Internet access problem

tripseven · Dec 31, 2012

Hello all,

I am having a problem with accessing the internet. I have a laptop and a desktop, both with windows 7. I can access the internet wirelessly with the laptop but NOT with the desktop. I bought a new USB adapter for the desktop, thinking the old one had died. That did not fix the problem. I called comcast and they said the modem is fine. They had me do a ping test to google and it came back with a google ip address but something will not allow me to complete the connection. Any help will be greatly appreciated!

Happy New Year to all!

plodr · Dec 31, 2012

What brand and model router do you have hooked up to your Comcast modem?

tripseven · Dec 31, 2012

It is a Cisco router, Lynksis E2000.

plodr · Dec 31, 2012

Looking at the Linksys E2000 manual http://homedownloads.cisco.com/downloads/userguide/E2000_UG_USA_V10_NC-WEB.pdf
The desktop is is g or n?
Check the router to be sure it is mixed if the desktop is g.

Chapter 3 start on page 23 for Wi-Fi protected setup.

There are two ways to configure the Router’s wireless
network(s), manual and Wi-Fi Protected Setup .
Wi-Fi Protected Setup is a feature that makes it easy to set
up your wireless network . If you have client devices, such
as wireless adapters, that support Wi-Fi Protected Setup,
then you can use Wi-Fi Protected Setup.
Click to expand...

If the desktop's wireless or the USB dongle doesn't support Wi-Fi protected setup, then you have to go the manual route.

Also did you use anything like MAC filtering? If so, you need to enter the router setup and put in the MAC address of the USB dongle.

tripseven · Jan 1, 2013

Thanks for the response. No MAC filtering used. What I do not understand is that I changed nothing. One day it worked, next day nada. Why would I lose connectivity on one computer but not the other? I also do not remember having to jump through so many hoops to set up the router. One more thing I will share is, whenever either computer is rebooted and before accessing the internet, a screen pops up asking for a guest password. This happens with the laptop but NOT the desktop since losing connectivity.

plodr · Jan 1, 2013

One day it worked, next day nada. Why would I lose connectivity on one computer but not the other?
Click to expand...

Not unusual. There are currently seven computers in our house and I do, on occasion lose connection on one computer or sometimes two or three. Rather than waste time trying to figure out why, I power down the router, the modem and the printer server and wait at least one minute.
First I power up the modem and give it time until all the lights are 4 solid green and a flashing orange. That indicates my modem is ready.
Next I power up the router.
Last I power up the print server.

To complicate my situation, I also have a switch with a POE adapter in the basement with two computers attached. If they lose connection, I power down the switch - only. I don't touch the hardware upstairs.

tripseven · Jan 3, 2013

I have to admit that when it comes to networks I am not very good with it. I have powered everything off and repowered up and tried to connect. Will not work. I have found some confilcting info. I am certain that the new dongles instructions said to run the software CD FIRST and then insert the USB. I have read a couple of threads that said to plug the dongle in FIRSt and then run the software. I wiil give it a go tonight.

plodr · Jan 3, 2013

Uninstall the dongle software. Perhaps the wifi in the desktop is working and you assumed it died because you lost internet connection.
If you can't get the desktop to connect, then try the adapter again. (I've never used a wifi adapter with XP only Win 2K). I think in Xp there is a fight between XP wanting to handle the connection and the dongle software wanting to handle it.
Maybe someone reading this thread and having used a USB wifi adapter in XP can give tips on using XP's inbuilt or the software that comes with the device.

AtlBo · Jan 3, 2013

The Windows software does fight with the Netgear software I have on one of the XP machines I have at home. I had to read up on how to turn off the Netgear software and turn on the Windows driver for the adapter. In that light, I think plodr could be on the right track if you are using the adapter's software. On the other machine I mentioned, I had numerous problems until I switched over to the Windows driver for wireless networks for XP.

If you are using the software for the adapter, it's a tricky fix. You may want to try to create a connection, then unplug the adapter and replug it in. Right click on the new connection with the red x, then select "View Available Wireless Networks". The menu should be empty but to the left there should be a link to "Change Network Settings". Click on that link and a dialog will open. Select "Wireless Networks". Next put a check mark in "Use Windows to configure my wireless connections". This should jump start the connection if plodr is right.

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Internet access problem

tripseven Private First Class

plodr MajorGeek Super Extraordinaire Moderator Staff Member

tripseven Private First Class

plodr MajorGeek Super Extraordinaire Moderator Staff Member

tripseven Private First Class

plodr MajorGeek Super Extraordinaire Moderator Staff Member

tripseven Private First Class

plodr MajorGeek Super Extraordinaire Moderator Staff Member

AtlBo Major Geek Extraordinaire