Topic: I have computer related questions. Can you help?

[BlackNMild2k1]

It was a stupid problem too. I'm surprised I didn't catch it earlier, but if I didn't spend the greater part of the afternoon playing Tiger Woods, I might have figured it out sooner.

The power cable came unplugged from the main HDD and thats why it kept trying to boot from the secondary one. durp de durr

[BlackNMild2k1]

Final issue with this computer, i hope.

I got tired of always losing reception from the router to my computer downstairs, so I decided to upgrade my router to one that was still supported by its manufacturer with updates and new drivers.

I tossed my old D-Link DI-524 for a brand new Linksys WRT54GL with two antennas for better reception.

Now my problem is that I still have a D-Link wireless card in my computer downstairs (didn't think that would be a problem) and i keep a strong signal, but i keep losing a connection. I'm constantly having to disconnect and reconnect from my computer downstairs.

What are the things I should check for? & Should I just get a new wireless card to match my router?

[NinGurl69 *huggles]

The fact that "matching" seems to be necessary indicates the routers/cards are made of fail.

Should've just bought a NetGear router, and automatically play nice with everybody.

/netgear fan since 1999

[bustin98]

Go into the properties of the wireless card. You should see a tab called wireless connections or something (second tab). Its a list of all the connections you have connected to. There's probably only one in there unless you have connected to a neighbor's.

Delete it, then go into the wireless connection wizard and reconnect to the network. This should clear it up for you.

[kraken613]

I have used Linksys for years and love them. You should not have to do buy a matching one. I have used different brands with different routers all the time. They all work the same pretty much.

Ok, first I would say change your wireless channel. Do you have it protected? You know how to log into your router right? 192.168.1.1 Then if you have no password it will be linksys and password will be admin.

[Patchkid15]

Linksys is my brand of choice, i just upgraded to one of their newer model Routers...Works perfectly with my USB wireless adapter

[BwrJim!]

One thing I noticed too is the pieces on a wireless network seem to take time before some of them begin to like each other more.   Usually about a 2 week period.   One way you can help troubleshoot is to completly dump any trace of current drivers of the dlink card.   Then of course get some drivers, first try a generic version of your hardware, since you already know what it is, using a generic driver may increase compatibility and what not.  Grabbing the latest drivers from the manf and a clean install works a lot of times as well.   

But, I would just give them some time first.. time to handshake, make friends.  Or you could reset your router settings to basic for a sec, establish that a good connection can happen and then start the lockdown.  but there are so many things, you may just want to google a network test and run it on your equipment.


Netgear has almost always been a solid choice but my brand preference landed with linksys before cisco took em over.  still though I am running a wrt54g and this is the second time that linksys has had a hit and miss attitude.  So, I am going to the netgear side next time, is there by chance a recommended one on the cheap side of things? 

[BlackNMild2k1]

I went with Linksys because I was having reception problems & it has two antennas. My router is upstairs and my computer is below alot of other A/V equipment. I already bought an antennae extender for my computer, so I was hoping that wasn't the issue anymore.

The main reason I finally hooked up the linksys though, is that I'm trying to do more work from home and needed to hook up an inexpensive phone line. So as soon as I got the Quad up and running, I plugged in the Magic Phone Jack, but the connection would slow (like when I try to watch Netflix movies sometimes) to the point where it wouldn't work. The problem kept happening after I switched routers, and the final nail in the coffin was my internet completely dieing on me earlier this morning.

I've got the Comcast issue fixed, and my router seems to be working just fine right now, but I haven't tried making a call on my Magic Jack yet, so I don't know if the problem is fixed. Just the fact that the Linksys is only giving me a low signal strength with 18mbs right now is kinda irritating me. How do I ensure a High signal strength on a clear sunny day? I'm the only one using the router in the house.

[BlackNMild2k1]

Alright. I've had enough of trying to get the D-Link & Linksys to hand shake.
I just uninstalled my D-Link and then reinstalled all the drivers and now I have a slightly better connection. But instead of dealing with this headache, I'm just gonna buy a new wireless card for my PC and use my D-link in a different PC that I'm gonna build from left-over parts later.

Which Linksys wireless card would any of you recommend?
remember that I have a Linksys WRT54GL and am looking for the best performance compatibility.


edit: Should I invest in a Wireless N router & a compatible wireless card while I can find the router for $40?

[BlackNMild2k1]

I just looked into a few Wireless N router that broadcast in the 5Ghz range.

Does anyone know if that is the route to take or is there a cheaper and quicker solution to my problem?

[ShyGuy]

that sounds good to me unless you want to run a cable.

[BlackNMild2k1]

Wireless N w/ 5Ghz range is pretty expensive and might have to wait a bit.

$150-250 for the router and $60-90 for the wireless card, and thats for the Draft 2 which still isn't even a finalized standard.
What is the deal with Wireless N anyway? why is it still in the experimental stage with no set standards?



I've decided to try a few router setting tweaks and cordless phone base placement experiments first and see if I can fix this problem without spending anymore money.

[BlackNMild2k1]

Ok. I just found the answer to my problem, and thought I should post it just incase anyone else runs into something similar.

My wireless is broadcast on 2.4Ghz and so is my cordless phone.

the answer to my solution is to either
1.) go experiment by changing the channels on my router and phone (keeping them 5 channels apart).
some phones tend to change channels automatically so it can be a problem

2.) Buy a new cordless phone. They have 5Ghz phones and the new standard Dect 6.0
lots of 5Ghz phones also operate on the 2.4Ghz range and may still cause interference, Dect 6.0 operates on the 1.9Ghz range and is considered "wireless-friendly"

3.) Go with Wireless N, a 5Ghz draft 2 version that can be kinda expensive and unecessary, and is still using un-standardized specs. meaning future Wireless N products may not be fully compatible.

----------------------------

So as soon as I make it home today, I will be going with option 2, as the girls house I'm at, who got her Magic Jack after me and bought a new cordless phone to go with it, doesn't have any of my problems. When I was checking her equipment, her phone said Dect 6.0 on it, but I had no idea what that was, as I haven't used a house phone in almost 4 years (strictly cell phone). She got her phone for $20 from Wal*Mart, so I'm just gonna find me a good Dect 6.0 phone like hers.

[Stogi]

Dude, why didn't anyone tell me Rihanna had nude pictures out?!

*checks photos*

Meh...I've had better.

[Shift Key]

3.) Go with Wireless N, a 5Ghz draft 2 version that can be kinda expensive and unecessary, and is still using un-standardized specs. meaning future Wireless N products may not be fully compatible.

I found a good B/G/N router for AU$140 (Linksys) over six months ago. Don't let the "Draft 2" spec worry you - aside from one driver issue with Vista, it's working perfectly.

Massive throughput gains over G. Better coverage (multiple antennae). And its becoming a standard feature with laptops too. Any changes between now and the finalization of the standard will be backwards compatible with existing hardware.

[BlackNMild2k1]

I went with option 2 and bought a Panasonic DECT 6.0 phone.
It no longer interferes with my wireless signal, but I was still having handshake problems between my Linksys router and D-Link wireless card.

My next step is to go buy a linksys wireless card.
Wireless N will be saved for a future upgrade during richer times.
I'm pretty tapped at the moment thanks to all my frivolous spending over the last few weeks.

[BlackNMild2k1]

I found the perfect router, but I already spent all my money and I'm not sure if I can still return the one I bought.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833127215   

Either way, with my computer, if its not one problem, its m*****f***** nother....

Now my "Wireless Network Connection" software is malfunctioning.
My internet says its connected wirelessly, but I get no internet connection. When I goto repair or disable/reconnect by right clicking the icon on the tray, it gets stuck in the disabling phase. When I try to close the program, it won't close.
When I goto "view wireless networks" so I can see my router I'm connecting to, I try to click disconnect and then connect again, but it get hung up in the authorizing phase and never actually connects.

I've tried resetting the router first, and still have either of those two problems still. The only fix is to reset the computer for a fresh connect.
Is it the computer? Is it the router?
Do I need to do a windows repair job?

p.s. this started to happen after I uninstalled all the software for my wireless card and reinstalled it, then ran the home network setup through windows to try and force a handshake between D-link and Linksys. I can only reconnect on a reboot now, but when its connected, it works fine. After long periods of inactivity is disconnects and thats where the problem starts.

Anybody know what I should do? My phone is hooked up through the internet and I need the connection on at all times.

[stevey]

Now my "Wireless Network Connection" software is malfunctioning.
My internet says its connected wirelessly, but I get no internet connection. When I goto repair or disable/reconnect by right clicking the icon on the tray, it gets stuck in the disabling phase. When I try to close the program, it won't close.
When I goto "view wireless networks" so I can see my router I'm connecting to, I try to click disconnect and then connect again, but it get hung up in the authorizing phase and never actually connects.

I've tried resetting the router first, and still have either of those two problems still. The only fix is to reset the computer for a fresh connect.
Is it the computer? Is it the router?
Do I need to do a windows repair job?

p.s. this started to happen after I uninstalled all the software for my wireless card and reinstalled it, then ran the home network setup through windows to try and force a handshake between D-link and Linksys. I can only reconnect on a reboot now, but when its connected, it works fine. After long periods of inactivity is disconnects and thats where the problem starts.

Anybody know what I should do? My phone is hooked up through the internet and I need the connection on at all times.

Maybe a shot in the dark, but people with defective nVidia cards have reported wireless problems that can only be fixed by restarting their computers (although no one seem to be sure of what the connect is) and their is a growing number of nVidia cards in desktops that are starting to fail.

Next time it acts up, check your cards temperature...

[NinGurl69 *huggles]

RROD

[BlackNMild2k1]

After tinkering with it for a while, the internet would sat connected during the day and the connection would only die at night time, which was acceptable since I'm not working then anyway(and probably not at home.)

After a few days of morning resets, the computer is working perfectly now with need for a reset anymore.

So I'm guessing that it was a handshaking problem like someone mentioned earlier.

[NinGurl69 *huggles]

There was a problem, but you're still unaware of the solution.  That is a problem.

[BlackNMild2k1]

It is. I was prepared to spend more money(that I don't have) to buy a same brand wireless card and that might not even have solved my problem.
But they are playing nice together now and as long as they are doing that I have no problems right now.


The next upgrade I plan on doing is from WinXP up to Win7 whenever that is released.

[BlackNMild2k1]

New Problem, different computer.

This one is for a Laptop.

Problem:
Laptop keeps randomly shutting off like it's power cycling.
power light will go off, laptop shuts off immediately then power light comes back on right away.

Additional Info:
The battery on this laptop no longer holds a charge and is always plugged in. It also has a tendency to overheat if not properly ventilated with a fan pointing at it, and will shut off when that happens.

Question:
Does anyone know what is happening and know how to fix it?
Is it as simple as getting a new laptop battery? or is the laptop on it's last breaths?

[stevey]

Have you tried removing the battery and turning it on while plugged in without it? Or is it the same results.

That should tell you if it's the battery or some worse internal electrical short...

[BranDonk Kong]

Yes, if the battery doesn't work, then don't even try using it. It could be something as simple as a short where the power supply plugs into the laptop. It's a very common problem.