The laptop is running a fresh install of 98 (barely). It could crap out at
any moment.

I have the laptop Primary Network Logon = Client for Microsoft Networks

Desktop with Vista recognizes when the laptop turns on and off (the RJ-45
port lights up)

what else do i need to get laptop to logon to the network?
will RJ-45 connected between laptop and vista machine work? or do i need
some other network doohickey?

is it supposed that in ten years i am expected to contact my 'system
administrator' to do such things or might microsoft just tell me directly
what must be done to connect two computers together?

"mataeux" <mataeux@basicISP.net> wrote in message
news:A6ED1C6F-83F1-4F5B-8EFB-C19527939318@microsoft.com...[color=blue]
> is it supposed that in ten years i am expected to contact my 'system
> administrator' to do such things or might microsoft just tell me directly
> what must be done to connect two computers together?[/color]

Like it is Microsoft's job to tell you how to network, right?

Anyways, a normal LAN cable *might* work, IF the Vista desktop has a LAN
connector that is smart enough to figure out a computer-to-computer
connection, (automatic crossover), instead of a computer-to-hub connection.
Otherwise you will need a hub and 2 cables OR a single crossover cable.

mataeux wrote:
[color=blue]
> The laptop is running a fresh install of 98 (barely). It could crap out at
> any moment.
>
> I have the laptop Primary Network Logon = Client for Microsoft Networks
>
> Desktop with Vista recognizes when the laptop turns on and off (the RJ-45
> port lights up)
>
> what else do i need to get laptop to logon to the network?
> will RJ-45 connected between laptop and vista machine work? or do i need
> some other network doohickey?
>
> is it supposed that in ten years i am expected to contact my 'system
> administrator' to do such things or might microsoft just tell me directly
> what must be done to connect two computers together?[/color]

Why bother with this? Why not just pull the laptop drive and put it in a USB
drive enclosure or use a laptop drive adapter? It's a waste of time trying
to network a machine that may die at any moment.

It's not Microsoft's job to tell you how to do this. And this isn't
Microsoft you're talking to here either, just regular people (who don't
work for the company) who are volunteering to help others. If you don't
know how to do what you need, get a computer professional in to do the job
for you. Oh, and if you insist on doing things the hard way and networking
you'll need either crossover cable to go NIC-to-NIC or straight-through
ethernet and a switch or router.

Malke
--
MS-MVP
Elephant Boy Computers
[url]www.elephantboycomputers.com[/url]
Don't Panic!