Router question from my kids mom....

[LAS]

Our kids set up a router so my husband could use the internet connection I
use. My computer is hardwired to it, since I have no wireless card.
Yesterday I unplugged everything to try to clear out stuff so my speed would
recover. That worked. Speed was fine. My connection was fine. But after
I did that my husband couldn't connect to the internet. I have basically
two questions.

1 - Could I have connected the wires improperly but still have my own
connection and his computer still see the network name in his wireless
connections?

2 - Is there anything to do besides buy a new router (and get our kids here
to set it up....)

Here's the story.

His initial symptom was "Internet Explorer cannot display the webpage."
(also couldn't connect Outlook Express)

I clicked "Diagnose connection problems" and got into "Network diagnostics
for Windows XP." I got the message "Windows is not currently managing your
wireless network."

I don't know if Windows SHOULD be managing it.... kids don't listen to phone
messages or read e-mails regularly. But through Google and newsgroups I was
able to get Windows to manage the network connection.

I get the same "Internet Explorer cannot display the webpage." But now I'm
able to further with the diagnostics. I get to the point where I have to
swear that I turned off the modem (I turned off, unplugged it and the
router), and I'm told I need to talk to my provider or manager or something.

Possible relevant info. In the course of this I learned how to START the
Wireless Zero Configuration, but it is not in START mode after a re-boot.

The problem computer does see that the local network is available.
Status - connected (yeah, sure....); Network Hunts Corner, Signal Strengh
5 bars.

I went to my provider's speedtest website, and the speed is fine.

help

 

[Yousuf Khan]

Our kids set up a router so my husband could use the internet connection I
use. My computer is hardwired to it, since I have no wireless card.
Yesterday I unplugged everything to try to clear out stuff so my speed would
recover. That worked. Speed was fine. My connection was fine. But after
I did that my husband couldn't connect to the internet. I have basically
two questions.

You're really confused. Read this first, this is Internet basics:

HowStuffWorks "How Internet Infrastructure Works"
http://computer.howstuffworks.com/internet/basics/internet-infrastructure.htm

Then read this, this goes into more detail about how routers work
specifically:

Router Basics | PCMech
http://www.pcmech.com/article/router-basics/

Yousuf Khan

 

[philo]

Our kids set up a router so my husband could use the internet connection I
use. My computer is hardwired to it, since I have no wireless card.
Yesterday I unplugged everything to try to clear out stuff so my speed would
recover. That worked. Speed was fine. My connection was fine. But after
I did that my husband couldn't connect to the internet. I have basically
two questionX

Possible relevant info. In the course of this I learned how to START the
Wireless Zero Configuration, but it is not in START mode after a re-boot.

The problem computer does see that the local network is available.
Status - connected (yeah, sure....); Network Hunts Corner, Signal Strengh
5 bars.

I went to my provider's speedtest website, and the speed is fine.

help

If Windows is not managing the connection
that simply means that the software that came with your husbands
wireless card is doing so.

Just skip the Windows diagnostic
and go the the software that came with the wireless card to re-establish
the connection

 

[LAS]

How do I find the software that came with the wireless card?

 

[LAS]

Yes, I'm confused. That's why I turned to this newsgroup. I'm not really
up to thoroughly understanding routers.

 

[philo]

How do I find the software that came with the wireless card?

It would be in programs (or should be)

 

[Yousuf Khan]

Yes, I'm confused. That's why I turned to this newsgroup. I'm not really
up to thoroughly understanding routers.

I understand, but right now you're too confused to even ask the right
questions in here. You're dumping several different unrelated questions
on us, and hoping we can figure out what your problem is. For example,
you're confusing up stuff about wireless and wired connections, and
stuff on the Internet vs. stuff on the local network.

The links I sent you should help with some of the confusion. Also have
you tried calling the router manufacturer's tech support, and your ISP's
tech support? Your ISP tech support will help you get connected to the
Internet, but won't help you with your router. Then the router
manufacturer's tech support will help with everything else.

Yousuf Khan

 

[Don Phillipson]

If Windows is not managing the connection
that simply means that the software that came with your husbands wireless
card is doing so.

Just skip the Windows diagnostic
and go the the software that came with the wireless card to re-establish
the connection

The software is on the CD that came with this device (either a wireless card
or a router.) If installed earlier, you will probably find a folder in /
Program
Files/ named (in part) with the brand name of the router (e.g. Belkin,
Trendnet, DLink etc.)

Two general points.
1. WindowsXP also has software to control your router. You must
select one tool ON (either Windows or the software special to the
brand) and the other OFF. If both are set to control the router,
they are likely to conflict so you get no communication.
2. Most users find it simpler to use WinXP to control the router
(i.e. do not instal the brand software.)