shot some model rockets today. Very cool, never done that before.

Anyhow, sounds like things are right on track for you. Good. I too found the HMM after I posted I did not have it. I forgot the family here just (finally) got DSL, so was not sure about DL-ing manuals and such. As I recall the manual mentions something like 2 and 4GB drives. I am not sure what the latest BIOS will allow. In the past I have done some crazy things like partition the drive on another machine, so the old (TP560) could see a boot drive and then let the OS handle the larger partitoins....

Hopefully your drive will work out. Otherwise, you might keep a 2GB or 4GB disk in it and use an external larger HD in one of thsoe USB enclosures....