wireless problem

[seb]

My laptop connects fine via wireless to the BT home hub.

My landladys PC upstairs uses a Belkin USB wireless thing that plugs into her computer. It has the little globe in the bottom right corner and all appears to be correct in the connection ot the internet. But is just keeps giving the ''internet explorer cannot connect to this page''

The signal is good, 3/5 for her PC.

I am just about to try a cabled connection as it would suggest to me the issue must be the USB belkin thingy?

Thoughts?

 

[seb]

cabled connection works, so it looks like the usb is the issue.

The computer is a Dell Dimension C521 so is like a slimline case. not a normal size. Can i just replace the metal bracket on the back with the wider one i get as standard with a wireless PCI card or is that not possible? IF not, suggestions for a wireless PCI card please?

 

[Munson]

Confused buddy? hers works but yours doesn't? More detail TBH...

However, you've mentioned Belkin so I'm not surprised. Belkin wireless stuff is dross.

 

[seb]

my wireless laptop works like a gem. no issues.

The PC upstairs has a wireless Belkin USB thing. It says it is connected with the globe etc in the bottom right corner. Then it won't load anything.

I have moved the PC downstairs and used a cabled connection and it works coolio.

So obviously it is the s**t Belkin USB thing.

I was considering putting a wireless PCI card in the back of the PC as this may make it a lot more reliable over buying another USB thing for her...

thoughts?

 

[Munson]

Yeah get a PCI card man. I've never seen any belkin wireless device that worked for more than 10 minutes without having a fit TBH.

 

[Rasclart]

There is no need to get a PCI card mate there is nothing wrong with USB wireless sticks, if its a slimline case it may need half height PCI card, some PCI cards come with them, some dont.

Sounds like a driver issue. Find out the model number, go onto Belkin download the latest drivers. Then do a Windows Update, then uninstall the Belkin drivers and then reinstall with the latest ones. Try another USB port when you do the install as well.

It may be she has been fiddling with the settings and accidentaly changed the DNS/IP or Gateway to manual settings that dont work. Check the TCP/IP properties under Control Panel then network connections

 

[Munson]

pwnt

Either way though, in my experience Belkin stuff is dross. Everyone I know who had issues with Belkin, had no issues after changing to another make. Myself included TBH. Saying that though, fixing it is going to be cheaper fo sho

 

[seb]

rasclart does infact pwn hard.

tbh, the PC is so slow and s**t (it runs vista with 2gb of ram) i may well just format it and start a fresh. f**k knows what is on it. but it runs slower than my 486 ... it is proper dog s**t.

I am evne tempted ot just go with XP over vista... thoughts? or is XP now extinct?

 

[Rasclart]

XP is not extinct. Its more than likely old drivers mate. My old Netgear had similar issues. Got a new USB stick as they didnt bother updating the drivers for the old one and have no issues.

Its pretty stable now just a lot of manufacturers dont seem to bother updating old devices. Having said that I have not had good experiences with Belkin routers, switches, wirless cards and sticks.

 

[iain187]

I take it, it is working now? I have horrible problems with USB dongles + vista (any brand), just can't get the drivers to work for the life of me.

I would use XP given the choice

 

[Phill1978]

are you running G only on the router ? perhaps the usb is b radio ?
maybe you run your radio @ 'a' 5ghz instead of 2.4ghz ? so b/g doesnt work ?

 

[seb]

the pc is just in the kitchen and is cabled at present.

tbh, i think i may well just give it a bit of a format and start afresh. it seriously needs it. the pc is proper gimpified.

 

[iain187]

what happens on your landladys PC when you connect it wirelessly and go start>run>type cmd>type ipconfig and press enter

i am looking for default gateway in particular when you do this

 

[Phill1978]

what happens on your landladys PC when you connect it wirelessly and go start>run>type cmd>type ipconfig and press enter

i am looking for default gateway in particular when you do this

you think there is another network connection in use rather than the usb ?

or perhaps a static address set on the computer rather than let dhcp on the router give one ?

i think its a wireless signal/type issue, re-enter the security details.

 

[iain187]

you think there is another network connection in use rather than the usb ?

or perhaps a static address set on the computer rather than let dhcp on the router give one ?

i think its a wireless signal/type issue, re-enter the security details.

I think if there is nothing there it isn't communicating with the router properly.
(I'm expecting default gateway to be blank anyway)


It could be a security issue though, I have seen computers that say they are connected but they actually behave quite similar to as described in the thread - remember capitals are important in WPA keys!