New user here. I have tried to sort out my wireless home network for so long. I have AOL 9.0 and i used live help to try and get some where but they said they didn't have the expertise to deal with my problem. Im sure im gunna get the help i need here. I have used the search function and tried several solutions posted but none worked. I think i need a specific answer. This is what i posted in the AOL live help. Excuse any typos!

I had an old pc which operated on windows 2000. It understandably did not work particularly well. I bought a wireless laptop for christmas, my girlfriend also got one, sony and dell in brand respectively. To configure my modem/router DG834GT i used a wired ethernet cable connected to my laptop. I then attempted to use that laptop wirelessly. I understand it isnt possible to use wireless after having configured using an ethernet connection. On my old windows 2000 desktop i installed an ethernet pci to attempt to wire that computer. The old pc didnt install the driver for the pci properly. I abandoned the idea of wireless for a while. In the last couple of days i got rid of the 2000 desktop and have began using an xp desktop computer (my sisters old one) i installed the same ethernet pci, and am now connected to you though that on that pc. I have had some sucess connecting my girlfrineds laptop (the dell) wirelessly, when i turn off the WEP security, however my sony laptop (the one i originally configured the modem with via ethernet) has not connected to the wireless network. I connects with out a problem via the ethernet connection, however i wish to use it wirelessly, as well as my girlfriends laptop.

The only thing i can think of that i havent tried is wiping my sony vaio back to factory settings, however, im not sure itll be successful, and its a lengthy process backing everything up etc. Sorry for the large post. Questions welcome!

Hello Prototype_24,

Welcome to PCHF.

First question.. what on earth posessed you to go with AOL?

OK.. enough of that..

First of all, what exactly happens when you try to connect to your wireless network (with security turned off), can you see the network or do you receive an error message when you try to connect?

What wireless router are you using?

Hello Prototype 24,

Hello MadMonkey Can I get in this game?

The NetGear DG834GT is good to start. Lets play twenty questions...

The Dell's wireless card. is it 802.11 B or G?
How about the Sony's wireless card?
Have you configured the TC/IP for the wireless cards
Is Wireless Security turned on or off on the router?
Is the router broadcasting?
Who told you this? Bad info....lol

Sorry...I know I said twenty questions but this head cold is making it hard to think. But this is a start. Yes?

LC

AOL was jsut something iv been stuck with for several years! Anyway, Madmonkey, on the sony, the laptop detects the network, says connecting, then says acquiring network address. Some how i believe i managed yesterday to connect to the modem, but AOL cudnt detect the modem.

Lord Chance, from what i can gather the dell is using an intergrated Intel PRO/wireless 2200BG network connection! Hope that helps, my sony is using an intergrated LAAN express AS IEEE 802.11g PCI-E Adapter! Trying to get this sorted has been an on going process, but i believe at some point i have set up the TC/IP settings, however, a feel a run through that procedure could help! Before i turned off the security, neither laptop would connect, with it off the dell connects no problem. And the router is broadcasting!

As for that misinformation, i assumed that from the instructions included with the modem, which are pretty thin in information! Anyway, thanks for the replys, keep 'em coming!

You were not kidding about the router/modem docs Prototype 24. No wonder you are having trouble. Now for your reading pleasure. Give this FAQ a glance. It may help answer some of your questions. Support Page

For the wireless adapters make sure the SSIDs are the same on all connected adapters also set the adapters to infrastructure instead of ad-hoc.Make sure in your TC/IP settings in networking that you let the adapter obtain IP automaticly..

LC