fagin
24th July 2008, 11:00 AM
Looks like there are numerous boffins out there. I have what is probably a simple problem, but I just can't work it out.
I have a fairly old laptop (2004/5?) with XP home and an ADSL broadband connection. Enough for my needs - email and browsing the forum. I use a USB modem, which needs to sign on to the internet.
In the past I have used wired and wireless modems with no problem, and if I am in a wifi area, I can connect with no problem.
My son has a PS3 and plays online games. At his mothers house this works fine, but my little modem doesn't have a lan connection so I bought a wireless modem off ebay for the time he spends with me.
Problem is my computer can't seem to connect. The modem seems fine - power, ADSL light , lights for lan cable, and wlan. My internet connection is fine.
The instructions just said to connect up, open the modem in the browser (Firefox, have IE but only ever used when my son opens it by mistake), stick in my password etc, and off I go.
When I type in 196 etc browser just says can't find server, same as no internet connection.
I tried everything I know (not much) and did a lot of random fiddling but nothing (I did turn the firewall off).
So I thought if I used another computer to install the settings, it might work. Took it into the office, friends laptop got into settings first time, I put in my details, saved everything (I've learnt the hard way) got home, no joy, except now I can find my 'wireless network' but can't connect.
Just to make sure I brought a modem home that I know works, but it does exactly the same thing. ie nothing.
So my ISP is OK, the modem seems OK, and I'm using my USB modem and all working fine, so it must be something in my computer settings.
Any ideas, in very simple language, preferably some sort of English, will be highly appreciated.
I have a fairly old laptop (2004/5?) with XP home and an ADSL broadband connection. Enough for my needs - email and browsing the forum. I use a USB modem, which needs to sign on to the internet.
In the past I have used wired and wireless modems with no problem, and if I am in a wifi area, I can connect with no problem.
My son has a PS3 and plays online games. At his mothers house this works fine, but my little modem doesn't have a lan connection so I bought a wireless modem off ebay for the time he spends with me.
Problem is my computer can't seem to connect. The modem seems fine - power, ADSL light , lights for lan cable, and wlan. My internet connection is fine.
The instructions just said to connect up, open the modem in the browser (Firefox, have IE but only ever used when my son opens it by mistake), stick in my password etc, and off I go.
When I type in 196 etc browser just says can't find server, same as no internet connection.
I tried everything I know (not much) and did a lot of random fiddling but nothing (I did turn the firewall off).
So I thought if I used another computer to install the settings, it might work. Took it into the office, friends laptop got into settings first time, I put in my details, saved everything (I've learnt the hard way) got home, no joy, except now I can find my 'wireless network' but can't connect.
Just to make sure I brought a modem home that I know works, but it does exactly the same thing. ie nothing.
So my ISP is OK, the modem seems OK, and I'm using my USB modem and all working fine, so it must be something in my computer settings.
Any ideas, in very simple language, preferably some sort of English, will be highly appreciated.