[EnlightenMe]

Hello, This is my first time on this site and am hopeful that someone here may be able to help me solve a problem I have come up against. I am not very technically astute on computers, but have been using them for the past 10 years (software I'm generally ok with but not much else).

The situation I have is this: I need to do some work for my son, including downloads from the Internet, on his laptop (he lives 100km from me) - he has dropped his laptop off to me so I can help him (eek!). My uncertainty is how to go about using his laptop via my Internet connection. My system is a desk top running Vista via Telstra Bigpond Wireless Broadband via their Blue Modem (not really wireless as it has to be plugged in all the time) - anyway, His laptop is running XP and his Internet connection is also Bigpond but on ADSL . Is there any easy way to use his laptop via my Internet connection? I probably haven't given enough information for anyone to assist me, but I don't know what other information may be necessary for someone to help with this situation. Please ask me for any other information which may be required to solve this task, (which I will answer to the best of my ability). Thank you anyone, and everyone, who may be able to help me with this.

Kind regards,

Janet

[piyushsingh]

Yes , you can use your internet connection on any pc at a time you want. The point is that it may or may not need some configuration to get it working.
To start , just pull the wire connecting your desktop to the modem and plug the laptop in it. See if the internet works on the xp laptop or not. Make sure you change the settings in the connection properties to automatic in the laptop. It would be better to take of note of the settings in laptop (if any), to revert back.
If it doesnt , check the internet settings in the network connections window in vista and manually set the same settings .

[EnlightenMe]

Thank you so much for your assistance PIY, I am now going to try your suggestions, so will be offline for a while trying this out. I will get back to you to let you know how I get on with it all. Again, thank you for your help. Regards, Janet

[piyushsingh]

Make sure you dont change any settings in the vista desktop as that is the one that has the net working at the moment. :)

[EnlightenMe]

Thank you, I will make sure i don't change anything on the Vista desktop. cheers, Janet

[mphenterprises]

Hi EnlightenMe and welcome to the PCWorld Communities. :D




Since it appears your situation is resolved, please select the posts that you feel were "Helpful" and "Correct."

[EnlightenMe]

Hi again, Well, I tried all that and have not been successful in being able to connect to the internet on my son's laptop via my bigpond modem to my Internet connection. I plugged the modem into his laptop, detected hardware, asked to put CD in, which I did, (for the modem) but I just keep getting the message : Windows cannot configure the wireless connection. If you have enabled another program to manage this wireless connection, use that software. If you want Windows to configure the wireless connection, start the Wireless Zero Configuration (WZC) service. ---- Which I have no idea at all what this means or how to deal with it. i think that it may be quicker and easier if I drive the 100kms to my son's house and plug his laptop into his modem. -- I'm really not very good with this type of intricate technical stuff. Thanks for your help though and if I ever need help (on something simple that I can manage) I will come back to PCWorld for advice.

Regards,

Janet

[EnlightenMe]

Hi there, I've not been on here before and have asked a question, which someone has been kind enough to answer for me. However, as you will see from my last post, it has all turned a little pear-shaped for me, and the situation is still not resolved. I'm not sure if I should put that my questions have been answered fully or not - mind you, I am very, very grateful for the assistance and time someone has taken to try to help me with this situation. Cheers, Janet

[piyushsingh]

Since your problem is still there , you should not mark this as answered. An unanswered question invites more people to come to be able to resolve the issue.

Ok, now to your problem . You earlier said that its a wireless connection but you are using it in a wired way . right. Can you tell the model number of this modem. I told you earlier also that it will need a bit of configuration , it wont work automatically. I m interested to know how the device connects to the PC. So model no. of the modem plz.

[rgreen4]

Piyushsingh - I note he said he plugged the modem into the laptop. I wonder if he is using a specialized USB based receiver to connect to broadband wireless rather than the traditional ethernet to wireless router we are familiar with.

Enlightenme - can you be more detailed in your description of your setup. Most broadband connections we are familiar with use a receiver (usually called a modem) that connects with ethernet wire to DSL or telephone wire, or sometimes to a video cable, or in my case a wired connection to a satellite dish. From this point it would be wireless or could use ethernet.

I perceive that you have a physical connection to the "modem" and it is wireless from there. If that is correct, could you describe what port your "modem" connects to your desktop.

[piyushsingh]

you know rgreen , i also thought of the same thing .Thats why i asked for the model no. to see whether it has provisions for usb connections or not as for ethernet type , no drivers are normally needed. I should have been more specific.
Lets see what the reply comes.

[EnlightenMe]

Hi there, Thank you all for your replies. I'll answer as much as I can - Firsly, the Modem is a Telstra Bigpond Wireless Next G Broadband Modem. The model Number on the back is BP3-EXT. It is connected to my computer tower with a USB plug and the other end of the cable that plugs into the modem is an Ethernet plug. The the modem is also plugged into the power wall socket. It doesn't plug into a phone connection at all - I don't have a landline connected at home to connect it to, - it's explained by Telstra Bigpond that it's a Wireless connection to the Internet - but the modem has to be plugged into the tower at all times. I hope this explains it a bit better. I have a CD that came with the modem, and I have run that on my son's laptop - it appeared in the network connections list but when I tried to click on it I would get the message on the screen that I put on the last post. Thanks again for any help , regards, Janet

[piyushsingh]

That explains your setup pretty well. Its the same as {user:username=rgreen4} figured out.
I suppose at this stage you have unplugged the cable from the modem going to the desktop and connected that to the laptop. Then you have also installed the drivers successfully. The drivers are needed because the connection id through a USB port .

Now the WZC service - its the default XP wireless configuration service. Now its not running , that means some other 3rd party software is managing the wireless connections of the laptop network card. Now i have 3 suggestions for you.

* first , turn OFF the normal wireless that is present in the laptop. There should be a button specifically for this.
* Then . look in the task bar on the lower right corner and see if there you can spot any wireless managing software. Close it when found.
* Third , start the WZC service . Only one - either WZC or the 3rd party can manage the wireless connections at a time. Its better to use windows default services .
For starting WZC , go to start -> run . Here type "services.msc" (without codes) and press enter. In the windows that opens , scroll down and you should see "Wireless zero configuration" . Double click it and set its startup to automatic . Also there will be a button to start it immediately , press that also.

Now that error should not come up and the network setting scan be configured.
Post back if you have any problems.

[EnlightenMe]

BINGO !!!!! Hey, it's working :) Thank you so so much for your help, it's up and running !! Your explanations were very clear and led me to a positive end. Thank all of you very much for the assistance you have provided, you are worth your weight in gold!!! My frustration levels have dropped considerably and I am so happy I don't need to do the several trips it would have required of me to drive 100km to and fro to my son's house to do the work. I will definitely pop in here from time to time to just read some of the threads to help myself become more informed, and of course, should I need any further assistance with other issues I may experience.

What a lovely experience.

Thank you again, and hope you all have a great weekend.

Kind regards,
Janet

[piyushsingh]

Thats good. That saves you from travelling 100kms. :D

I m glad rgreen and me could help. If you have any other questions feel free to come on pcw forums and ask.

[mphenterprises]

Hi EnlightenMe. I am glad that this forum was able to help you resolve your problem. Since you have this Discussion marked as "Answered," please select the two (2) posts that you feel were "Helpful" and the post that you feel was "Correct."