yup i've got a adsl usb modem.

a bit of history. I've got 3 pc's on the lan and a laptop on the wlan.

I've used internet connection sharing on the lan for 5 years. Now with adsl but in the old days with isdn. Never had a problem with it until 2 years ago when I bought a new pc running xp. This became the pc sharing the adsl modem. My network had big problems when I got this new pc. It was like 2 of the pc's were fighting to control the ip addresses so I just forced the ip addresses on all the pc's to be 192.168.0.1 192.168.0.2 etc.

Things then ran fine without a glitch for 2 years.


After I posted last night that things had fixed themselves it all went horribly wrong again. I've done an awful lot of fiddling and this is my conclusion.
1. I still don't know why there wasn't a gateway so that my pc could talk to the wireless box. However, I've now changed the factory default ip of that box to 192.168.0.4 so that it fits in the same range as the rest of my kit so I don't have to consider gateways in the problem

2. I've got someone else who was putting out wireless interference with me.
It suddenly became obvious to me this morning when I saw that there was a additional wireless network available in my area.
Now I live in the sort of place where you would not expect lots of wlans. not every house in our road can get broadband. I have 2 phone lines for example - one can, one can't and even then I can only get 1mbye bandwidth, no one has more than this.
I've also got a wireless tv signal transmitter to transmit sky to another room which has been degrading in quality recently.

anyway, changed the channel on the tv transmitter - helped that but not my wlan.

Now changed the channel on my wlan to 6 from 11 and it's working fine now. Hopefully it will still be working in a few hours time and this isn't another false dawn

CC

I think I understand your system now.

No reason why it should not work with those settings, but I'm not clear whether you have a DHCP server on your network. It could be that one or more of your PC's has this enabled.

I think that Windows automatically installs a DHCP server when you share an internet connection, so if you still have your old computer then it could be acting as a second DHCP server. You need to go into the services on all your client computers and dissable the DHCP Server service. Also make sure that your wireles base station does not have a DHCP server running.

Alternatively, if you have a DHCP server on the WiFi then use this and dissable the service on your modem computer. You will have to set the DNS info and set the gateway address to that of your modem computer.

In either case, you must enter manual ip settings on your modem computer.

Your problems are a good example of why it is better to use an ADSL/Router/Firewall instead of a shared modem. The latter can be made to work, but windows workstations were not designed for this neither is USB best suited for network devices.

An ADSL/Router/Firewall may increase your ADSL performance and reliability, it would simplify your network setup and stop your entire netork being dependent on one computer. Most importanly, it would provide an extra layer of security against internet attacks.

Any now how to fix this

Got 3 monitor set up, middle is a viewsonic 19" with 2 AOC 15 either side
Got a video card Asus ATI 9600xt 128mb connected to 19" and 15"
Got video card ATI 9250 128mb connected to other 15"

All latest drivers etc

However anytime I start playing games especialy Unreal 2004 updated with latest patches etc, all the monitors crash and pc is rebooted. I have even disabled monitors in setup still crashes

When I cut/paste an address into a message how do I ensure that it will appear hightlighted (in blue) rather then in black and dead please?

I use a Mac and not a pc. thanks.

MoneyAM have a tool for this.

With your cursor over your required future position in the posting box, which you have previously chosen as being the pertinent position for your link to be eventually placed, then first click on the symbol above the box where you type your post.

You might get well now get a message asking for your permission to ".......allow scripted windows...". This message is dependant on your machine's security and pop-up blocker settings.

If so, click on it and 'Temporarily Allow Scripted Windows'.

If you don't get such a message, then ignore the above comments.

Click on the chain link symbol once again.

Up pops a box with a facility to insert a URL address.

Duly insert it, taking care not to doubly insert the 'http://' part of the address.

Click on OK

Insert any text you want to show, such as 'HERE'. Click on OK once again. Or you might like to ignore typing anything at all and just click on OK. In which case the address itself will show instead of 'HERE'.

Optimist - thanks for your help. All is now running smoothly so I'm not going to make any adjustments. I have no idea whatsoever if I am running DHCP - I certainly haven't asked it to but with windows you never know.

I'm going to print out your post and put it in a safe place.

I hope i'll never need it but i'm buying another computer soon so we'll see what happens then

Many thanks DP, I'll give it whirl later.

Looking at my add/remove programmes menu I see I have umpteen Java runtime updates each at 140 or so mb. Can I remove the old ones safely please?

Kernow

Yes unless you are using any old stuff that requires them. Make a note of the last used dates for eachversion.

Optimist,
Thanks. Only used by MAM stockwatch I think. Now deleted all the version 5 stuff and leaving v6 as this seems to be current.
This thread really is great - so many helpful people :-)

kernow
Was only thinking the other day - wouldn't it be a great idea to run a section in Shares Mag - as a posthumous tribute to Dave (croc) - which publishes extracts of problems posed and solved by BB'ers with PC problems whilst trading/investing in shares. Others could email/post their problems in the same section - back of the mag somewhere - Raeder's PC problems solved :)

What about it Mike ??

From The Times August 23, 2007

Laptop user arrested for illegal log-on to house wi-fi
A man who was seen using his laptop in the street has been arrested on suspicion of illegally logging on to a wireless (Wi-Fi) broadband connection.

http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/the_web/article2310670.ece

Some interesting inferences and revelations from

http://news.softpedia.com/news/Boy-Caught-Watching-Porn-By-His-Girlfriend-63609.shtml

What I'm alluding to particularly, is this Link

Bolshi - 24 Aug 2007 08:30 - 6044 of 6045
From The Times August 23, 2007

Laptop user arrested for illegal log-on to house wi-fi
A man who was seen using his laptop in the street has been arrested on suspicion of illegally logging on to a wireless (Wi-Fi) broadband connection.

------

Oh dear. I watched the football results come up on a TV in Dixons window yesterday. Should I turn myself in?

My wifes computer is giving me a big headache

Initially there was vertcal lines appearing over screen, just after she had downloaded something from google. I rolled back to a prior restore position and still had lines. Eventually replaced graphics card and now that problem has cleared.

However everything on desktop has disappeared. There are no icons , toolbars , only the windows ascent wallpaper.

By bringing up windows task manager I can access IE, OE and programs, but I cannot get control panel or restore desktop icons in any way.

I have gone into safe mode and still cannot restore to an earlier date. The system is XP home

Any suggestions

Regards

Bob

What did she download Bob - was it an executable file (ending in .exe) or was it just a video or similar. The question I'm asking really is "is this a software or hardware problem?"

Thanx SC

It was a new google toolbar I think.

I am sure I have a software problem, which was masked by the faulty graphics card.

I cant even restore system at all now. The problem was probably caused by myself or Anne, when we were trying to clear lines problem, which is now ok.

Bob

Hi Bob

There are a myriad of solutions on this page:

http://www.softwaretipsandtricks.com/forum/windows-xp/8320-blank-desktop-no-desktop-after-log.html

Well, possible solutions :-(

Good luck - I had the probelm once and had to rebuild my system :-(

Bob, if it's software then I think my guess is as good as yours :-( Brian's advice above is probably the only hope.

Bob,

If it is explorere.exe that's corrupt can you copy one over from a working system?
I'm not sure whether that's possible though?