How to connect to the internet.....(please read details)?

Question

I have an old dell laptop with a USB wireless adapter and an ethernet adapter. I use the wireless to connect to the internet and the ethernet to connect to a LAN that isn't connected to the internet. I need both on at the same time but when i have both on I cant connect to the internet. The computer tries to connect to the internet (firefox btw) using the ethernet instead of the wireless and i don't know how to tell it what to use for different programs. It does work when i disable the ethernet connection btw. Any idea?

Thanks

The laptop is running windows XP pro sp2. The wireless AP is netgear rangemax and the USB adapter is also netgear. The laptop is a dell inspiron 4150. The LAN router is an old DSL modem but does work for basic LAN tasks (such as im using it for....games mainly).

and i have Cable internet

Answer 1

You can use both. I would suggest using a static IP (specifying the IP address) on your wired connection and then make sure you do not specify a Gateway in the settings. Also, make sure you have 2 different subnets for the card and the wireless. For Example, if your wireless gives out IP addresss like 192.168.1.x, on your card use the 10.0.0.x numbering system or vice versa. That will get it to work every time. (I've done this myself).

Answer 2

Your laptop's hardware should not be any kind of problem. The DCHP server from your Wireless connection gives you an IP, and the router from your LAN tries to as well. You can only have one. Since the LAN is not connected, there is no way to sneak around it with VPNs or other tricks. You need a wireless router- you have an external modem, so the signal goes wall\ modem\ router\ whole network. That way, everybody is on the same subnet, and everybody is connected. Shame there is no way to do it without buying more hardware, but there isn't. Wireless routers all also have ethernet ports, so you can still connect the other computers.

Answer 3

I have quite a bit of experience and training in networking issues, but you've come up with a difficult question.

The only thing I can think of at the moment is that your computer is trying to access the internet over both network cards and getting confused somewhere along the way.

Is your ethernet network card using static IP addressing? If not, I suggest making it static, and then NOT specifying a Gateway IP address. Without a gateway IP, your computer will not be able to access the internet through that adapter, and use the wireless.

I must admit that I could be wrong on this, but it would be the first thing I would try.

Answer 4

UPDATE 2: For games...
If your LAN is set up for game playing you may need to set up a pass through in the Wireless AP firewall for the games.

Also, some games use IPX/SPX and need special modification to connect to the WAN as well as LAN, so get the game manual out and check, and/or visit the game site for tech support.

UPDATE1: Whichever ethernet card you originally hooked up to the Modem may need to be "cloned" in the AP for password access to the internet provider. Then you should be able to hook up through the Wireless AP & LAN with any device, but you will need to get a "router" or "switch" with both ethernet and wireless ability to plug the LAN into, then plug that into the Wireless AP. To get to the access point setup to clone the original adapter, use your internet browser and type in the Wireless AP's IP address. This will be in your manual for the AP, or here:

http://kbserver.netgear.com/products/MR814.asp

Another way: Easy to set up and doesn't require any extra hardware settings.

Go to Networking Properties and right click the wireless adapter. Choose "Bridge Connections", then do the same for the Ethernet Adapter. Now both should connect, but will look like just one connection. Have Fun : )

Calico.Kitty

Answer 5

You cannot have two network connection on a desktop OS at the same time. If you do not want the LAN to have access to the internet you could use IP filtering on the router to block all but your computer from the WAN (internet), most routers have this feature or use a proxy server running your LAN throght the proxy and blocking all but your notebook. This would means adding a server, workstation to your LAN and routering all LAN based computers throght it.
I suspect that you are trying to access a broadband wifi stream and still use your work LAN. The trouble is your computer is trying to pull setting from both networks and can only use one set at a time. I do not see your OS being able to handle this configuration. But I have been wrong before.

Answer 6

The O/S has to be WindBlows 2000 or better to handle multiple LAN connections. You are going to have to force the program to use the correct ethernet/wireless card. The best way to do this is install the program with the interface that the program will use. Leave the other out of the system.
Install each of the other programs the same way.

This may not work for all the programs, though..

Answer 7

I used to run a similar setup as you but with 2 phisical NICs and not a wireless one. I did not have to do anything differant about the setup or anything. I do remember that I did not have a gateway setup... My 2 NIC machine was my gateway to begin with so I ran a proxy server on it so other computrers on my network could go through that machine and get out.

My suggestion would be to set your wireless as a static IP address with no Gateway set on it. Then make sure that your wired NIC is set to DHCP or Static or however your connection to the cable is set. This should work for you.

Another thing is to set the connection prefernces in FF to say use the one conection.

Answer 8

You will not be able to use the wireless and network connection at the same time
If you are using the network cable, disconnect the usb wireless device. Likewise, disconnect the network cable if using wireless.
They conflict with each other.

Answer 9

Try to set up network with the utility available in xp. It is interactive and comprehensive. It shud solve ur problem. The very fact that u r running windows xp as the os, ur computer, which also has a usb port, is not a vintage piece as yet.

Answer 10

YOur computer only has one ethernet card built inside of it, so I can only connect to either the wireless of corded, I have tried thousands of ways around their isnt.

Also the two differnt networks hold a differnt IP only one can be programed into a ethernet card.