Problem setting Options in Sam Spade.

[Y415]

In trying to set up Options in Sam Spade, I ran into a problem on the first page, finding my Default Nameserver. Sam Spade Help sends me to Network in Control Panel, and then DNS Config. In TC/IP properties, (I selected TC/IP Realtek Ethernet PC NIC.., from the several that were listed), Disable DNS is checked. When I click on Enable DNS, all the fields are blank. Similarly, in IP Address, everything is blank. Same for Gateway. Is this normal? Should I enter the info found in winipcfg?
I have a high speed cable modem, Realtek ethernet card (supplied by my ISP), OS is W98.
Where can I get all the info that Sam Spade needs?
If anyone has advice, please try to keep it simple.
Merci beaucoup!

[Old Fart]

do a winipcfg from the run line and click the button that says more info. make sure you are looking at the correct adapter for the way you connect to the net (your realtek NIC)

The nameservers will be listed on that screen. Enable DNS and add them to your list of nameservers.

[Y415]

Thanks for reply, Old Fart.
Went to info in winipcfg and there are 2 parts - Host info and Ethernet adapter info. Does DNS mean Default name server? If so, there is one shown.

[Old Fart]

DNS - Domain Name Server

Everything on the internet is actually a TCP/IP number, like speedguide.net is actually 63.217.30.70.

Think of it as a phone directory that your computer MUST use to find websites if you type in www.whatever.com.

If you were to use IP addresses to brows the web, DNS would be unneccesary, but in the interest of ease of remembering, DNS was developed to identify machines, sites and services on the web easily. After all, what if there were no name-phone number reference in your local yellow pages, just numbers. Damn if I could remember more than a handful, but referencing websites by URL (word naming) is easy for the brain to do. DNS does that translation for us.

This is a waaaay oversimplified explanation, but one that is easy to understand.

BTW, if you'd like to use different Nameservers, feel free to use mine:

63.73.64.4
63.73.64.5

[Y415]

Thanks for the info, Old Fart. We live and learn. I have been able to fill in all the data in Sam Spade, thanks to you.