I bought a cisco linksys router & 802.11g adapter. I followed the cd install exactly. It doesn't work.?

Question

I noticed that the cd says I must have norton anti virus to make it work. Is this true ? I'm using AVG free as my anti virus. Or could it be that I'm using mozilla firefox as my browser instead of internet explorer. I started with a 802.11b, it didn't work. The guy at the computer store said I needed a "G " model. It still doesn't work. Please Help! I am about to give up & just string another phone line in to the bed room . Then toss the $200.00 router in the trash !

Answer 1

Actually, I suggest you don't install the Anti Virus. The router has a built-in firewall that conflicts with other firewalls and security softwares. Picture it as two magnets with the same polarity - they repel each other.

If you want to use both the router and the anti-virus for added security, install the router first. Once you have that working, install the anti-virus (if you still want to)... be forewarned, you'll need to configure the Anti-virus to allow the traffic coming from the router to pass through. You may need to disable the AVG you have now when you install the router and configure it so it will allow internet to your PC through the router.

The installation CD that comes with the router is just a Setup Wizard, installing the router does not require any driver. Installing the wireless adapter does. That's how come when you install the router, and you add another computer, you don't need to run the router's CD on any computer anymore. Everything is saved in the router - not the computer. You can configure the router without the CD actually.

You didn't say who your ISP was...
Some modems may need the router configure in a slightly different way. If your ISP connection is PPPoE try this, meaning if your PC is connected direct to your modem and you need to log on to the internet using a connection manager (in other words, you need to enter username and password):

1.) Power off both modem and router.
2.) Plug the ethernet cable from your modem to the internet port of the router and one computer to one of the 4 ports.
3.)Power up modem, wait for the light to stabilize (or when DSL light is lit) - this indicates your modem has established communication to your ISP.
4.)Power up your router.
5.)On your computer open IE browser and hit the stop button (or F5) to stop it from getting online. You just need to use the browser to get to the router page and configure.
6.)In the address bar (NOT search bar) , type 192.168.1.1 and hit Enter. It will prompt you for the username and password of the router - leave the username blank, type admin for the password (if you had used the CD previously, this may not work - try the password you had entered before).
7.)Once the router page is up - choose PPPoE for Internet login type.
8.)Enter the username and password your internet provider gave you. You may need to type the username in email format (e.g. [e-mail]).
9.)Select Keep alive.
10.)Save settings.
11.)Click to Status tab (at the upper far right of the Linksys page). It should show you're connected. You should also have values for IP address and DNS Servers. If not, click connect. If an error comes up - "Authentication Failed" means either you mistyped your username or password, or both.
12.)If you get "Cannot connect to PPPoE server" your modem and router may have the same (LAN) IP address. You need to go back to Setup page and look for router's IP address (it will show 192.168.1.1). Change it to 192.168.2.1 or 10.10.10.1 - save settings on the router. Restart your computer, if you know how to release and renew the IP of your PC, you can do that instead. Then follow steps 5, 6 and 11.

If you don't need to use a connection manager and your ISP did not give you a username and password for your account, try this:

1.) Power off both modem and router.
2.) Plug the ethernet cable from your modem to the internet port of the router and one computer to one of the 4 ports.
3.)Power up modem, wait for the light to stabilize (or when DSL light is lit) - this indicates your modem has established communication to your ISP.
4.)Power up your router.
5.)On your computer open IE browser and hit the stop button (or F5) to stop it from getting online. You just need to use the browser to get to the router page and configure.
6.)In the address bar (NOT search bar) , type 192.168.1.1 and hit Enter. It will prompt you for the username and password of the router - leave the username blank, type admin for the password (if you had used the CD previously, this may not work - try the password you had entered before).
7.)Click to Status tab (at the upper far right of the Linksys page). It should show you're connected. You should also have values for IP address and DNS Servers.
8.)If not, you need to go back to Setup page and look for router's IP address (it will show 192.168.1.1). Change it to 192.168.2.1 or 10.10.10.1 - save settings on the router. Restart your computer, if you know how to release and renew the IP of your PC, you can do that instead.
9.)If you still can't get online, go back to the router setup page and look for a sub-tab "Mac Address Clone". Enable it and click on the button "Clone" or Clone your PC's MAC address". This needs to be done on the same computer that can get online through the modem.


Goodluck! It just looks intimidating at first... but you'll get the hang of it - if you haven't done so yet. :)

Oh, and G routers work with both G and B adapters. By default the wireelss mode on most wireless routers are Mix - meaning it will allow both B and G to connect.

Answer 2

You'll need a copy of an install CD from SOMEBODY, as it has a little piece of software that manages and checks the connection between your computer and the internet. However, since it's not particularly tied by serial number to one router and one computer (generic) you can snag a copy from any pal who has a Linksys router. Fetch it, and installing will be a breeze - 15 minutes, max! Once you unplug everything, then load the CD and follow on-screen instructions, pop, yer up. Also, the Linksys support folks are friendly, patient, competent. You can count on them. Before you call, read that little tiny serial number on the bottom of the router and have it at hand.

Answer 3

Download and install Net Stumbler at www.stumbler.net. It's a program that will detect all wifi signals that your card is receiving. If your wifi router is transmitting a signal, then check the settings on your wifi card, SSID, Channel number and make sure that the WEP or WPA key in correct.

Answer 4

I had a lot of trouble with my linksys USB adapter, it kept losing the signal. I talked to a "pro" who said that a lot of the USB front panel ports don't get enough juice on a lot of pc's. I finally gave up and got a new pc.