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        New Message Board Archives >> 2005 General Board Posts >> Need Computer Help!
        
(Message started by: Lizzie2 on Aug 22^nd, 2005, 11:14pm)

Title: Need Computer Help!
Post by Lizzie2 on Aug 22^nd, 2005, 11:14pm

OK I'm close to throwing the laptop at the wall.....

So before I do that - can someone please help me with this????

Comcast finally installed my cable on Friday night (and after 3 days of them not showing up and having to call a special technician to install it on his downtime - I'll be strongly requesting that they revoke the installation fee....)

I have a Dell Inspiron laptop - it comes with the Dell WLAN wireless card and I also have a Cisco Aironet card that I was required to purchase to use Jefferson's student wlan. (Yes, I know this is bs and they configured my Dell wlan card to work when my external port died....but this is yet another way that universities steal money from poor students...haha)

Today I bought a Linksys Wireless router - specifically a wireless G broadband router, which is actually the same type of router my dad has installed in our house - also running with Comcast broadband internet. I went through the entire installation process, although the cd said that it couldn't use the secure easy setup because my drivers weren't updated - I went through the whole update process and then had to go through the steps manually just the same.

So - when I got to the page where it requests all this info and says I have to call my ISP, I called Comcast - and they told me to switch it off from static IP and it would automatically configure.

I did this - and it worked - I'm hardwired to the router as we speak.

However - when I try to use it in wireless mode, nothing works. It's something to do with the network settings, and I've played with every sort of combo on the settings I can think of (I know I've been down this road several times when I was at Penn State and trying to get things setup)...........still not working. I gave up and reconnected with the cable line.

Anybody got any ideas on how to configure the laptop to work in wireless mode with the router? I tried to configure both the Dell wi-fi and the Cisco Aironet external card.

Thanks in advance!

Carrie :)

Title: Re: Need Computer Help!
Post by marlinsfan on Aug 23^rd, 2005, 7:41am

I have the same router and it's a pain in the butt. Here's the LInksys customer service number, they can help you out: (800) 326-7114

It probably has to do with the encryption. They have 2 different ones WAP and WPE or something like that. Your wireless card and router have to have the same one. Or both need to have it turned off.

If that doesn't work, give it a good, hard throw into the wall ;;D

Title: Re: Need Computer Help!
Post by fubar on Aug 23^rd, 2005, 10:19am

9 times out of 10, it is a simple setting in the wireless configuration. The card configuarion in th laptop and the wireless router have to match, and the thing that most people miss is OPEN versus SHARED. Make sure both your laptop and router are set to SHARED and this will probably fix the problem. If you don't know where this setting is... i guess emal me and I'll walk you through it.

Title: Re: Need Computer Help!
Post by Drk^Angel on Aug 23^rd, 2005, 12:43pm

Ya sure ya wireless card ain't disabled? Anyways... Let's see... Where in the process does it not work? Does the 'puter connect with the router? Does your wireless card see the router? Do you have the 'puter or router sittin' right next to a 2.4 GHz wireless phone? What are your security settings on the router? Do have them set the same on the 'puter?

Okay... If you're not connectin' to the router, and can't see it in the available networks list, try movin' that wireless phone outta the way. If you've already thrown the phone's base out of the window (handset and all), make sure the wireless card isn't disabled (and you should prolly make sure you're only usin' one card at a time just to simplify things a little bit). If your wireless is active, the phone is a garden decoration, and you still can't see the router in the available networks list, make sure that the wireless configuration is active on the router and make sure the SSID is being broadcasted (you'll prolly also wanna change the SSID from the default 'Linksys', and maybe even change the default channel from 6... If anyone else is usin' a Linksys wireless router in the area, it could screw both your networks up... And what the Hell... Change the default password for the router while you're at it. Make the crackers work for it). If you still can't see your router... Call Linksys (maybe the router is defective, or a firware update is required).

If you can see your router on the available networks list, but it stays forever waitin' for a connection, or times out... Make sure you have your DHCP server for your local network on your router rurned on, and your 'puter network settings are setup for DHCP. If still no joy... Call Linksys (what's the good of payin' too much for buggy hardware if you're not gonna harrass the hired help).

Good luck!

PFDAN................................. Drk^Angel

Okay... I'll try to be nice... Tell us exactly what you are doing to try to connect, and what kind of error, or message, or whatever the 'puter shows you during the attempt to connect and once it gives up... We'll try to help ya... Maybe. :P

DA

Title: Re: Need Computer Help!
Post by Goblin on Aug 23^rd, 2005, 4:02pm

see if this helps

http://www.blogtelevision.net/p/Watch-Video-___1,2,,51689.html

Title: Re: Need Computer Help!
Post by Opus on Aug 23^rd, 2005, 5:21pm

Lizzie,

My condolences, Dell, Microsoft windows xp, and Linksys are a combination I wouldn't dare to tackle. I had my own nightmare with HP, Win xp, Broadcom, and Linksys myself.

The best place to start is test the laptop with the router unplugged. See if there are any other APes ( acsess points) in your area. You may see several on channel 6 with a SSID ( wireless network name) set to Linksys or dlink. Write down the channels that you see ( If your utility bothers to tell you what they are). On your router, set a new SSID, such as lizzie2, then if you saw other access points set you channel to one that isn't used. 2 or 10 are usually clear. Then leaving security off, try to connect with your laptop. If you can't connect then you may need to update the utility and maybe the firmware of the Wifi ( wireless network) card in your laptop. It may also be the router, you can try hitting the reset button on the router while the power is plugged in. Once you can get connected with no security you can then start the daunting task of setting up security using WPA. If you are using Windows wireless zero config utility you will need to have passwords of specific length, even though the router will not require it. It is a lot better if you can use the configuration utility that your device manufacturer provide. If it is installed you can usually find it in start\settings\control panel.

I am sure I have lost you but it was worth a shot anyway.

Opus/Paul [smiley=smokin.gif]

Title: Re: Need Computer Help!
Post by Lizzie2 on Aug 23^rd, 2005, 6:10pm

[smiley=crash.gif] [smiley=damncomputer.gif] [smiley=gocrazy.gif]

I think I'll either have to try this on a day when I have more patience or else wait for my dad to come visit again and set it up himself!

Thanks for the tips - I'm going to try every one of them the next time I have more tolerance for all things electronic!

Carrie :)