I just can't make wireless work

I like to think I know my way around a computer a bit and can figure things out but I am stumped! Please help me....

Okay, I have Windows XP home and online for years without issues. I connect with Verizon's modem they sent me, I have DSL.

Got a new HP Notebook with built in everything and with it I ordered a Linxys wireless router.

The problems began with my desktop's tower apparantly. The Linksys's instructions tells me to run the disc first. I put it in the laptop and it DLs and then this great program launches which appears its going to walk me through things (EasyLink Advisor) - (great!) until it basically tells me it doesn't detect internet therefore I realize I needed to be running this disc in my tower first and not the laptop.

I put the disc in the tower and it does DL but all I can get is an adobe like manual to 'read' instructions. In other words where the heck is the nice launched 'walk me through' program, its gone here!

So, I read more carefully the requirements on the disc (in order for the EasyLink Advisor to work/launch). So, even though I was sure I had those requirements, I decided to go to Windows update and be sure I was up to speed.

Then I run into the next snag (of course). I couldn't do a Windows update at all, kept getting an error message. Despite being leary of doing so, I did follow the instructions and made tweaks to my Reg through my Run mode.

To my surprise when I rebooted I was able to run Windows updater which did put in SP 2 *(I know I should have had that but I didn't). So, then I reboot again thinking the EasyLink Advisor would run this time, stripped it out, redownloaded it in the tower....nope. Still the readable manual way to do the wireless set up.

So, okay, let me just try to *make* this work. I actually watched a couple of YouTube videos of people hooking up their Linksys. Seemed very straightforward so I did exactly what I both read and subsequently watched over and over.

I turned off my computer, unplugged the modem and router. Left the DSL hooked into my modem (I have Westell modem). Took an ethernet wire from my modem's output directly into the Linksys 'internet in'. Then took ethernet wire from one of the 4 outputs on the back of the Linksys to the back of the tower. Plugged in the modem first then couple minutes later the router, then boot up the tower.

No internet connection. Now this despite having all the lights showing there should be a connection. I undo everything and simply remove the router as a middleman and put the wire from the modem back to my tower and my internet comes back on.

This is frustrating as heck!

My tower is HP 2.6 Ghz Pentium 4 - Windows XP Home. I now have SP 2.

The new computer is designed to pick up about anything wireless that is floating around but dang!

Someone please help.

I don't have any firewalls up and I even temporarily uninstalled spybot and ad aware and my etrust ez av. Just temporarily cause I thought I must have been blocking somewhere.

Is there some sort of configuration whereby the modem and router just aren't talking to each other or something? Is this something that I'm going to have to call and get long waits for? I hope you guys can help me.

Thank you in advance for any help and please-- I will do what you guys say. Just tell me and I will try it.

Thank you,
Lisa

 

Hi and welcome to MGs.

I would remove the Linksys software from both computers by using Add/Remove and also reset the router back to factory default. (There should be a reset button on the back panel of the router and by holding this in for at least 10 to 30 seconds depending on the model you should be back to original factory condition.)
Then start over fresh with the wired computer first. Go on from there to the wireless.

 

Re: I just can't make wireless work UPDATE SOLVED!

Update. I called Linksys and after a very long phone call I was pleased to have been walked through to a successful wire up!

They were helpful and the directions were quite complicated and I was thankful I could understand them and they made sure it worked on both my computers.

So, I can report that their CS was helpful to me.

I just wanted to say that because I had read and heard that they can be very bad but my experience was positive.

I am now online with my router and have wireless on my laptop as well.

Some of the things I got walked through included working on my off line wired computer by going into the run menu and redoing IP things, and just OMG things I can't remember.

I literally put my phone on speaker and clicked every single thing they told me to with a faith I wasn't ruining my computer.

To my amazement it all worked lol....

Thanks for this forum, I have learned so much here yet never get to post that I am thankful for you guys.