Setting Up Windows XP/Vista for the Dartmouth Network

If you have any questions, contact the IT Service Desk (Help Desk) at 646-2999 and select from the options provided, send e-mail to help@dartmouth.edu, or call your department's IT support office.

Who Needs This Information?

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Any faculty or staff member of the Dartmouth community who wants to access the Dartmouth network from on campus using Windows XP Professional or Vista.

Undergraduate Students: Do not use this information. You need to configure your computer according to the guidelines in the document called Configuring Your Windows XP/Vista Computer.

Tuck and Thayer Students: Do not use this information. You need to configure your computer according to the guidelines for the Tuck and Thayer Schools specifically. To obtain a copy of the instructional guide, or if you have other related questions, call Tuck's Office of Information Technology at 646-1818 or Thayer Computing at 646-2807.

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What Do I Need to Get Started?

Your computer must be equipped with a supported Ethernet adapter and have the appropriate software drivers installed. If you purchased your computer from Dartmouth's Computer Sales and Service, these items are already installed. If you do not have a network adapter installed, we highly recommend you have a Dartmouth-approved network adapter installed by Computer Sales and Service. For more information, call Computer Sales and Service at 646-3249.

Some of the following steps may require your Windows XP or Vista installation disks; we recommend having them readily available.

Make sure your Ethernet cable is plugged into your computer and into the Network port (blue plastic tab or dot) on the wall or into the jack on your Voice-over-IP (VoIP) phone. Make sure you are using an Ethernet cable.

Note: If you reinstall Windows XP or Vista, and your computer was previously a member of the Kiewit domain, you will need to have your computer name reset or renamed. If you need assistance with this, contact the IT Service Desk at 646-2999 and select from the options provided, send e-mail to help@dartmouth.edu, or call your division's IT support office.

For more information related to this topic, see:

How Do I Configure My Computer for the Dartmouth Network?

Note: These instructions apply to faculty and staff members. If you are a student, please see Configuring Your Windows XP/Vista Computer.

Windows Vista

  1. The first step is to register your computer on the network. To do this, with your computer plugged into an Ethernet port on the Dartmouth network, open a web browser. You will be prompted to enter a description of your computer, then click Continue. Next, enter your DND (BlitzMail) user name and password, then click Login. Once you see a window that tells you your registration is complete, close your web browser and wait two minutes. Registrations are good for one year. You'll receive an e-mail a few days prior to the expiration of your registration reminding you to re-register.
  2. Next, click Start and select Control Panel. In the Control Panel window, click the link titled View network status and tasks under Network and Internet, or, if you are in Classic View, click Network and Sharing Center. In the Network and Sharing Center window, under Network, click the View status link next to Local Area Connection. In the Local Area Connection Status window, click Properties. A User Account Control message will appear asking for you permission to continue. Click Continue.
  3. In the Local Area Connection Properties window, confirm that the item Client for Microsoft Windows is checked.  (If that item is not there, install it by clicking Install, Client, then clicking Add. Click on Client for Microsoft Networks, then click OK.)
  4. Highlight the Client for Microsoft Networks item by clicking on it, then click Properties. Change the Name Service Provider to Windows Locator, then click OK.
  5. Highlight the Internet Protocol Version 4 (TXP/IPv4) item, then click Properties. Confirm that Obtain an IP address automatically and Obtain DNS Server Addresses Automatically are selected. Click OK, then click Close to close the Local Area Connection Properties window.

Windows XP

  1. The first step is to register your computer on the network. To do this, with your computer plugged into an Ethernet port on the Dartmouth network, open a web browser. You will be prompted to enter a description of your computer, then click Continue. Next, enter your DND (BlitzMail) user name and password, then click Login. Once you see a window that tells you your registration is complete, close your web browser and wait two minutes. Registrations are good for one year. You'll receive an e-mail a few days prior to the expiration of your registration reminding you to re-register.
  2. Next, click Start, Control Panel, Network and Internet Connections, then Network Connections. Right-click Local Area Connection and select Properties. Make sure that Client for Microsoft Networks is found in the box labeled This connection uses the following items on the General tab. (If it is not there, install it by clicking Install, Client, then Add. Click Client for Microsoft Networks, then click OK.) Check the box that appears in front of the Client for Microsoft Networks listing if one does not already appear there.
  3. Highlight the Client for Microsoft Networks item by clicking on it, then click the Properties button. Change the Name Service Provider to Windows Locator. Click OK.
  4. Check to see if Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) appears in the box labeled This connection uses the following items. (If it is not there, install it by clicking on Install, Protocol, then Add, then click Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), then OK.) Check the box that appears in front of the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) listing if one does not already appear there. Click OK.
  5. Highlight the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) item, then click the Properties button. Make sure Obtain an IP address automatically and Obtain DNS Server Addresses Automatically are selected. Click OK twice to close the Local Area Connection Status window.