ReadMe File for HF000X9 V0.6 Windows NT4/2K/XP Driver package part
Table of contents
1. Overview
2. Contents
3. Installation
4, Driver options
5. FAQ
6. Revision history
7. Disclaimer
8. Copyright notices
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1. Overview
HF000X9 is a driver package for the Diamond Multimedia HomeFree Wireless
LAN line of cards and adapters for Windows NT4, 2000, XP, 95, 98 and ME
operating systems, supporting PCMCIA, ISAPNP and PCI cards and adapters.
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2. Contents
HF000X9 for Windows NT4, 2K and XP consists of the following files
HF000X9 .INF - The INF file for all Windows operating systems
READMENT.TXT - This file
SKYLINE .SYS - The W9X driver for HomeFree WLAN cards and adapters
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3. Installation
You must be familiar with network setup procedures.
When prompted for the driver, select 'Have disk', choose the drive and
directory where HF000X9 was extracted and select HF000X9.INF.
Additional utilites from the original W9X distribution do not support
Windows NT4, 2K or XP. Replacements are not available.
Additional internet sharing utilites from the original W9X distribution
are not neccesary for Windows ME and XP, both including the 'Network
Installation Assistent' to create a diskette, containing necessary files
to grant support for bridge based internet access.
You may use XP network properties and settings to configure workgroups,
shared drives etc. compatible with and to W9X settings and properties.
Example
W9X TCP/IP configuration
User : GUEST (Setup)
Computername: COMP1 (Setup / network properties, ident.)
Workgroup : HOMEFREE (Network properties, ident.)
Description : MYNETWORK (Network properties, identification)
IP-Address : 192.168.000.001 (Protocol properties)
Subnet mask : 255.255.255.000 (Protocol properties)
DNS : - (Protocol properties)
CoNetId : MYNETWORK (Driver properties / Homeping)
ME TCP/IP configuration
User : GUEST (Setup)
Computername: COMP2 (Setup / network properties, ident.)
Workgroup : HOMEFREE (Network properties, identification)
Description : MYNETWORK (Network properties, identification)
IP-Address : 192.168.000.002 (Protocol properties)
Subnet mask : 255.255.255.000 (Protocol properties)
DNS : - (Protocol properties)
CoNetId : MYNETWORK (Driver properties / Homeping)
NT4/2K/XP TCP/IP configuration
User : GUEST (Setup)
Computername: COMP3 (Setup / network properties, ident.)
Workgroup : HOMEFREE (Network properties, identification)
Description : MYNETWORK (Network properties, identification)
IP-Address : 192.168.000.003 (Protocol properties)
Subnet mask : 255.255.255.000 (Protocol properties)
DNS : - (Protocol properties)
CoNetId : MYNETWORK (Driver / Network properties, adv.)
CoNetId 'MYNETWORK' for NT4/2K/XP is 'hardwired' into the INF file.
To customize the entry, use driver / network advanced properties page
to change the current value.
All text entries should or must be in upper case.
Windows 95 defaults to IPX/SPX without NetBIOS, no shared resources and
access rights during network installation. TCP/IP protocol, shared drives
and printers, access rights and path have to be supplied manualy.
Windows 98/SE and ME default to TCP/IP, no shared resources and
access rights during network installation. Shared drives
and printers, access rights and path have to be supplied manualy.
Windows XP Home and Pro default to TCP/IP, no shared resources and
access rights during network installation. Shared drives
and printers, access rights and path have to be supplied manualy.
XP and XP with Service Pack 1 do not support NetBEUI, use
'NWLink IPX/SPX/NetBIOS compatible protocol' for XP and
'IPX/SPX compatible protocol' with activated
'NetBIOS over IPX/SPX' for W9X instead.
XP with Service Pack 2 supports NetBEUI.
Minimum TCP/IP configuration is easier to set up and more reliable than
NetBIOS over IPX/SPX.
Configurations testet
IPX/SPX/NetBIOS connecting XP Pro SP1 / HFPCI to W95 / HFPCMCIA (Diamond)
IPX/SPX/NetBIOS connecting XP Pro SP1 / HFPCI to W95 / HFPCMCIA (Generic)
TCP/IP connecting XP Pro SP1 / HFPCI to W95 / HFPCMCIA (Diamond)
TCP/IP connecting XP Pro SP1 / HFPCI to W95 / HFPCMCIA (Generic)
TCP/IP connecting XP Pro SP2 / HFPCI to W98 / HFPCMCIA (Generic)
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4. Driver options
Physical driver and network parameters can be modified, changing default
values in the advanced network properties page, optimizing performance
or to customize settings.
'CoNetId' (network identification) is a unique identfier distinguish-
ing accessable nodes of one wireless lan from foreign wlans.
Default : MYNETWORK
Max. length : 32 letters and digits
Case : Upper and lower case possible
'MaximumLinkSpeed' limits the actual transfer speed (bitrate) of
possible connections; higher bitrats possible due to hardware
capability, but not confirmed.
Default : 1.0 Mbit
Values : 0.5 Mbit, 1.0 Mbit (,1.5 Mbit, 2.0 Mbit)
'NetworkAddress' allows to substitude the current network address.
Default : 'Auto'
Max. length : 12 hexadecimal letters and digits
Case : Upper case only
'TxMinimumHoldoff' defines timeout hold off to prevent packet collisions.
Default : 1000
Range : 0...10000
Step : 100
'VendorDescription' identifies the vendor of the network.
Default : HOMEFREE
Max. length : 32 letters and digits
Case : Upper and lower case possible
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5. FAQ
Q. Driver crashes XP after long idle periods in single machine environe-
ment.
A. Deactivate device when unneeded.
Q. Bubblegum boxes keep popping up, reporting endlessly 'No cable connec-
ted' and 'Cable reconnected'.
A. Deactivate device when no network connection is available.
Q. During driver installation the system crashes after a short period of
time. Running programs seem to accelerate this.
A. An active second node (even unconfigured) and terminating all running
programs prevents this.
Q. HF000X9 for Windows 9X supports HomePing WLU. Can HomePing be used with
XP, too?
A. HomePing is unable to open the registry as needed. Additional para-
meters can be emulated. BIGSKYLN.VXD can't be opened.
Driver limitations keep other wireless lan utilities from recognizing
HomeFree cards and adapters, use protocol analysation utilities instead.
(-> NetGroup 'Analayser', System Internals 'TDIMON')
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6. Revision history
08/21/2004, V0.1, Crosscompare version for ALL_OS.INF assembled
08/25/2004, V0.2, All OS version stripped down to NT/2K/XP only
09/01/2004, V0.3, Additional skyline parameters isolated/preset
08/03/2005, V0.4, Minor additions, updated ReadME
08/08/2005, V0.5, Reintegration into ALL_OS.INF
12/01/2005, V0.6, Advanced network properties, WHQL conformity
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7. Disclaimer
This driver is provided in good faith and the hope that it is useful for
users, however the author explicitly disclaims all liability for damages
that are a result of the usage of this driver.
The author is not affiliated with any company mentioned, nor is any support
available from them.
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8. Copyright notices
BIGSKYLN.VXD, SKYHOOK.VXD and SKYLINE.SYS are Copyright (C) Alation Systems
, Inc.
HOMEPING.EXE is Copyright (C) Diamond Multimedia Systems, Inc.
HomeFree (R) is Registered Trademark (TM) Diamond Multimedia Systems, Inc.
Windows (R) 95, 98, ME, NT4, 2K and XP are Copyright (C) Microsoft Corp.
NetGroup Analsyser is Copyright (C) Politecnico di Torino, Italy
TDIMON is Copyright (C) Mark Russinovich
Download Driver Pack
After your driver has been downloaded, follow these simple steps to install it.
Expand the archive file (if the download file is in zip or rar format).
If the expanded file has an .exe extension, double click it and follow the installation instructions.
Otherwise, open Device Manager by right-clicking the Start menu and selecting Device Manager.
Find the device and model you want to update in the device list.
Double-click on it to open the Properties dialog box.
From the Properties dialog box, select the Driver tab.
Click the Update Driver button, then follow the instructions.
Very important: You must reboot your system to ensure that any driver updates have taken effect.
For more help, visit our Driver Support section for step-by-step videos on how to install drivers for every file type.