Ta.
My latest problem:-)
How do i make my wireless connection secure?Im using D-Link g604t.When we go on line it shows as an unsecure connection.It shows next doors as locked,(Thats a pity)
Also how do we send files from one comp to another over our network??

Iain, you need to go into the setup by entering the router IP address and then following the menu. I'll type out the instructions as I have them from a copy of Computer Active.

Step 1:
If you're using a wireless access point or router you can limit access to the network to specified computers. Every network interface adapter has a unique number (the MAC address) and most wireless access points or routers let you manage access based on this information....

Step 2:
For greater security use a special software "key" to turn on WEP encryption so the network can only be accessed by the access point or router and PCs connected to it. Start by enabling WEP at the wireless access point or router. If offered a choice of encryption levels the basic option - normally 64 bits - is usually sufficient.

Step 3:
You can enter up to four WEP keys but in practice you only really need one. A lot of access points will also offer to generate keys automatically (mine did) using a simple password that you supply. Some ask you to think up and type in keys yourself, which is a little harder. Whatever the approach, it's important to take a note of the key, as you'll need it for the next step.

Step 4:
Having configured the access point or router you need to enter the same secret key into any PCs you want to connect to the wireless network. If you are using the software provided by the manufacturer of the wireless device to manage the connection, you may be able to generate keys using the same password as on the access point or router. If you are using Windows XP you have to type the key in yourself.

For the file sharing I hope someone else will answer!!

" Every network interface adapter has a unique number (the MAC address)"
Where do i find these on the other 2 PCs?
As you can see this problem is disrupting my sleep:-)

Type IPCONFIG /ALL in a DOS box, look under Physical address.

With networked computers you are looking to share drives (or single folders if you prefer, to stop your kids looking at your porn collection :-) ). The shared drive will then appear in Windows Explorer and you can copy by dragging and dropping as you would between two folders on your own machine.

Night :-)

Message for Optimist,
Thanks for all your help last week, I disappeared without trace I
know midweek!
I'm currently on a borrowed
laptop as my PC is out of use.It seems to be an incurable problem.

I ended up talking to Symantec,
and Microsoft trying to firstly remove the virus and then trying to
get shot of the file, but all has failed. So it's a very new virus
and there's no cure yet - most likely picked up when a son was on
a games website - those with kids you are warned!
So it's a system rebuild - thankfully someone has said they will
do it for me and they've done this kind of thing before, as I don't
think I could tackle it.

Stockbunny

Sorry to hear that you have to take such drastic action. When you rebuild the system, your installation CD will not have the most recent Microsoft security updates and unless you use an external firewall it will not be safe to connect to the internet even to download the updates.

Get hold of a CD copy of SP2 (they were given away with many computer mags or you can do a 270MB download). Once SP2 is installed, you are reasonably safe connecting and installing the remaining updates.

Iain

When you set your wireless security, there may be a choice of WEP or WPA-PSK security.

WEP is the best that you can use if any of your wirless clients use 802.11b. If all your system is using the newer 802.11g system then you should use WPA-PSK security which is more secure.

Ive managed to get a secure conection.Now using WEP Encryption do i have to enter 58 Actual Hexadecimal digits or is there another way?I.e what the bloody hell are they??
entered 64 WEP for now

Iain

If it is asking for 58 digits for a WEP key then it is probably generating the key from an alpha numeric string.

WEP keys are normally entered in pairs of Hex numbers. A 128bit key will consist of 8 hex pairs.

A hex number is in the range 0 - 9 plus letters A - F giving 16 possible values or 256 for a pair.

If you are using WEP security, then go for 128 bit. There is software around that can crack this, but it is stronger than 64 bit.

Can you show me an example of a 128 bit hex number?
Sorry to be a pain:)
I wont use it!I just need to see one to make sure im doing it right.

E4 00 6F DD 35 CF 7A BB

Thanks optomist

Morning all - I'm having RAM problems. One socket appears to be not functioning i.e. I swap the RAM chips (one is 128mb one is 256mb) and only one chip registers. I've changed several times with always the same result. Is there anything else to try. Is it a cheap repair bearing in mind this laptop is at least 4 years old.
TIA

I woner if anyone can help me with a problem on Outlook Express? I've ticked the box to play sound on message received, my sound works fine with all other programs (windows media player, gni, etc) but I can't get any sound with Outlook. Now stuck....

Kernow

There may be a BIOS setting that turns a RAM socket off, but if it was working once then there is a good chance of it being a motherboard fault. If that is the case, I wouldn't like to speculate on cost or feasibility of repair. You can now get 512MB laptop RAM so that is one way to get round it, assuming your machine will accept it.

How do i share documents on a wireless network.I want the kids to be able to send a file to my Pc for printing.
Ive tried the Network setup wizard woithout any luck.I choose the option that the computerconnects directly to the net.The other computers connect through my computers.Its says this is not possible.
Im using a D-Link g604t.
On first setting up.It had an icon in my network places for my sons computer.But this has gone now

Am about to upgrade my quad graphics card.

The new card requires removal of everything associated with the old card before attempting installation.

Q. Does anyone know if you have to 'uninstall the drivers four times' and also 'remove the adapter four times' too? And in that order?

Q. Would it be best to boot up in Safe mode after changing the adapter?

Q. Will winXP automatically be able to 'see' at least the No.1 monitor so that I can tune things up or do I have to change some settings so I don't just get completely blank screens?

Thanks Optimist. My laptop is limited to 256mb per slot unfortunately.

Doc

You only have to uninstall once.

There is probably a utility program associated with your present card that will have an uninstall program, use this first.

Check device manager and uninstall the drivers if they are still there.

Fit the new card. Windows will find at least one screen and you will be prompted for drivers.

Iain

First of all, as you have an external ADSL router, all computers should look to the router for their internet connection.

To share a printer, open printers, right click on the printer and select sharing.

To share a folder or hard drive, open windows explorer, right click on the folder and select sharing.

On the other computer, open printers and select new printer, click next and then check the Network printer box the following dialogues will find your printer and allow you to install it.

To connect to the shared folder, open windows explorer, navigate through network neibourhood to the shared computer and then the shares drive. Richt click on the drive and select Map network Drive. The shared drive will then appear as an extra drive on the computer.

When you first switch on, it will take several minutes to see all machines in the workgroup.

Multi Tasking Optomist! ;-)
Cheers