setting up a wireless network with 2 desktops and one laptop?

Question

HELP! I have two desktops and one laptop, and I am trying to set up a wireless connection so that all 3 of them can use the internet at the same time. The laptop and one of the desktop have a wireless adapter installed in them. The other desktop needs to be wired directly to the modem. I have a DSL/Broadband connection. They were all working, and then I moved and had to change ISP, and it hasn't worked since then.

Any information (pref. step by step) would be greatly appreciated! :)

THANK

OH, BTW, all 3 system are running Windows XP Service Pack 2.

One more detail that I thought you might need is that the wireless router is a SpeedStream 6300

thanks for the help!!

okay...when I type the ipconfig, it tells m e that my Wireless Network Connection Media State is disconnected
and then the Ethernet adapter LAC gives me an IP address, but when I type it into IE, It tells me that it isn't a valid address

It says that my DHCP is not enabled as well

I am so lost, this definitely isn't my area of expertise!!

Answer 1

Open up the command prompt (Start-->Run-->(type in cmd))
Type in ipconfig /release, then type ipconfig /renew.
This will drop your old IP address and get a new one from your new provider.

***Edit: Let me know if you need help setting up the new router and I can walk you through it.....it is just a lot to type out....

Regards,

Juice

Okay, it's a combo unit. I need you to go to the cmd prompt again and type:

ipconfig

Look for the gateway IP address and put that in your Internet Explorer address bar. Next you will have to provide a username and password, typically Admin and blank or administrator and blank or the password could be password with admin or administrator for the username. This will get us in the router for the next step.

***You will have to use a hardwired computer. Then run "ipconfig". Then take the address listed as your Default Gateway and put it in the IE address bar and hit enter. That should pull up the login box for your router. Once you are logged in, you will have to check your settings to see if anything is disabled, like DHCP or wireless all together. Also check to see if you have WEP and/or WPA encryption enabled, and if so, that you have the correct password in place on both your router and your clients.

Can you see your router when you search for wireless networks?

Answer 2

Since this is a new install, have you tried connecting to the modem directly and verifying that you actually have an Internet connection?
Have you checked the router setup page and verified that you have acquired a network address from your ISP
Have you tried -
Start>run>"cmd">OK to bring up a DOS window and entered:
"ipconfig /all" - does your computer have an IP address, DHCP enabled and are DNS servers assigned?
"arp -a" - do you see the IP addresses for the other machines on your network?
Let us know what you find.

Answer 3

So, you have a Modem/Router combination? If not, you need to connect the Modem to the Router, and then the wired system into the router and then go into the routers configuration pages and ensure that the wireless access point is enabled, and if it is, setup security.

None of this is very difficult, but it can be confusing when you haven't done if before, or often.

Do you still have the manual for the router? If so, read the setup area from beginning to end, and then begin the steps to add the router to your network. Once you have added the router, you will have established the connection for the wired computer.

Once you have installed the router and established the connection for the wired computer you will need to go into the configuration pages of your router and ensure that the WAP is enabled.

You access these configuration pages by using the routers IP address. You can locate this address by right clicking on your connections icon in the notification area, and select Status from the menu. When the Status dialog box opens, click on the Support tab. On the Support tab, locate Default Gateway and write down its IP address. This is the address you will use to access your routers configuration pages.

The IP address is usually 192.168.1.1 on most routers, and on some, like the Belkin it is 192.168.2.1

Type it into the browser address bar just as it is, do not add http or .com, once you type it in, simply hit Enter.

When the pages come up you are greeted with the logon screen. Most routers ship without an admin password. Just click the Submit button or Apply button, whichever button is there to enter configuration after you enter a password. At this point you simply click the button without a password.

However, once you have configured your router, you will need to create an admin password or anyone could enter your router and lock you out of it. Make sure it is one you can easily remember but not one which is easily guessed.

On the left is a series of links to different areas of your routers configuration options. Look for a Wireless or WAP link, and when that page opens make sure that it is enabled. If not, click on the radial dial button to select it and then hit Submit. This will enable the use of the routers WAP and allow computers to access and use that connection. This has nothing to do with wired connections.

Once you have enabled the WAP, you need to setup security or anyone around can connect to your WAP and use up your bandwidth. It is simple to enable security, just know that after you setup the passphrase or password your computers which are accessing the wireless connection will temporarily lose their connection.

One note to consider, you should change the SSID to any name you like to make it harder for others to access your network. Don't bother hiding your SSID because all it does is make it harder for you to locate your own network when there is an issue, and it does not stop those who are experianced in finding *all* wireless networks in an area, including the "hidden" ones.

After setting up security for the access point you need to add the password or passphrase to your wireless network properties in each computer. You can do this in a number of ways.

If you do not yet have a wireless connection configured, run the New Connection Wizard via the Network Connections folder at the top of the left panel. Just follow each page and enter a Workgroup Name, (Needs to be the same on all computers) if required, enter the security information you configured in the router, the password/passphrase, and type etc. Then just click Finish. If you have other computers you wish to configure the same way, you can load the configuration information onto a USB drive and plug it in when requested while running the Wizard on each system.

The easiest method is to simply right click on your connection icon in the notification area, and select Available Wireless Connections. Click on your connections name and then click on Connect at the bottom of the page. A dialog box will appear asking for the password or passphrase. Enter it twice and then click on Connect one more time.

Another method is doing this manually by accessing the connections properties. You open Network Connections folder by right clicking on the connection icon in the notification area, and select Open Network Connections. The Network Connections folder opens. Right click on the wireless connection, and then selct Properties.

In the properties dialog box click on the Wireless Connections tab, and then click on the wireless connection in the box which shows the Preferred Connections. Once you have selected the connection click on Properties. The Properties for that connection appears.

On this page you select your security type, whichever you setup in the router configuration pages, and then enter the password/passphrase twice and click Apply, then after the Apply button goes gray, click on OK, and OK again to close the Properties dialog box.


Here is some Windows XP Networking help pages:

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

It really is not difficult, just step intensive. Following your manuals instructions and reading up on these pages should get you up and going in no time. Just take your time and read first before you begin. Phone technical assistance for the router or your ISP as needed.

Good luck and have a nice day.

Answer 4

i dont get you....yet uhh "How do I set up a instant community with 2 computers and a million pc?".....undemanding and straightforward.... a million. get your router 2. setup out of your router CD. tremendously darn uncomplicated!!! 3. executed!!!! theres no longer something to it.....in simple terms purchase the router u talked bout and in simple terms run the setup CD and persist with the learning u could desire to get it via..