I've just got a new computer and wanted to link it and my old one together so I could transfer files. Since I didn't have the right kind of ethernet cable I decided I might as well get a USB wireless adapter to save wires trailing all over.
We already have a wireless network set up at home, with one PC and two laptops working fine (usually). But I can't seem to connect up my old PC with the new wireless adapter (I put the old wireless card in the new PC so I could get it up and running, then decided the easiest--hah--way to get files transferred was to get the old one on wireless too). The old PC, the one with the problem, is running WinXP SP1 (new PC is on SP2, I don't know what the laptops are but there's no problem connecting them).
While the adapter (Belkin F5D7050uk) appears to have been installed fine, and in fact the computer says it's getting an excellent signal and is connected to the network, it's actually being a total liar, because I can neither get online nor share files. The adaptor's LED light blinks on occasionally, and according to the Belkin manual this means it's not configured right (and that's about the only helpful thing Belkin has to say).
I've spent many frustrating hours typing in network keys, which have been accepted, and manually configured the IP address to match the one on the connected computers (192.168.1.101), since it seemed to be inventing its own. Still nothing. The icon says it's connected, but it's still a dirty rotten liar. It'll ping the IP address, but not the default gateway (which I also had to manually type in, it's 192.168.1.1). The thing is that until I put this new adapter in, I had a fine and dandy connection on that machine. Right now I'm very loath to take out the wireless card working here, and put it back in the old one, in case I can't get either working again.
What am I doing wrong? Belkin, for their part, have been singularly unhelpful with support/troubleshooting. Is it the adaptor that's faulty, or my extremely rubbish computing skills?
Thanks (for reading to the end of this endless post),
K8