ReadMe File for HF000X9 V0.7 Windows 95A/B/C/98/98SE/ME 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 95, 98, ME and XP operating
systems, supporting PCMCIA, ISAPNP and PCI cards and adapters.
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2. Contents
HF000X9 for Windows 95, 98 and ME consists of the following files
BIGSKYLN.VXD - The VxD Memory trace device
WIN95A .TXT - The easy network installation guide for Windows 95A
WIN95B .TXT - The easy network installation guide for Windows 95B
WIN95C .TXT - The easy network installation guide for Windows 95C
WIN98 .TXT - The easy network installation guide for Windows 98
WIN98SE .TXT - The easy network installation guide for Windows 98SE
WINME .TXT - The easy network installation guide for Windows ME
HF000X9 .CAT - The Windows 98/SE, ME dummy catalog file
HF000X9 .INF - The INF file for Windows 9X/ME operating systems
HOMEPING.EXE - The HomeFree wireless lan utility (WLU)
HOMEPING.TXT - The WLU ReadMe
README9X.TXT - This file
SKYHOOK .VXD - The Windows 95 support
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.
For an easy step-by-step network and driver installation, browse the
'GUIDES' folder in your distibution copy of 'HF000X9', read and print
the guide for your operating system and follow its instructions.
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 from client machines.
You may use Windows 9X/ME network properties and settings to configure
workgroups, shared drives etc.
Example
W9x TCP/IP configuration
User : GUEST (Setup)
Computername: COMP1 (Setup / network properties, ident.)
Workgroup : HOMEFREE (Network properties, identification)
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 (Network properties, adv. / 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 (Network properties, adv. / HomePing)
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 Windows 9X/ME is 'hardwired' into the INF file.
To customize the entry use the driver / network advanced properties page
or the 'HomePing' WLU 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. Additional
information about network installation and configuration is supplied in the
'easy step-by-step installation guide' files 'EASYW95A.TXT', 'EASY95B.TXT'
and 'EASY95C.TXT'.
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. Additional information about
network installation and configuration is supplied in the 'easy step-by-step
installation guide' files 'EASY98.TXT', 'EASY98SE.TXT' and 'EASYME.TXT'.
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. Additional information about network
installation and configuration is supplied in the 'easy step-by-step install-
ation guide' file 'EASYXP.TXT'.
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' to connect W9X/ME to XP instead.
XP with Service Pack 2 supports 'NetBEUI'.
Minimum 'TCP/IP' configuration is preferable to and more reliable than
'NetBIOS' over 'IPX/SPX'.
Configurations testet
TCP/IP connecting W95A / HFPCMCIA (Generic) to W98 / HFPCI (Generic)
TCP/IP connecting W95A / HFPCMCIA (Generic) to W98 / HFPCI (Diamond)
TCP/IP connecting W95A / HFPCMCIA (Generic) to WinME/ HFPCI (Generic)
TCP/IP connecting W95A / HFPCMCIA (Generic) to WinME/ HFPCI (Diamond)
TCP/IP connecting W95A / HFPCMCIA (Generic) to WinXP/ HFPCI (Generic)
TCP/IP connecting W95B / HFPCMCIA (Generic) to WinME/ HFPCI (Generic)
TCP/IP connecting W95B / HFPCMCIA (Generic) to WinME/ HFPCI (Diamond)
TCP/IP connecting W95B / HFPCMCIA (Generic) to WinXP/ HFPCI (Generic)
TCP/IP connecting W95C / HFPCMCIA (Generic) to WinME/ HFPCI (Generic)
TCP/IP connecting W95C / HFPCMCIA (Generic) to WinME/ HFPCI (Diamond)
TCP/IP connecting W95C / HFPCMCIA (Generic) to WinXP/ HFPCI (Generic)
TCP/IP connecting W98 / HFPCMCIA (Generic) to WinME/ HFPCI (Generic)
TCP/IP connecting W98 / HFPCMCIA (Generic) to WinME/ HFPCI (Diamond)
TCP/IP connecting W98 / HFPCMCIA (Generic) to WinXP/ HFPCI (Generic)
TCP/IP connecting W98SE/ HFPCMCIA (Generic) to WinXP/ HFPCI (Generic)
TCP/IP connecting W95A / HFPCMCIA (Generic) to W98 / HFISAPNP (Generic)
TCP/IP connecting W95A / HFPCMCIA (Generic) to W98 / HFISAPNP (Diamond)
TCP/IP connecting W95A / HFPCMCIA (Generic) to WinME/ HFISAPNP (Generic)
TCP/IP connecting W95A / HFPCMCIA (Generic) to WinME/ HFISAPNP (Diamond)
NetBEUI connecting W95A / HFPCMCIA (Generic) to W98 / HFPCMCIA (Generic)
NetBEUI connecting W95A / HFPCMCIA (Generic) to W98 / HFPCMCIA (Diamond)
NetBEUI connecting W95A / HFPCMCIA (Generic) to WinME/ HFPCI (Generic)
NetBEUI connecting W95A / HFPCMCIA (Generic) to WinME/ HFPCI (Diamond)
IPX/SPX connecting W95A / HFPCMCIA (Generic) to WinXP/ HFPCI (Generic)
IPX/SPX connecting W95A / HFPCMCIA (Diamond) to WinXP/ HFPCI (Generic)
Configurations untestet
NT4/2K/2K3 (Generic)
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4. Driver options
Physical driver and network parameters can be modified, changing default
values in the network properties advanced tab, 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
'Interrupt Number' is automaticaly administered by the system, no
user interface available.
Default : 'Auto'
'I/O Base Address' is automaticaly administered by the system, no
user interface available.
Default : 'Auto'
'MaximumLinkSpeed' limits the actual transfer speed (bitrate) of
possible connections; higher bitrats possible due to hardware
capability of the IFR controller, but not confirmed.
Default : 1.0 Mbit
Values : 0.5 Mbit, 1.0 Mbit (,1.5 , 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0 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. Can 'HF000X9' replace the original windows driver package?
A. 'HF000X9' contains only necessary and compatible parts. It provides the
functionality and support needed and usual for wireless lan products.
Q. Windows 95 reports missing files 'HOMEPING.DOC' and 'SVRAPI.DLL' during
installation and several others during removal of the original driver
package.
A. The installation and removal procedures and sequences are cleaned up.
Q. Windows ME crashes during installation of original drivers.
A. The original drivers missused 'SKYNDI.DLL' for extended installation
options. The complete procedure is no longer used.
Q. HomePing won't report any visible nodes.
A. Add the protocol 'NetBEUI' to your bindings.
HomePing must be running on every node to be reported.
Q. Are common wireless lan utilities and sniffers compatible with the
HomeFree wlan?
A. HomeFree wireless lan emulates an IEEE 802.3 cable based lan. It's
Windows 95/98 driver design restricts performance and interface,
providing support for common and advanced protocol analysation on
network protocol level only.
(-> NetGroup 'Analayser', System Internals 'TDIMON')
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6. Revision history
08/21/2004, V0.1, Crosscompare version for ALL_OS.INF assembled
07/19/2005, V0.2, All OS version stripped down to W9X/ME only
07/28/2005, V0.3, Optional parameters added
08/03/2005, V0.4, HomePing WLU support added
08/08/2005, V0.5, Reintegration into ALL_OS.INF
12/01/2005, V0.6, Advanced network properties, WHQL conformity
01/04/2006, V0.7, Minor changes and additions, network installation guides
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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, 2K3 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.