Thanks. Those terms will probably make more sense to me after I have read
the Belkin book or other articles.
I sure hope to understand this all much better soon.
Nan


"Angus Macleod" wrote in message
news:hNdKb.290350$_M.1549441@attbi_s54...
It can be very simple. Often, you just connect up everything and it just
works. However, you don't want to run with the default settings because
your
wireless network (and the data on your machines) is open to anyone nearby.
And if things don't go smoothly, then it can get quite difficult.

Once you have a basic wireless connection working you should enable WPA
or,
if your router does not support WPA, then WEP. Once you have this working,
change the router setting so that is does not broadcast the SSID (the
network name).

None of this keeps out determined hackers, but it is better than leaving
everything defaulted where anyone else can connect, even by accident.

Angus.
"Whelan" wrote in message
...
Thanks so much for your advice. I'll wait a week or so before
reformatting.

We should probably focus on getting the Wireless to work on the new Dell
8500 now. He'll return to School Tues or Wed, and I hate to leave him to
contact Dell alone (IF it is a real problem).
I haven't read every paragraph in the Belkin guide, so maybe there's an
answer in there. (Stupid me, believing TIME magazine that it was
simple!)
Nan

"Angus Macleod" wrote in
message
news:JO0Kb.57025$I07.218432@attbi_s53...
I would advise reformatting and reinstalling. That way you know
exactly
what
you have got - no surprises. Until you get wired networking to work, I
wouldn't even try making wireless work - there are too many
possibilities
for things to go wrong.

Angus.

"Whelan" wrote in message
...
Thanks, Angus and PCGladiator. All these settings are correct and
the
same
on both computers.
Maybe it's time to just give up!

Although it does seem odd that the Compaq can ping by IP address but
not
by
name. So I think I will try changing the Workgroup name one last
time,
to
something I haven't used before. It that doesn't magically solve it,
I'll
give up.

Re reinstalling XPPro, ... Do I need to totally reformat the
harddrive,
etc
and reinstall all applications? Or is it worth trying to just
reinstall
Windows XP?

And ... Is it possible that I could get Wireless networking set up
on
the
Compaq, even if I can't do wired?
Nan

"Angus Macleod" wrote in
message
news:fSVJb.745170$Fm2.672917@attbi_s04...
On the DNS tab "Append primary and connection specific..." is the
correct
entry to select, the "Append parent..." should be checked and
"Register
this
connection..." should be checked. (although these settings
probably
do
not
affect anything in your environment).

On the WINS tab it is irrelevant whether you enable LMHOSTS
lookup,
and
you
should select the default NetBIOS setting.

If none of this helps, then I would go back to my earlier
suggestion
of
installing WinXP Pro again - at least you know what you're dealing
with
then.

Angus.


"Whelan" wrote in message
...
I'm looking at Advanced TCP/IP Settings.
There is nothing under DNS server addresses.

In the middle section (on both computers),
*there's a green selection dot in "Append primary and connection
specific
DNS suffixes" and the sub-box "Append parent suffixes of the
primary
DNS
suffix" is checked. I can uncheck the box but can only clear the
"Append
primary ..." if I choose instead
"Append these DNS suffixes (in order)"

Now, here's a difference at the bottom!
There's a box "Register this connection's addresses in DNS."
That
box
is
checked on the Dell but not on the Compaq.
? Could this be it?

Under WINS,
At bottom, both computers have "Default" chosen for NetBIOS
setting.
In middle, the Dell has checked "Enable LMHOSTS lookup." The
Compaq
doesn't
now (don't remember if I unchecked that box 10 min ago or if it
was
already
unchecked).
Nan
"Angus Macleod" wrote
in
message
news:i9AJb.209217$8y1.719725@attbi_s52...
Your ping results identify where your problem probably lies -
name
resolution. It seems that the Compaq can't convert the machine
name
to
an
IP
address. My guess is that the Compaq is trying to use an
inappropriate
DNS
server (one that it used on campus perhaps, rather than the
one
provided
by
the router).

You should check the properties of the Local Area Connection.
On
the
General
tab highlight the "Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)" entry and
click
on
the
Properties button. It should show that the IP address and DNS
server
addresses are obtained automatically. Click on the Advanced
button
to
open
the Advanced TCP/IP Settings dialog. On the DNS tab there
should
be
no
entries - remove any that may be there. Similarly, remove any
entries
from
the WINS tab.

Angus.

"Whelan" wrote in message
...
From the Compaq
I tried the Search: nothing
I tried Ping with different case variations of the name:
nothing.
BUT ... finally, when I pinged the IP address, 192.168.2.56
,
that worked ... there and back in 1ms.
(they are only 5' apart now!)

What do these results mean?

Should I change an IP address or redo the workgroup names on
all
of
them?
Nan


"Angus Macleod"
wrote
in
message
news:IukJb.196806$8y1.646741@attbi_s52...
To search for another computer on the network, click on
Start/Search,
select
"Computer or People", then "A computer on the network",
enter
it's
name
(e.g. granite) and click on the Search button. If it finds
the
computer,
right click on it and select Open to see the shares.

To ping a computer determines if it can be accessed at a
more
fundamental
level. To do this click on Start/Run and enter "cmd"
(without
the
quotes)
in
the field and click on OK. A command window will open. At
the
prompt
type
in
"ping computername" and press Enter. The machine will
resolve
the
name
into
the IP address and make 4 attempts to reach the target
machine
and
tell
how
long the round trip took (or report an error if it could
not
be
found).
If
it does not work, you may also want to try pinging the IP
address
of
the
remote machine directly.

I don't think using the Dell CD on the Compaq would hurt -
although
you
might be violating the license.

Angus.

"Whelan" wrote in message
...
Thanks. I'll try un-installing the Verizon and other
things
from
the
Compaq.
(After doing some PrintSceens to a doc in case he needs
the
info
to
get
the
Dell working in LA.)

I'm feeling skeptical of the CAPS issue too. I typed it
in
CAPS
on
each
machine and rebooted many times; the Compaq just ignores
that
and
displays
the name in title case.

I don't think I can Search and Ping ... but I'm not
really
sure
how
to
try.
I'll bring the Compaq into this room with a 10' cable
today.
And
maybe
plug
in its D-Link wireless card too.

"Angus Macleod"
wrote
in
message
news:xefJb.194187$8y1.625805@attbi_s52...
In defense of Belkin, I have installed two of their
wireless
routers
in
the
past few weeks, and found them to be well made, easy
to
set
up
and
reliable
in use. Linksys is the yardstick by which I measure
such
things,
and
I
rank
Belkin and SMC as better than Linksys, Netgear as the
same
and
D-Link
as
poorer than Linksys - based on my personal
experiences.
Also,
the
Belkin
desktop wireless cards seem to have better range than
Linksys.

Concerning your Compaq, I would uninstall the Verizon
DSL
software -
it
may
well include it's own firewall functionality. I would
also
remove
all
the
unwanted connections. Given that you know how to do
it,
it
might
be
best
to
reinstall XP Pro - that will also avoid any other
legacies
from
the
machine's college experience.

I think the upper/lower case issue is a red herring on
a
WinXp
Pro
machine.
Can you find the other machines by using Search? Can
you
ping
them?

Angus..

"Whelan" wrote in message
...
I appreciate your experience with networking
equipment.

It is too late to return the Belkin; it was one of
those
Day
After
Thanksgiving specials. I'll just wait for the rebate
and
then
maybe
decide
it was a $15 loss.

My husband was ready to pay someone to put cables
through
the
ceiling
and
walls. I thought WiFi would be cleaner cheaper and
more
convenient.
IF
it
worked!
(TIME magazine made it sound so easy in November!)

At Andrew's apt, in Sept, they bought a D-Link
Wireless
Router
(G).
And
a
D-Link AirPlus ExtremeG Wireless Cardbus Adaptor
DWL-G650,
which
worked
in
the Compaq for DSL. (No reason to share files with
roommates!)

We ordered DELL's TruMobile 1300WLAN 802.11b/g
miniPCI
card,
built-in
as
part of the Dell Inspiron 8500 purchase. It was an
extra
cost.
We
were
assuming that will work with the D-Link router in
the
apt.
Guess
he'll
find
out next week. (It sure doesn't notice the Belkin
wireless
router
...
except
now when connected by cable.)
Nan


ben_myers_spam_me_not @ charter.net (Ben Myers)
wrote
in
message
...
I've never used a Belkin wireless router. My only
interaction
with
Belkin
routers has been that I replaced a 4-port one with
a
Linksys
wireless
router
with 4 ports. In the past, Belkin has achieved
something
of
a
name
in
cables
and simple devices like keyboards and USB hubs.
Frankly,
I
don't
have
great
faith in their networking.

I have always used and installed (for clients)
Linksys
routers,
wired
and
wireless, ever since I had a very positive
experience
with
the
first
one
which I
installed here. And their install software has
only
gotten
easier
to
use,
except for certain DSL connections (e.g. Verizon).
Netgear
also
has
a
respectable track record in networks.

If the Belkin keeps dropping the connection, it is
not
worth
even
the
$10
net
you'll have spent if and when you ever get back
the
rebate.
If
that's
what it
is now doing, it will undoubtedly continue to do
so,
unless
maybe
Belkin
has a
firmware update to fix the problem.

I have almost always used Orinoco Gold business
class
(i.e.
more
expensive
but
worth it) wireless cards in notebooks and
long-distance
wired
desktops,
with
100% success and cilent satisfaction.

I'm trying to convince you to dump the Belkin
(altho
I
can't
directly
link
it to
the problems you are having), if you can still get
your
money
back
where
you
bought it. There are inexpensive components and
cheap
ones.
The
cheap
ones are
not worth the time or the money... Ben Myers

On Fri, 02 Jan 2004 02:12:44 GMT, "Whelan"

wrote:

Thanks, Ben.
Yes, the CAPS problem is a mystery.

This morning I remembered having seen an option,
a
checkbox,
under
Tools,
Folder Options, to allow filenames in uppercase.
Could
it
be
that
simple?
No, I couldn't find it, so maybe I've just seen
that
option
in
98.

I browsed around REGEDIT but didn't discover
where
workgroup
names
were
listed. There are hundreds, maybe a thousand,
entries
there!

I have no idea what's involved in getting
Wireless
working.
I
assume
we'll
just be tapping into the existing network.

But I do hope to make wireless work for the XP
laptops.
That's
the
only
reason I replaced the good reliable Netgear
router
with
this
crummy
Belkin
router that sputters and briefly drops it
connection
all
day
long.
If
I
wasn't getting a $70 rebate on the $80 cost of
the
Belkin,
I'd
have
returned
it in disgust.
Nan

ben_myers_spam_me_not @ charter.net (Ben Myers)
wrote
in
message
...
Yes, ALL CAPS eliminates the differences in how
the
workgroup
names
are
handled
by the various species of Windows. Gee, you'd
think
there
would
be
some
consistency here.

Look at the Internet Options in Control Panel,
the
Connections
tab,
to
be
specific. Make sure that the radio button
"Never
Dial
a
Connection"
is
set.
This should keep Verizon from popping up.

You may have to change the workgroup name in
the
Compaq
to
all
caps
using
REGEDIT, unless someone else can come up with a
better
idea...
Ben
Myers


On Thu, 01 Jan 2004 22:26:30 GMT, "Whelan"

wrote:

I have rebooted at least 50 times.

From what I read in this thread, I was careful
to
make
the
Login
name,
password, and workgroup name the same
everywhere
and
in
CAPITAL
letters.
And
I have disabled Norton Internet Security
everywhere.

As of 3am, the new Dell 8500 laptop (when
connected
by
cable)
and
the
old
Gateway laptop and the Dell 4500 could see
each
other's
shared
folders
and
the printer.

But the COMPAQ is still a big problem. It
cannot
see
anything
but
the
workgroup name and its own shared folders. It
displays
the
workgroup
name
in
mixed case, not capitals.
Thinking no CAPS was the problem, I changed
the
workgroup
name,
added
new
workgroup, rebooting
more than 20 times, for 1½ hours. The
workgroup
always
reappears
without
CAPs.

After every change and reboot, the Compaq
opens
with
a
Dialup
Connection
dialogue box, listing Verizon DSL but wanting
to
dial.
There
is
no
cable
in
the modem jack and nothing in the startup menu
to
explain
it.

Other odd things about the Compaq:
Under Network Connections, it lists many
things,
leftover
from
my
son's
college apt.
*Under Broadband heading is:
Verizon DSL, Disconnected, WAN Miniport
(PPPOE)
(There's a wireless PCMIA card somewhere, but
a
usb2
card
is
currently
in
the slot.)
*Under Dial-up, there are 4 listings, for
travel
(all
Disconnected)
*Under LAN or High-Speed Internet:
Whelan LAN, Enabled, Intel Pro/100 S Mobile
LAN
on
Motherboard
(that's
the
one I am plugged into and reading Properties
for).

BTW, the Compaq was my son's ... but he will
return
to
college
next
week
with the new DELL 8500, leaving the Compaq
behind
for
me.

I'd actually like to use it wireless, if that
worked.
Tired
of
stepping
over
the 50' blue cable! But I've never used
anything
wireless
or
seen
wireless
working.
And the wireless in the Dell 8500 (an extra
cost
item)
hasn't
worked
yet.
That will be the next problem to solve.
Nan

ben_myers_spam_me_not @ charter.net (Ben
Myers)
wrote
in
message
...
And after changing the workgroup name,
prepare
yourself
for
yet
another
reboot
for the new workgroup name to become
effective...
Ben
Myers

On Thu, 01 Jan 2004 15:42:46 GMT, "Angus
Macleod"

wrote:

To change the computer or workgroup names
on
Win98,
right
click
on
Network
Neighborhood and select properties. The
Identification
tab
allows
you
to
change the names.

Angus.