I am soooo not IT..seeking wi-fi advice

[14holestogie]

So I'm looking towards becoming a liberated man and freeing myself fom the smoke-free confines of my desktop pc. I was looking into the router and card fix for hooking up an older notebook in the man-cave.

Is it really as simple as a cheap router and usb adapter to get this antique notebook into wireless mode? I was checking out the cheapest Linksys router and usb adapters at Wallyworld this morning but thought I should check in before purchasing. All I want to do is access the internet and keep tabs on you guys while enjoying a stick in my converted man-cave in the garage. Would this cheap solution suffice?

[Mugen910]

Originally Posted by 14holestogie

So I'm looking towards becoming a liberated man and freeing myself fom the smoke-free confines of my desktop pc. I was looking into the router and card fix for hooking up an older notebook in the man-cave.

Is it really as simple as a cheap router and usb adapter to get this antique notebook into wireless mode? I was checking out the cheapest Linksys router and usb adapters at Wallyworld this morning but thought I should check in before purchasing. All I want to do is access the internet and keep tabs on you guys while enjoying a stick in my converted man-cave in the garage. Would this cheap solution suffice?

Yupper...semi-decent USB wifi adapter and a wireless router is all you need..check slickdeals.net there are usually some good tech finds/deals on there. Worst case scenario is that you go to their coupon section and print one out for bestbuy or something.

[14holestogie]

Thanks, Bao.

All those nasty things everyone else posts about you are obviously untrue.

Hope to see you all from the darkness of the cave in the coming days.

[Mugen910]

Originally Posted by 14holestogie

Thanks, Bao.

All those nasty things everyone else posts about you are obviously untrue.

Hope to see you all from the darkness of the cave in the coming days.

Well lets not jump to conclusions just yet brother..

Also...depending on where the man cave is from the house..you may be able to get a really long cat5e wire and just hard wire the man cave.

[Rabidsquirrel]

Originally Posted by 14holestogie

Is it really as simple as a cheap router and usb adapter to get this antique notebook into wireless mode?

Err, it may not be as simple as you think it is. Can you give us the make and model of the notebook?

[dunng]

The other option is a PCMCIA card that would fit into the slot on the side of your laptop...

[14holestogie]

The laptop is a Compaq Presario 1260.
The desk top is a Presario 6000.
Cable modem.

Hard wiring could be an option. Probably 50-75 feet from the modem to the garage.

[AD720]

If the desktop is already hardwired there in no reason to buy a wireless card for it, IMO.

PM me your address, I have an extra PCMCIA wireless card laying around that should work with your laptop. Then all you need to buy is a router.

[14holestogie]

PM sent.

Thanks for the kind offer, Andrew.

[14holestogie]

It's me, the dumb guy again.

So I've got the router and the card (thanks, AD720) installed and have a connection, only to find the laptop has Windows 98 for an operating system. It has Office XP, so I assumed it was an XP opereating system. Not so.

Here's my current dilemna. Internet Explorer 5 only allows for a dial-up connection in the set-up. Is there any upgrade available that runs on Windows 98 that would allow a wi-fi connection? Do I need to upgrade to XP? If so, is there any way I can pull a setup off my other pc which has XP? Any other comments or solutions you smarter IT guys can think of?

I'd appreciate any help.

Thanks,
tp

[AD720]

Originally Posted by 14holestogie

It's me, the dumb guy again.

So I've got the router and the card (thanks, AD720) installed and have a connection, only to find the laptop has Windows 98 for an operating system. It has Office XP, so I assumed it was an XP opereating system. Not so.

Here's my current dilemna. Internet Explorer 5 only allows for a dial-up connection in the set-up. Is there any upgrade available that runs on Windows 98 that would allow a wi-fi connection? Do I need to upgrade to XP? If so, is there any way I can pull a setup off my other pc which has XP? Any other comments or solutions you smarter IT guys can think of?

I'd appreciate any help.

Thanks,
tp

Tim - did you try installing the software that came with the wireless card? Win 98 (as far as I know) does not have built in wireless support but the software that came with the card should do the trick.

Let us know what you come up with.


edit -

try this link for the windows 98 drivers...hopefully the utility is in the same download.

ftp://downloads.netgear.com/files/wpn511_setup.exe

[14holestogie]

Thanks again, Andrew, but the problem has been solved. The problem was Windows 98 (or Internet Explorer 5.0) did not allow a connection without a daial-up. Didn't play well with my cable modem. The card and router worked fine, I just could not connect to the internet. My wife got tired of listening to me sigh everytime everything I tried didn't work, she traded in the old laptop for a new one. I'm in now.

[AD720]

Originally Posted by 14holestogie

Thanks again, Andrew, but the problem has been solved. The problem was Windows 98 (or Internet Explorer 5.0) did not allow a connection without a daial-up. Didn't play well with my cable modem. The card and router worked fine, I just could not connect to the internet. My wife got tired of listening to me sigh everytime everything I tried didn't work, she traded in the old laptop for a new one. I'm in now.

Excellent.

Now you're finally learning when it comes to getting what we want. Do alot of sighing,,,gritting your teeth,,,cussing and you end up getting a great upgrade. One of the things men need to do to get what they want.

Originally Posted by 14holestogie

Thanks again, Andrew, but the problem has been solved. The problem was Windows 98 (or Internet Explorer 5.0) did not allow a connection without a daial-up. Didn't play well with my cable modem. The card and router worked fine, I just could not connect to the internet. My wife got tired of listening to me sigh everytime everything I tried didn't work, she traded in the old laptop for a new one. I'm in now.

Very nice! I'm glad it is up and running. If you find yourself having issues with the wireless, send me a PM. I would be happy to send you a rather long cat5 cable.

[14holestogie]

Originally Posted by TravelingJ

Very nice! I'm glad it is up and running. If you find yourself having issues with the wireless, send me a PM. I would be happy to send you a rather long cat5 cable.

Thanks for the offer, but things are running smoothly. Yee Ha.