Connection Problems

[purplecat41877]

I bought a new laptop and it has internet access built in. For some reason, I can't access it. I also bought a wireless router. Is there something I forgot to do?

I made this post from my family's computer. Just wanted to clear up any confusion over how I was able to make the post.

[Shabo]

Unfortunately, we're going to need more information than that. Can you tell us anything else? Which OS do you use? Are you trying to access a wired connection or wireless? Is your computer seeing the wireless connection or do you have to enable it?

[purplecat41877]

I have a Gateway laptop that has Windows Vista. The computer has the option of being wireless or wired. The internet page does show up. It says that I'm not connected though so something must be missing.

[Der Cute]

What is your ISP?
How are you paying to connect to the internet? (cable, DSL, broadband wireless *clearwire* ) etc?

how is your home internet connection wired?
wall----cable out from wall---------cable modem--------router------------computer1

That's mine. how's yours set up?

What browser are you using?

Cutenoob

[Der Cute]

PM!

PM sent, check your box!

[DGoddessChardonnay]

Here's another thought on that:

When I was setting up my laptop to work with my wireless network, I had to enter in the WEP Key (Wireless Encryption Protocol.)

Do you have one for the modem? If not, that may be why you can't connect.

[purplecat41877]

Where would I find the WEP key? Would be with the instructions that came with the laptop or would it be somewhere else?

[JustADude]

Where would I find the WEP key? Would be with the instructions that came with the laptop or would it be somewhere else?

The WEP key is like a password for the wireless network, and would be listed in/on whatever you're trying to connect to. Some brands have a unique WEP Key hardwired into each router, and those are listed on a sticker on the bottom of the physical object. The rest you have to go into an Administration Page (PortForward.Com has all the info you'll need for that on pretty much every router in existence) and set it yourself.

Either way it sounds like a modem problem, not a router problem, if your computer thinks the connection is fine but things still aren't loading.

A lot of modems, especially Cable Modems, are MAC-Encoded when you register it with the ISP, so switching the modem from the original device would make it stop working properly with the ISP's servers. A good router will be able to fake a different MAC if you can get it off whatever machine used to run into it (PortForward.COm again. If that doesn't fix the issue, call your ISP's tech line and ask them for help.