Wireless easy to setup ?

Kheldar · Jun 18, 2007, 16:31:19

is it easy to set this up with Idnet ?

anything i need to do before i try ?

this pc is connected directly to the router but finally bought my pc over from the old house and the troulbe and strife is talking about moving rooms where computers live and wants me to put mine elsewhere and link via wireless for a few weeks till we decide for sure...

cheers

steve

Rik · Jun 18, 2007, 16:39:18

It's nothing to do with IDNet as such, just turn on the wireless access point in the router, change SSID to something you will recognise but which doesn't tell other people too much, enable WPA or WPA2, use a strong key, then set up the machines to match the router settings.

If the computers need wireless added, then I would recommend PCI cards rather than USB adaptors. It is generally easier to use 'same brand' throughout to avoid compatibility issues.

AndyG · Jun 18, 2007, 16:57:11

Hi. If you're looking to network a desktop I'd recommend you consider Homeplugs as an alternative to 'wireless', they generally provide a more reliable connection than normal WiFi wireless. See devices like - Solwise.

HTH - Andy

Kheldar · Jun 18, 2007, 17:00:08

thanks Andy - i failed to mention this pc still has the wireless card in it which i can now remove as it used to connect wirelessly to the net at our old house.

Quote from: Rik on Jun 18, 2007, 16:39:18
It's nothing to do with IDNet as such, just turn on the wireless access point in the router, change SSID to something you will recognise but which doesn't tell other people too much, enable WPA or WPA2, use a strong key, then set up the machines to match the router settings.

If the computers need wireless added, then I would recommend PCI cards rather than USB adaptors. It is generally easier to use 'same brand' throughout to avoid compatibility issues.

you are doing it again rik !

at this techy jargon talk !

gonna report you to the plain english commission for abuse of the language !

Rik · Jun 18, 2007, 17:02:25

Not sure if you're sorted, Steve, or still looking for advice.

Kheldar · Jun 18, 2007, 17:04:06

just about to go and connect up the other pc as only just got it out of the car.

then gotta fit the wireless card - plug it all in and pray !

Rik · Jun 18, 2007, 17:17:02

Plug'n'pray - the definition of a Windows user.

Kheldar · Jun 18, 2007, 17:24:51

wireless card fitted.

other pc now booting up down other end of house !

*muchos praying also occuring*

Kheldar · Jun 18, 2007, 17:47:43

praying did not work.

why oh why does windows fail to find anything of use on the actual damn cd rom that came with the card ?

and why oh double why does it keep asking if it can connect to the net to find software?

i mean....the computer is not connected to the net, thats why i'm trying to install the wireless card

so how can it connect to find drivers ?

Rik · Jun 18, 2007, 17:48:43

Because it doesn't know it's not connected - it just knows it's looking for device drivers.

RobMc · Jun 18, 2007, 17:50:50

Quote from: Rik on Jun 18, 2007, 16:39:18
If the computers need wireless added, then I would recommend PCI cards rather than USB adapters.

This is a tricky one. Personally I recommend usb adapters with a usb extension cable. This allows you quite a bit of freedom to move the adapter about to optimize the signal. Last week I installed a wireless desktop for a customer and they wanted the base unit sited behind the drinks bar (which was nicely shielded with a sheet metal front). Don't know if a wireless connection would have worked behind that but with the usb adapter we sited the usb adapter unobtrusively above the bar.

Rob.

Kheldar · Jun 18, 2007, 17:53:31

Quote from: Rik on Jun 18, 2007, 17:48:43
Because it doesn't know it's not connected - it just knows it's looking for device drivers.

yeah and how come it cannot find them on the cd that came with the card ?

windows system says the card has no drivers and is not working ?

Rik · Jun 18, 2007, 17:56:44

Quote from: Kheldar on Jun 18, 2007, 17:53:31
yeah and how come it cannot find them on the cd that came with the card ?

Are the drivers on the card suitable for XP? Have you tried doing a browse to where they are located? Did the CD come with instructions to run it before installing the card?

Quotewindows system says the card has no drivers and is not working ?

Windows is almost certainly correct at this point.

RobMc · Jun 18, 2007, 17:57:01

Just a thought but for most wireless adapters you need to install the software from the cd before plugging in (or installing) the adapter. If this wasn't the case then ignore me

otherwise it may be necessary to remove the device in Device manager, install the software and then let the plug'n'play do it's stuff.

Rob.

Rik · Jun 18, 2007, 17:58:34

I think we are having the same thought, Rob.

RobMc · Jun 18, 2007, 18:08:55

Yeah bit of a duplicate post, bad timing on my part I guess. I've not come across any Wireless adapters that plug'n'play without installing the software first. I just wish manufacturers would give an install option of letting Windows manage the wireless connection rather than installing a load of proprietary software.

Rob.

Kheldar · Jun 18, 2007, 18:10:27

even someone as dumb as me checked that

it says install card, turn on machine with cd in drive and it will do the rest....
yeah its ok for xp cos the machine it used to be inside of and working on is xp.

yep can see the xp folder on the cd and a few things in there....

setup works on the cd - at least it runs and says it doing summat but the card is still not recognised.

oh woe is me.......

Rik · Jun 18, 2007, 18:12:54

Quote from: RobMc on Jun 18, 2007, 18:08:55
Yeah bit of a duplicate post, bad timing on my part I guess.

Better two people with an idea than none, Rob.

I agree with you, though, I'm not keen on proprietary software when Windows is perfectly capable of doing the job itself. I have a particular loathing for router setup CDs which just get in the way of logging in to the browser interface of the router and typing a few things.

Rik · Jun 18, 2007, 18:13:59

Quote from: Kheldar on Jun 18, 2007, 18:10:27
it says install card, turn on machine with cd in drive and it will do the rest....
yeah its ok for xp cos the machine it used to be inside of and working on is xp.

What does device manager show against the card?

Kheldar · Jun 18, 2007, 18:34:57

Quote from: Rik on Jun 18, 2007, 18:13:59
What does device manager show against the card?

interestingly device manager shows it under a section called Other Devices iirc....

where as on this machine in which it used to work fine its listed under Network Adapters ?

reason for that or not important ?

Rik · Jun 18, 2007, 18:43:16

It would appear that device manager has been unable to identify it, so lists it under 'Other...'

Try removing the card and running the CD before replacing it, that might just help.

Kheldar · Jun 18, 2007, 19:11:42

Quote from: Rik on Jun 18, 2007, 18:43:16
It would appear that device manager has been unable to identify it, so lists it under 'Other...'

Try removing the card and running the CD before replacing it, that might just help.

funnily enough rik i was reading a readme on the cd and it said install software THEN card !

not wot the quick install paper instructions say.

so i tried to uninstall the software...removed the card...re-installed software...then the card and still it wont find any bleeding drivers on the damn cd

it still will not recognise the card as a belkin blah blah which it does on this pc....

suffice to say i'm now enjoying the 2003 St Emilion i opened instead.....

RobMc · Jun 18, 2007, 20:33:09

If you can still see the item in device manager under other devices, right click on it and then choose uninstall. This will "get rid of it". Then physically remove the device, run the setup from cd, plug the device in and P'n'P should then work.

Rob.

Kheldar · Jun 18, 2007, 20:42:10

yeah i did try that rob.

uninstall everything.
remove card.
install software.
install card.
windows still wont find the drivers on the cd

dunno wot else to try.

RobMc · Jun 18, 2007, 21:31:08

Last thing I can think of for now is this...

Go to Device Manager

Right Click on the device that's not working and choose uninstall
Then right click on the computer icon (top of list in device manager)
choose "Scan for Hardware Changes"

This will then force a Plug'n'Play scan for hardware.

If it still puts the new device in "Other Devices" then either the setup hasn't worked or somethings is blocking the correct functioning of the device (or drivers). If it still doesn't work by you get here then I'd have a look on the manufacturers website for updated drives/software. The go through the uninstall, remove device, install new software, install device route. If that doesn't work then I'm starting to run out of ideas.

Rob.