Internet Connectivity

[polaris6]

I have an unusual situation..

I have a PC, with XP(3), plenty of HD space, etc.

I also have a Linksys wireless router through which I connect two laptops and a desktop with wireless adapters; the desktop has a Linksys wireless adapter; the one laptop had a Netgear wireless adapter and the other laptop has a Linksys wireless adapter.

I have no trouble connecting to the internet with each of the laptops; the signals are strong and the connection process is straight forward.

Last week, all of a sudden, the desktop failed to connect to the internet through the router, although the two laptops connect flawlessly. I replaced the desktop adapter with one that I knew worked and I observed that the signal from the router was strong, but I could not make a connection (this connection is made through one of the slots on the motherboard). I replaced the wireless adapter on the desktop with a D-Link wireless adapter I use frequently on my laptops when I travel. This adapter connects through the USB port.

In each case (motherboard connection and USB connection), I get the signal that the desktop is connected to the router (and I can monitor that signal strength to confirm that), but I cannot get connected to my browser (IE7 or Firefox), or my mail (OE6).

I would appreciate any help and/or direction that is available.

Thanks you

polaris6

I called Linksys and they tell me that my warranty has expired, but for a fee, they might be able to 'fix' this situation.

I seem to have tried everything that I know worked in the past, to no avail. Is there something wrong with the desktop computer

[Broni]

Will desktop connect while hard-wired?
Did you try to bypass router?

[polaris6]

No, I have not tried to bypass the router.

The desktop is on one side of the house and the router/cable connection is on the other side...about 100' away.  I would have to disconnect everything from the clunky desktop and relocate it.

Let me think about that.

Is this a 'deal breaker'?

[Broni]

Well, with such a distance, I'd give it a shot.

[polaris6]

Thanks for the encouragement...I tried...I disconnected everything and took it to the room where the cable connected to the modem and router...

Guess what...?  there is no Ethernet port on my desktop.  I have looked everywhere on the motherboard and found nothing.  I have 4-USB ports, no telephone port or ethernet port.

What do I do now?  I reconnected all the cables;  at boot up, the computer recognized the wireless adapters;  the drivers are as up-to-date as they can be (for not being able to connect to the internet). 

I still get a strong signal from the router but no IP Address.  I have the settings so that Windows finds and configures as necessary.

Thanks for 'listening'.....

[Broni]

there is no Ethernet port on my desktop

New network card can be get for 15 bucks.
Any errors id Device Manager?
Did you try to reinstall wireless adapter driver?

[polaris6]

I have a Linksys Wireless-G PCI adapter card that plugs into the motherboard;  it has no ethernet receptacle.  I am not sure what I need a 'network card' other than what I already have.  This card has an antenna that picks up the wireless signal from the router, as I understand it.

No errors in the Device Manager...he/she tells me that all adapter devices are working properly;  no question marks or exclamation marks either.

I have uninstalled and installed the wireless adapter driver at least 7 times.

[Broni]

I can only assume, that wireless card is bad, then.

[polaris6]

Please read the initial post of mine.

I replaced the card with one that works.  That didn't work.

I also installed a USB wireless adapter that I removed from the laptop that I was/am using; it, the adapter worked fine on the laptop, but produces the same non-connectivity results as the PCI adapter.

[Broni]

Bad PCI slot? Did you try different one?

[polaris6]

There are only three slots into which the card can fit;  two are taken and the remaining one is located next to another card which has some 'stuff' mounting on it that makes it physically impossible to slide the card into.

[polaris6]

One more thought regards your last post:  the bad slot would be a possibility when the situation involved the PCI Adapter CArd....but ....I get the same results when I plug in an adapter card into the USB slot.  Are the two ports connected at some common location that would explain failure of two different wireless devices inserted at two different ports?

[Broni]

If I were you, I'd spent 15 bucks to get ethernet card to see, if wired connection will work (eventually also trying to bypass the router).
It'd be good to see, if there is a problem outside of your computer.

[polaris6]

I have and the desktop works perfectly by bypassing the router.

However, this does not help me understand why this router will deliver an IP address to both of my laptops and not to the desktop.

Any more suggestions?  I have all the firewalls disabled.

[Broni]

There are only three options, then.
- bad wireless card
- bad PCI slot
- router going south (I've seen this happen, when 1 computer will connect fine, but the other won't)