■ make sure that all software installation requirements are met. see "system requirements" on page 7.
■ install the hardware. for instructions, see "installing and connecting the nic" on page 7.
before beginning this procedure, verify that windows 2000 has been upgraded to the latest version with the latest service pack applied.
make sure the correct bios and firmware are installed to ensure the system works correctly.
use the following procedure to install the driver for the first time in a system running windows 2000.
1 start windows 2000 and log in. you must have network administrator privileges to install the driver software.
the windows 2000 found new hardware wizard detects the new nics and begins the driver installation.
2 insert the 3com installation cd in the cd-rom drive.
3 from the main menu, select nic software.
4 from the list on the left, click nic drivers.
5 click install nic drivers.
6 click install win 2000 nic drivers.
7 the please wait screen appears. after the installation is completed, an update dialog box appears. click ok.
8 the choose operating system screen appears. click windows 2000.
9 follow the steps in the completing nic installation with windows 2000 screen.
click done.
10 click exit.
11 make sure the 3com installation cd is still in the cd-rom drive.
12 in the found new hardware wizard screen, click next.
13 the install hardware device drivers window appears. click search for a suitable driver for my device, and then click next.
14 the locate driver files screen appears. select the cd-rom drives checkbox, and then click next.
15 the driver files search results screen appears. verify that the correct path to the driver software is shown (c:\winnt\inf\oem0.inf), and then click next. if you acquired the nic software on a floppy disk or from the 3com web site, click where the nic driver files reside on your system.
16 the completing the found new hardware wizard screen appears. click finish.
after installation of the driver software is complete, you are ready to configure nic properties.
after installing the drivers, it is recommended that you install the 3com management programs to make full use of all management features. for more information, see "3com management programs" on page 85.