Mr. C wrote:
You are posting below the signature delimiter which strips out all of your
previous post when replying in a real newsreader. Either use a real
newsreader, which is far superior to the web interface you are currently
using, or at least fix your posting style. Here is your post, with my
comments inline:
> Thank you, Malke, for your response. Â*Yes it is an HP printer and having
> read further about the installation, screens do show up if there is a
> firewall in the way; so I will cross that bridge after I correct my
> current problem.
>
> As to my Netgear, I have always shut it down when I was not on the
> internet, thinking that provides additional protection. Â*I do understand
> that the router itself is firewalled, but does that offer total
> protection?
Completely unnecessary to shut down the router. Leave your cable/dsl modem
and router on. The router provides a simple form of protection by using NAT
- Network Address Translation. This (simply) means that the router gets a
public IP address from the cable/dsl modem on the WAN side and then assigns
private IP addresses on the LAN side. A private IP address (192.168.x.xxx)
is invisible from the Internet. You still need a software firewall on the
computer, but you'll be fine installing your printer.
> Concerning 'restore': Â*I keep that turned off now because although I have
> used it in the past several times, the last time I used it, an error
> occurred and the system locked up. Â*Luckily, I had backups of my most
> important data because the only solution was to reformat the hard drive,
> reload all programs, and then recoup the data.
Leaving System Restore off isn't the best decision as you can now see. A
better thing to do is to determine why you were having difficulties with it
and what was really wrong with your computer. System Restore alone would
not be responsible for the problems you experienced. However, that's as may
be since you don't have it on and the easy fix isn't available to you.
> So, somehow, I need to figure out what happened here and correct it. Â*I
> have uninstalled Netgear and reinstalled it as well as the XP operating
> system.
I'm honestly not sure what you did or why you felt you need to totally
reinstall Windows. A shotgun approach to a technical problem that really
requires microsurgery makes it very hard to troubleshoot.
Here are a few things to try:
1. Connect your computer to the router via ethernet. Can you get online? If
not, unplug the cable/dsl modem and the router. I'm talking about their
power connectors. Wait about 30 seconds and then turn on the cable/dsl
modem and then turn on the router. You should be able to get on the
Internet now.
2. Assuming that you are now on the Internet, go to the router's
configuration screens and check your wireless settings. Make sure the SSID
is named something other than the default. Check that you have set your
encryption correctly and that you know the key.
3. Now go to your computer. Since you reinstalled Windows, did you also
reinstall all the hardware drivers? If not, you need to do this. If you
have cd's that came with the computer, use them. Otherwise you will need to
go the device mftrs.' websites for your motherboard, video, audio, etc. If
you did not install the hardware drivers, I would uninstall the wireless
network adapter until you did, and then install the adapter again
afterwards. Make sure you check "show hidden devices" in Device Manager and
remove any "shadow" wireless adapters, too.
4. Remove the ethernet cable and see if the wireless card picks up the
signal from your router. If it doesn't, try a different wireless adapter.
Post back with results of your troubleshooting or if you have any questions.
As I said, it's hard to untangle what you've done and naturally I don't
know the state of your system. If all this seems too much, then have a
local professional come on-site and straighten you out.
Malke
--
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic"
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