question about internet connections?

Question

under network connections on my computer where it has the type of connection, status, and device name...the status is something like "connected, firewall, shared" and the device name is "linksys" something or other. what does "shared" mean? I am NOT sharing internet connection with any other computer. I know linksys makes routers...but there is no linksys router connected to the computer! my brother has attempted to hook up a linksys router so his desktop can share internet with my computer but he hasnt had any luck and i think he has installed the software for the router on the computer. do i have to get rid of the "shared" and the "linksys" so i can hook up my own router? If i do, how to i do it?

Answer 1

It does sound as though your brother installed some Linksys software when he attempted to astablish a wireless network connection with that Linksys router. I am unsure what the "shared" portion means, as my Status dialog pages only states "connected", then shows my network name, the duration of the connection, the speed of the connection, and the signal strength.

The Network Name is where the Linksys label is coming from, when you hook up a router it has what is called an SSID or Security Set Identifier, which is a unique identifying name of your router. The default is the routers manufactures name, with a series of numbers and letters folowing. This identifies that particular router from every other router, and as such, no other router has that particular name.

It is a good idea to change the SSID in the routers configuration pages because it helps reduce the chance of somebody cracking into your network connection, jumping onto it and using it, which would reduce your available bandwidth and slow down your connection while the intruder is using it. Changing the SSID to a meaningful name to you, and then also renaming the Connection in the Netowrk Connections folder, helps when troubleshooting or when somebody simply wishes to hook up to your network, such as a friend or family member.

You change the routers SSID in the browser configuration pages, and then, after your connection is completely setup and functioning properly, you rename that connection to the same SSID name you gave your router. Mine is Bear.

Before you add any network hardware, such as the router you mentioned you want to hook up and begin using, you need to clear out the Linksys files and drivers. Now, you could leave it and just ignore it, as you can have multiple Connections in the Network Connections folder, it is best to get rid of what you are not ever going to utilize. Otherwise it just confuses the issue of what your connection are.

Your first Connection is usualy called LAN-1, and then the next is LAN-2. This doesn't help show you which is your wireless connection, and which is a wired connection, etc.

When you change the Name of a Connection in the Network Connections folder, it doesn't change the Name the system uses when showing information about that adapter. When you use the ipconfig command in a command prompt to view a connections information, for example when you wish to get the MAC address of an adapter, the information in the command prompt window will describe the actual name of the adapter. So, if you used Linksys, and its SSID was Linksys-46Y80B6QR, and you changed this in the routers configuration pages, too lets say, Goose, and then went into the Network Connections folder and also changed the related connections name there to Goose, the command prompt would still show Linksys in the ipconfig information.

To remove the Linksys related items go into the Add/Remove applet, click on each entry whichh has the Linksys name, and then remove them. There may be only one, or there could be multiple listings, depending upon what your brother installed.

After you removed the Linksys items using Add/Remove, reboot your system. Rebooting after software removals allows the system to clean up files left behind.

Now, before you install a router, or install anything onto your system, or make any configuration changes, you should get into the habit of creating a manual Restore Point. When you get intot he habit of creating manual Restore Points before making any type of change in your system, and creating a meaningful name for that Restore Point, if something goes wrong, such as the software stalls out in the middle of an installation, or it turns out to not be compatible with something in your system, you can simply go into System Restore, select that Restore Point, and return your system to the way it was before the changes were made. Everyone who has a computer and is its administrator, should get into the habit of creating manual restore points. It saves a lot of hassles and headaches down the road.

Once you have removed the Linksys software and drivers, rebooted, created a manual Restore Point, you are ready to install your own chosen router.

One thought on the Shared listing in your Connections Status dialog box: it may be due to him confusing Internet Connection Sharing feature with the router. Internet Connection Sharing is used to enable a second computer to share the first computers Internet Connection. It enables the Windows Firewall, if you do not use a different one. That may be why it states "firewall" too in the Status dialog box. Now, I am not 100% sure of this, but it is the only thing which makes logical sense.

If you use a third party firewall software program, or a full Internet Security Suite, make sure that the Windows Firewall is disabled. You do not want two firewalls enabled at the same time on your sytstem. Using Internet Connection Sharing enables the Windows Firewall by default, even if you have it disabled. So, go into Control Panel, then double click on the Security Center icon, or the Windows Firewall icon, if you have both as I do, and then ensure it is disabled if you are using a third party firewall solution. If you are not using a third party firewall solution, do NOT disable the Windows Firewall, as it is critical in keeping your computer safe.

When you get around to hooking up your router, please configure the security features last. First hook up the first computer and ensure it has a viable and strong connection, then add other computers and/or network hardware such as an Xbox, or other game console, receivers, entertainment devices, etc.

When you set the encryption method you will temporarily lose your Internet connection until you run the Network Connection Wizard and/or the Wireless Network Connection Wizard on each computer you wish to use the Wireless feature of the device.

Because of this temporary loss of connection while setting up your encryption method it is critical you are sure you have established a solid connection between the computers and the router. If you don't do this, and you then attempt to set the encryption method, discover you made an error while configuring your router and computers connection, you will not be able to get back into the routers configuration pages, because it uses the browser to access them.

Hooking up a router or wireless router to a network is not dificult, but there are steps to follow and it can seem overwhelming the first time somebody does it. Don't let yourself get overwhelmed by the big picture, just follow each step and double check your configurations each time, and then you will soon by completely setup and using your newly created network.

Now, when you are getting ready to hook up your chosen router, be sure to read the entire manuals instructions first. Don't just read one step and then follow the instructions for that step. Read the entire set of instructions from start to finish. This way you are familiar with the process and won't be at a higher risk of misconfiguring your router, computers and connections.

In addition, here is a load of information on networking with Windows. I am giving you the pages for Vista, but you can easily go back to the Home page of the Network section, and access information for Windows XP. However, be assured that the steps are very simular. Vista has more featrues now for even easier setup of a network, and if you have a USB port in your router you can use a USB stick to easily configure you entire network in moments.

Here is the link to the Vista Help & How To section:

http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/default.mspx

Just click on the Networking icon up near the top of the page, it is very large and among several other icons for various other Help topics for Windows Vista. Once in the Networking area, just read up on the steps and follow links on the page which gives more information or detailed steps for different sections.

Here is the information on Networking with Windows XP:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/networking/default.mspx

Be sure to read up on installing a router, and how to setup security.

Here is a page for Windows Connect Now technology, which is what is used now to make setting up a home network extremely simple and easy. Almost painless!

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/networking/setup/connectnow.mspx

Just read this and the other related information first. This allows you to get an idea of the big picture, which helps tremendously when attempting to setup a network with minimal hassle and headaches. If you are lucky enough to have the full ability to take andvantage of Windows Connect Now technology, (I wasn't, so I had to do it all manually) you are very lucky and willl find this incredibly easy.

Good luck and a very happy holiday season.

Answer 2

Actually that only means that your current connection is set up to share files or printers over the internet. If you right click on that linksys device name, you should see either properties or sharing or both (depends on your windows flavor). If you see sharing click on it and you should see an option to disable sharing over this connection. If not click on properties, and you should see a sharing tab. Same thing under this tab... You should see the a setting to disable sharing. clcik to disable it and you should be okay. You would only share resources if you were on a local area network such as a home network with more than 1 pc. Otherwise it is not a good idea to have sharing enabled over the internet.

No you should not have to get rid of anything here to connect your router. You should not even need to mess with any of these settings to connect a router. PC doesn't care what router you are using if any.

PS the linksys in there is probably refering to the ethernet card that is installed in your computer.