Computer Question

[Dayvo]

I need some help:

I had wireless internet connection at my last place of residence. Since moving in with my g/f, I can't get access to the internet using my laptop on her cable connection, which works perfectly well on her laptop (also a Dell).

Is there something in my laptop that needs to be altered/switched on-off etc. giving me access?

Oh, and please explain in the same language as when addressing a five-year-old!

Thanks, from a computer-illiterate!

 

[rh100]

switch-it-off-and-switch-it-on-again

seriously - a reboot normally solves this - especialy if you just close the lid when it's not in use.

also reboot the modem it is connected to - some cable modems attach themselves to the current device and won't talk to anything else until it's rebooted

you mention you had wifi, but this is cabled? -

go to start
go to connect to - show all connections
look for any icons that are local area connection - right click and select 'enable' if it is there - then reboot

also check the port at both ends of the cable - do they have two leds lit - on solid and one flashing?

try that and let me know

 

[Dayvo]

Thanks, rh100!

I'll try this evening, and don't worry, I'll let you know!

 

[tmcd35]

How is your g/f plugged into the cable system? Is she using a router or is the modem plugged directly into her laptop?

If the modem is plugged directly into her laptop then in all likely hood it will only work on her laptop. This is because the cable company registers the MAC address of the computer the connection is first set up with.

If this is a case your best solution is to get a new router and get the router to copy the MAC address from your g/f laptop before you plug the modem into it.

 

[rh100]

How is your g/f plugged into the cable system? Is she using a router or is the modem plugged directly into her laptop?

If the modem is plugged directly into her laptop then in all likely hood it will only work on her laptop. This is because the cable company registers the MAC address of the computer the connection is first set up with.

If this is a case your best solution is to get a new router and get the router to copy the MAC address from your g/f laptop before you plug the modem into it.

This is not correct IME, as I mentioned the modem will use the MAC address of the currently connected device, until the next reboot of the modem, AFAIK the cable company would not register the MAC - as it is only used for local segment lan traffic routing - unlike the IP.

You are correct that a router will solve this problem, as the routers mac address will be associated with the modem, not the laptops, but no need to clone mac addresses usually. However, as Dayvo is in Oslo, their system is outside of my experience as far as cable networks go.

 

[tmcd35]

Not meaning to argue, but....

Unless things have changed since the last time I had to set up my Modem then yes the cable co does (or did) register the MAC address of the PC used to set up the modem and register the connection. This is why cable modem compatible routers come with ability to spoof MAC addresses. It's possible to reset the registered MAC address by running through initial setup procedure again.

Then again the last time I set mine up they were still called NTL.

sorry didn't notice the Oslo part, whoops. Tbh, they're cable system would be out of my experience as well - but it's something that's worth looking into none the less

 

[trustysteed]

make sure your network card is enabled and active. look at the port where you plug the cable into the laptop, you should have two lights. a constant one, usually orange to show you that the port is live, and a flashing one, usually green, which shows data traffic is going updown the connection. when you plug the cable in, you should also get a light come on the router if it detects it ok.

 

[2Loose]

Not meaning to argue, but....

Unless things have changed since the last time I had to set up my Modem then yes the cable co does (or did) register the MAC address of the PC used to set up the modem and register the connection. This is why cable modem compatible routers come with ability to spoof MAC addresses. It's possible to reset the registered MAC address by running through initial setup procedure again.

Then again the last time I set mine up they were still called NTL.

sorry didn't notice the Oslo part, whoops. Tbh, they're cable system would be out of my experience as well - but it's something that's worth looking into none the less

This was the way it was done by NTL IIRC, but Virgin don't anymore.

 

[Garz]

Check she doesn't use MAC filter on the router. I also have 'maximum' number of connections with the mac filter for added security.