WG0670: The Intel SOFTSET Utility

Last reviewed: May 1, 1997
Article ID: Q95139

3.10 WINDOWS kbnetwork kbfile kbappnote kbtlc

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Windows for Workgroups version 3.1

The Microsoft Product Support Services (PSS) Application Note titled "WG0670: The Intel SOFTSET Utility" contains the Intel SOFTSET utility, which is provided by Intel Corporation for use with its EtherExpress(TM) line of network adapter cards. This utility is used to configure the network interface card (NIC) and diagnose potential hardware problems.

You can obtain this Application Note from the following sources:

Microsoft's World Wide Web Site on the Internet
The Internet (Microsoft anonymous ftp server)
Microsoft Download Service (MSDL)
Microsoft FastTips Technical Library
Microsoft Product Support Services

For complete information, see the "To Obtain This Application Note" section at the end of this article.

THE TEXT OF WG0670

  Microsoft(R) Product Support Services Application Note (Text File)
               WG0670: THE INTEL(R) SOFTSET(TM) UTILITY

                                                  Revision Date: 12/92
                                                         Disk Included

The following information applies to Microsoft Windows(TM) for Workgroups version 3.1.

 --------------------------------------------------------------------
| INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THIS DOCUMENT AND ANY SOFTWARE THAT MAY    |
| ACCOMPANY THIS DOCUMENT (collectively referred to as an            |
| Application Note) IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY      |
| KIND, EITHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO    |
| THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND/OR FITNESS FOR A     |
| PARTICULAR PURPOSE. The user assumes the entire risk as to the     |
| accuracy and the use of this Application Note. This Application    |
| Note may be copied and distributed subject to the following        |
| conditions: 1) All text must be copied without modification and    |
| all pages must be included; 2) If software is included, all files  |
| on the disk(s) must be copied without modification [the MS-DOS(R)  |
| utility DISKCOPY is appropriate for this purpose]; 3) All          |
| components of this Application Note must be distributed together;  |
| and 4) This Application Note may not be distributed for profit.    |
|                                                                    |
| Copyright 1992 Microsoft Corporation. All Rights Reserved.         |
| Microsoft and MS-DOS are registered trademarks and Windows         |
| is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation.                           |
| Intel is a registered trademark and EtherExpress and SOFTSET are   |
| trademarks of Intel Corporation.                                   |
 --------------------------------------------------------------------

INTRODUCTION

The enclosed WG0670 disk contains the Intel SOFTSET utility, which is provided by Intel Corporation for use with its EtherExpress(TM) line of network adapter cards. This utility is used to configure the network interface card (NIC) and diagnose potential hardware problems. Microsoft does not provide this utility with Windows for Workgroups because SOFTSET is not normally required for the proper operation of Windows for Workgroups.

THE INTEL ETHEREXPRESS ETHERNET ADAPTERS

The Intel EtherExpress adapters are software-configurable Ethernet cards. They contain no hardware jumpers, DIP switches, or other means for configuring the NIC. EtherExpress holds its settings in an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM) chip. These settings are dynamically adjustable. This means that regardless of the NIC's settings, you can override the adapter settings by using the software.

Windows for Workgroups adjusts the settings of the EtherExpress adapter during the boot of the host machine. For this reason, SOFTSET is not necessary for configuring EtherExpress with Windows for Workgroups and consequently is not included with the released product.

For example, EtherExpress has a default configuration of:

   I/O Base   300h
   IRQ        3
   RAM        None

If you select IRQ 5 during Windows for Workgroups setup, this IRQ setting will override the programmed setting in the EtherExpress EPROM.

  NOTE: Configuring the EtherExpress adapter with Windows for
  Workgroups will not change the settings on the NIC EPROM. The
  reconfiguration will take effect only after the Windows for
  Workgroups network device drivers have loaded.

ETHEREXPRESS ON AN EISA MACHINE

Extended Industry Standard Architecture (EISA) machines attempt to determine what type of hardware is installed during their boot process. Because the EtherExpress adapter is not configured for Windows for Workgroups until its device drivers load, you can have EtherExpress installed in an EISA machine and have EtherExpress conflict with another NIC. While this does not impede the operation of Windows for Workgroups, the conflict will cause errors during the boot process of the EISA machine.

In this situation, using the Intel SOFTSET utility to change the settings of the EtherExpress adapter will help you bypass boot difficulties. By running SOFTSET, you can change the conflicting settings on EtherExpress to cause it to hold different settings at boot time. Again, this will not interfere with the operation of Windows for Workgroups.

RUNNING SOFTSET

You cannot run SOFTSET if the EtherExpress adapter is in use. Therefore, no network drivers can be loaded when you run SOFTSET. The easiest way to configure EtherExpress with SOFTSET is by booting from a system (bootable) disk. To create a system disk, then boot your machine from it, and then run SOFTSET, do the following:

    NOTE: Steps 1 and 2 are not necessary if you already have a system
    disk. If you have a system disk, place that disk in drive A and
    skip to step 3.

Insert a blank floppy disk in drive A.

To create a system disk, type the following at the MS-DOS command prompt and press enter:

      format a: /s

With the system disk in drive A, reboot your machine.

Place the enclosed WG0670 disk in the appropriate drive.

Change to the drive that contains the WG0670 disk. Type the following at the MS-DOS command prompt and press enter:

      softset

SOFTSET will present the following options:

  Option         Description
  ------         -----------

  Automatic      When you select this option, SOFTSET will present
  setup          two choices: the BNC and DIX connectors. If you are
                 using one of the Microsoft starter kits, or add
                 ons, you should probably choose BNC. Otherwise, you
                 need to know what type of connector your machine is
                 using to connect to the network.

                    BNC connector = Coaxial cable, RG-58, or thinnet
                    DIX connector = 15-pin connector, RG-11, RG-8,
                    or thicknet

  Manual setup   This option allows knowledgeable users to configure
                 the EtherExpress adapter to values appropriate for
                 their systems. Alterable settings are:

                    I/O address
                    Interrupt
                    Connector type
                    Force 8-bit operation
                    Boot ROM address
                    Amount of RAM to map
                    RAM start address

                 To change a value, use the arrow keys on the
                 keyboard to highlight your selection and press
                 enter.

  Run            There are two forms of diagnostics available under
  diagnostics    this option. Run Diagnostics On Board can be run on
                 any machine containing an EtherExpress adapter. Run
                 Diagnostics On Network and Set Up As Diagnostics
                 Responder require at least two machines connected
                 with the appropriate cabling.

                 Run Diagnostics On Board allows you to test the
                 Ethernet adapter itself for potential defects.

                 Run Diagnostics On Network and Set Up As
                 Diagnostics Responder allow you to test whether the
                 media connecting the two machines that contain
                 EtherExpress adapters is functional. This is
                 particularly useful in configurations where the
                 cabling or connectors are suspect in networking
                 problems. Running these tests from a machine
                 experiencing problems will help locate these
                 problems.

                 To perform this test, do the following steps:

                 1. Select Run Diagnostics On Board to ensure that
                    the Ethernet adapter itself is functioning
                    correctly.

                 2. Install the EtherExpress adapter in two machines.

                 3. Connect the machines with the appropriate
                    cabling.

                 4. Start SOFTSET on both machines.

                 5. On one machine, choose Set Up As Diagnostics
                    Responder.

                 6. After this machine has been set up with this
                    option, choose Run Diagnostics On Network on the
                    second machine.

                   NOTE: If the SOFTSET diagnostics fail, repeat
                   these steps after troubleshooting general network
                   hardware issues.

  View current   This option allows you to view the current settings
  configuration  of the EtherExpress adapter.

  Save           This option allows a LAN administrator to save a
  configuration  configuration to a file for use with other
  to file        EtherExpress adapters.

  Load           Choosing this option allows you to load a
  configuration  configuration previously saved to disk. This can
  from file      also be accomplished from the MS-DOS command line
                 by using the following command

                    softset /load=<filename>

                 where filename is the name of the configuration
                 file you want to load.

  Exit SOFTSET   Choose this option to quit SOFTSET.

TO OBTAIN THIS APPLICATION NOTE

You can find WG0670.EXE (size: 80208 bytes) 
                       , a self-extracting file, on the following

services:

Microsoft's World Wide Web Site on the Internet

      On the www.microsoft.com home page, click the Support icon.
      Click Knowledge Base, and select the product.
      Enter kbfile WG0670.EXE (size: 80208 bytes) 
                             , and click GO!
      Open the article, and click the button to download the file.

Internet (anonymous FTP)

      ftp ftp.microsoft.com
      Change to the Softlib/Mslfiles folder.
      Get WG0670.EXE (size: 80208 bytes)

Microsoft Download Service (MSDL)

      Dial (425) 936-6735 to connect to MSDL
      Download WG0670.EXE (size: 80208 bytes)

For additional information about downloading, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q119591
   TITLE     : How to Obtain Microsoft Support Files from Online
               Services

You can have this Application Note mailed or faxed to you from the automated Microsoft FastTips Technical Library, which you can call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at (800) 936-4200. NOTE: The FastTips Technical Library is available only to customers within the U.S. and Canada.

If you are unable to access the source(s) listed above, you can have this Application Note mailed or faxed to you by calling Microsoft Product Support Services Monday through Friday, 6:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. Pacific time at (425) 637-7098. If you are outside the United States, contact the Microsoft subsidiary for your area.

KBCategory: kbnetwork kbfile kbappnote
KBSubcategory: wfw wfwg
Additional reference words: appnote wg3ltlc 3.10
Keywords : wfw wfwg kbappnote kbfile kbnetwork
Version : 3.10
Platform : WINDOWS

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.

Last reviewed: May 1, 1997
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