LinkToNet Connections Fail When a Network Adapter is Already Installed - Search Again

 

SUMMARY

I have tried to make a connection from my computer to a LinkToNet host. The modems appears to connect but any time I try to use any of the LinkToNet services (LapLinking to another computer across the LinkToNet connection, browsing the Internet, etc.) the connections time out. What can I do to get connected?

 

CAUSE

LinkToNet users are likely to see this scenario if their guest computer has a network card installed. This could be a standard network interface card (NIC) or it could be a PCMCIA combo card (modem and NIC).

This scenario is not due to any limitations in LinkToNet. At the core of LinkToNet on the guest computer is Microsoft’s Dial-Up Networking (DUN). LinkToNet uses DUN to make the connection to the LinkToNet host. DUN has limitations when it finds that multiple TCP/IP network connections are possible. Once a LinkToNet connection is made, a network connection could exist with the NIC, and with DUN. DUN defaults to routing all TCP/IP network traffic through the NIC when multiple network adapters are present. This makes the LinkToNet connection time-out, as no traffic gets sent through that connection. We have found some workarounds to this scenario.

 

SOLUTION

The first option is to remove the TCP/IP protocol from the NIC. This can be done permanently if TCP/IP is not required for a LAN or WAN network connection, or before dialing with LinkToNet.

    For machines running Windows 95 or 98, to unbind TCP/IP:

    1. Right-click the Network Neighborhood icon, and click Properties.

    2. On the Configuration tab, highlight the NIC adapter, and click Properties.

    3. Click the Bindings tab.

    4. Remove the checkmark from TCP/IP.

    5. Click OK, and reboot the computer if requested.

    To remove the TCP/IP protocol entirely, from Network Neighborhood Properties:
    1. On the Configuration tab, highlight the TCP/IP protocol where it is bound to the NIC. The correct line will look something like this:

        2. TCP/IP --> 3Com Fast Etherlink XL NIC

      Note: Be careful not to locate the line where TCP/IP is bound to the Dial-up adapter.
    2. Click Remove.

    3. Click OK, and reboot the computer as requested.

Another option is to create an alternate hardware profile for use with LinkToNet. On computers that have separate modems and network adapters, you can create a hardware profile in Windows 95 or 98 that will allow you to disable the network adapter temporarily when you wish to use LapLink.

    To set up the alternate profile:

    1. Right-click the My Computer icon and click Properties.

    2. Click the Hardware Profiles tab.

    3. Click the Copy button to copy the machine’s original configuration.

    4. In the To: field, enter a name for the new configuration. For this example, we’ll call it LapLink LinkToNet. Then click OK twice to exit System Properties.

    5. From the Windows Start menu, click Shut Down, then Restart to reboot your computer.

    6. During the reboot, you will be given a choice of configurations. Select the LapLink LinkToNet configuration and finish booting into Windows.

    7. Right-click the My Computer icon and click Properties.

    8. Click the Device Manager tab.

    9. Click the plus (+) sign next to Network Adapters. This will expand out the list of adapters for you.

    10. Highlight the NIC and click Properties.

    11. On the General tab, under the section labeled Device Usage, click the box Disable in This Hardware Profile.

    12. Click OK twice to exit.

    13. Reboot your machine and select the Original Configuration profile.

    When you are ready to use LapLink to make a LinkToNet connection, simply reboot your machine and choose the LapLink LinkToNet hardware profile during the boot process.
    Note: If you are using a PCMCIA Combo card (modem and network adapter in a single card), this may not work. In many cases the drivers for the modem and the network adapter within the PCMCIA card are tied together, and disabling one will cause the other to not function correctly. If this occurs, contact your PCMCIA card manufacturer for further support.

Another solution is to set up static IP routing that forces the use of the IP address through the LinkToNet connection.
For information on how to set IP addresses for the TCP/IP protocol, click here to view Microsoft's Technical Document, Q154091. See Paragraph 5.3. Please contact your network administrator or Microsoft if you need assistance with carrying out this solution.

 

 Related Articles

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  Frequently Asked Questions about LinkToNet Feature
  Missing DNS Routing Causes LinkToNet Connection to Fail when Running in Windows 95 and Windows NT
  Unable to Enable Link to Net on LapLink 2000 or LapLink Gold

 

Last updated: Friday, August 24, 2001

Article #23

Legacy Article #2003