H E L P . . . ! Computer link up problems....

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Packedup
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Post by Packedup »

Mike Shipman wrote: I think Ive managed to install the Netgear router onto the family pc (well Im able to access the internet so must have.. :-? ?) but whereas the BT modem had a little icon on the bottom rhs of the screen indicating the phone line was on and connected - I then had to click on my BT Yahoo icon to get online. With this netgrea router there doesnt seem to be anything to indicate that it is on and connected (except the lights on the router itself), I just click on my BT Yahoo icon and get online - is that normal...? does it mean that the computer is linked up all the time its switched on?... does this run up large phone bills?
If you've not got the little lighty up connected icon near the clock and want it, go to Control Panel> Network Connections. Find the network card in there (most likely called Local Area Connection 1 or something like that). Right click on it, choose Properties. Put a tick in "Show Status when connected" or whatever it's called, OK and exit that. You will now have the little lighty uppy icon :)

The PC will be online as long as the network connection is enabled. You're on ADSL - It doen't cost per minute on the phone bill like dial up and the ADSL into your house is always on once it's set up at the exchange.
They tried to down load the driver and said it was slow at first but did it eventually, they suggested I turn off my firewall (which I thought was dodgy but they siad no, just mnake sure you turn it back on when youve downloaded).
The Netgear has a packet inspection firewall. I've got a v1 wired version and have been running two PCs for quite a few months through it without using software firewalls on them - And no nasties have gotten through.
Turned off firewall.,..tried to download - same problem - starts then just stops...
I've had problems with the Netgear site at times when trying to get downloads - It might be worth trying one of their sites in another country, or just Googling for the driver and getting it from a driver download site (if there's any good free ones left?) instead. Or not using a computer with Vista, which would be my choice... ;)

Oh, and I've had problems with a Pipex adsl on a cruddy BT line, sometimes takes several attempts to get a large driver download so if you find this happens on more than just the Netgear site it might be worth harrassing your adsl provider tech support (by email as it's free).
Both my daughter and I are pretty fed up with this now - Im possibly doing something startlingly stupid but dont know it - any further suggestions?
She's got a normal PC right? Get a long network cable and run it from the router to her PC, tucked under the skirting boards or whatever. Her machine must have a normal wired port as well surely, and as it came as part of the PC it ought to work with the operating system that it came with.
Just one other thing - the family pc seems really slow now...bit like when it was a dial up... :cry: :cry:
Slow how?

Slow internet, or slow computer? Slow internet - Log into the router and see what it's saying in the status pages. Slow computer, check you've not got utterly poleaxed software trying to access the net through a dial up and refusing to comprehend there isn't one any more!

If you've gone for an adsl max package the net could well be slow for a few days as it bounces around trying to work out how fast it can really go.
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d_harris
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Post by d_harris »

Mike. Of course that offers still on mate.

That driver downloaded instantly for me. If you still need it I will bung it on a disc for you and bring tomorrow

Mike Shipman
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Post by Mike Shipman »

Thanks Alex - I got the download you emailed to me and I loaded it onto my daughters pc...(Thanks also to Packedup and Lowedb for your responses)......

Then (with great hope and anticipation) I went to reload the Netgear Adapter - it started to whirr and brumble...a few screen changes with requests to press "next" ,,, I thought "H A L L E L U J AH " its all about to happen :D :D :D

I called my daughter Anna and said "get excited"... "get very excited!"....
"you are about to be an Internet user in your own right !!"

Bless her - her little face looked so full of hope - awaiting her personal audience with the great God Google, surfing without getting her feet wet, checking what I Tunes has to offer without Daddy saying "Y O U W H A T !!!" etc etc etc

Then - zilcho....no action...no prompts to plug the adapter in - no nothin...I sat there for anoth 20 mins awaiting a screen prompt to tell me its all sorted... " B % G G * R !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

So Dan - yes please, I'd really appreciate you poppin' round, Im out for a few days now - if we can get a SADMOG meet on Thurs week at a westerly venue could you pop round before that?.

I now remember why I enjoyed the simplicity of the 2 baked bean tins and 50 yards of string so much...I could cope with that technology!

Thanks again folks.

Mike,
Mike Shipman,
Seaton, Torpoint, Cornwall.
Mike Shipman
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Post by Mike Shipman »

I thought I’d post one last request for info advice regarding this issue….

Dan Harris provided us with some sterling help last night and got the Netgear Adapter installed to my daughters computer, he also successfully made the adapter / daughters computer link to the Netgear Router on the family computer, and the link seemed good, a connection appeared to be made to the Internet but when we were unable to access any sites…the (Vista equivalent) of the egg timer indicated it was trying to open up, the line at the bottom of the page said web site found – awaiting reply , but none ever opened.

Does anyone have any suggestions as to what might be going on?.

Many thanks.
Mike Shipman,
Seaton, Torpoint, Cornwall.
Welung666
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Post by Welung666 »

You could check (with both PC's turned on and connected) if the router is seeing them both from the router control panel. I have the same router (although Sky badged) and it's showing both my Vista and the 2 XP machines.
Packedup
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Post by Packedup »

Can Vista still bring up a DOS box (Command Prompt or whatever it's called?)?

If so, run it and type ping www.google.co.uk

Press enter/ return, and see what happens.

If it all times out, try

ping 216.239.57.104

If that works, then the problem lies with the DNS settings. Depending on how everything's configured they may have to be entered manually. I seem to recall having to manually set them on my PCs to get everything working... You could Google for the settings, but easiest is to log into the router (open your browser, and type http://192.168.0.1 in the address bar) and check what it thinks they are. Make a note, and then go to the network adapter properties (Control Panel, Network Connections, right click on the local area connection and choose properties). Click on TCP and then Properties.

You can leave the computer IP address settings as is if the computers are takling to the router/ each other, but in the bottom three boxes you want to put the DNS numbers in.

One other thing is to make sure your internet connection is set to use Network connection. Control Panel - Internet Options - Connection.
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d_harris
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Post by d_harris »

Ok guys, the problem is that the main family computer (wired link) connects fine to the web. However, trying to ping anything from the router brings 100% packet loss.

In terms of connection from the Daughters PC, the connection is made to the router (ie, encryption is gone through and the like) but the system can actually connect into the router (I did the 192.168.0.1 and it returned NOTHING)

The router however does see both systems. This ones got me stumped.


In other news, i have decided I hate Vista, its like a bubblegum XP with all the useful stuff removed.... I staying linux from now on!

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Post by Welung666 »

Dan did you start the wireless zero config service? I had that before I changed my motherboard and upgraded to Vista. On XP I had to manually start the WZC service then in the properties for the wireless connection I clicked 'Wireless Network' and the ticked the box to allow windows to control the wireless connection and it would connect straight away then. Vista picked it up straight away though so might be because it was added after installation of Vista. Hope thats is of some help.
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d_harris
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Post by d_harris »

I have never heard of that lee...

Welung666
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Post by Welung666 »

Google 'wireless zero config' then ;)
Packedup
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Post by Packedup »

Dan_Harris wrote:Ok guys, the problem is that the main family computer (wired link) connects fine to the web. However, trying to ping anything from the router brings 100% packet loss.
Is that pinging IP addresses as well as depending on DNS?
In terms of connection from the Daughters PC, the connection is made to the router (ie, encryption is gone through and the like) but the system can actually connect into the router (I did the 192.168.0.1 and it returned NOTHING)

The router however does see both systems. This ones got me stumped.
Is there a software firewall running on either PC? And I take it the router can be logged into from the wired PC?

I've had Zone Alarm in particular give some very "interesting" results with networking.

Also, can the machines see themselves in Network Neighbourhood (or whatever it's called?). Can they ping themselves?

I no longer depend on the Windows network setup, but configure everything manually. Seems to work fine every time, unlike the wizard which seems to break something every time.

So if neither machine can see itself I'd set the TCP IP settings manually. If they can see themselves but not each other I'd be delving into the router. Though I know nothing about wireless, so that might be the best place to start if they don't talk to each other.
In other news, i have decided I hate Vista, its like a bubblegum XP with all the useful stuff removed.... I staying linux from now on!
But you must have Vista because...

Hold on...

Give me a minute...

Oh, that's it...

"It's new, so must be great".

The fact it's drm crippled, expensive and requires more power than USS 1701 (I'm such a geek at times) to simply boot is apparently offset by being "up to date".
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Post by Mike Shipman »

You may recall this load of queries - or you may not - anyhow, here is a quick update ....

I rang the Netgear help line today and spent 35 minutes with a nice chap called Raj somewhere on the Indian sub continent who tried to help me get get the two computers linked up - reset the settings numerous times on both computers, to no avail...(here we go again thought I....), so Raj admits defreat and puts me on to his "senior technician" a woman called Duveea,
Duveea firstly says "We will sort this problem out" (Whooppe thinks I, what a splendid sounding woman!), I spend a further 45 minutes with her - setting, resetting, going up and down stairs between the two compters and Duveea by this time is sounding tired but praising me for sticking with it (!), she gives a final soundinmg sigh and suggests a different approach - I follow her new instructions and...


:D :D :D WOWWEEEEEEE - it links up!!!!Hooorahhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D :D :D

Dont ask me what the problem was - the whole thing is a blur, but its working.

So after 4 months of just playing the SIMS, my daughter will be logging onto MMOC (yeah right :wink: ) and other fantastic sites to see what the wonderful world of the WWW has to offer - and probably find some of the less wonderful things :( .

Anyhow, thanks to those of you who had tried to steer me in the right direction.

Cheers, Mike.
Mike Shipman,
Seaton, Torpoint, Cornwall.
Kevin
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Post by Kevin »

Well done Mike to whatever it was that sorted the problem at least it now works :D
Cheers

Kevin
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