Unable to obtain internet connection - total novice

Hi all,

I'm a complete novice when it comes to computers. I don't understand
any PC terminology so explaining things to me will be relatively
difficult unless explained in lamens terms!

I'll explain my problem/s:

I bought a LAPTOP from Ebay (idiot, I know). I didn't read much about
it because all that information doesn't mean anything to me anyway.
Basically, I later realised it doesn't have a cd-rom. This doesn't
bother me as that was not my intention of getting a laptop.

Originally, the wifi worked fine, now all of a sudden it doesn't. I've
tried system restore to a date of when it was working and i've
considered a reformat. A reformat would be like going to hell and back
though due to not having a cd-rom!

It started when I was trying to sign-in to MSN messenger and it would
automatically reject me signing in. I rebooted thinking that this is the
solution to everything and there-on my connection would say *Acquiring
Network Connection* or something along those lines, but never ACTUALLY
connect.

I've also noticed I have no IP. I thought every comptuer has an IP when
connecting to the internet!

Please help. I'm considering sticking chopsticks in my eyes and
slapping myself with a tuna fish! Relieve me of this darn stress!

Regards,

Emily


------------------------------------------------------------------------
View this thread: http://www.wirelessforums.org/showthread.php?t=32222
http://www.wirelessforums.org

dollface86 wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> I'm a complete novice when it comes to computers. I don't understand
> any PC terminology so explaining things to me will be relatively
> difficult unless explained in lamens terms!
>
> I'll explain my problem/s:
>
> I bought a LAPTOP from Ebay (idiot, I know). I didn't read much about
> it because all that information doesn't mean anything to me anyway.
> Basically, I later realised it doesn't have a cd-rom. This doesn't
> bother me as that was not my intention of getting a laptop.
>
> Originally, the wifi worked fine, now all of a sudden it doesn't. I've
> tried system restore to a date of when it was working and i've
> considered a reformat. A reformat would be like going to hell and back
> though due to not having a cd-rom!
>
> It started when I was trying to sign-in to MSN messenger and it would
> automatically reject me signing in. I rebooted thinking that this is the
> solution to everything and there-on my connection would say *Acquiring
> Network Connection* or something along those lines, but never ACTUALLY
> connect.
>
> I've also noticed I have no IP. I thought every comptuer has an IP when
> connecting to the internet!
>
> Please help. I'm considering sticking chopsticks in my eyes and
> slapping myself with a tuna fish! Relieve me of this darn stress!
>
> Regards,
>
> Emily
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> View this thread: http://www.wirelessforums.org/showthread.php?t=32222
> http://www.wirelessforums.org
>

Laptops usually have a physical switch to disable WiFi -- find yours, and
check it. Easy to bump, and kinda hard to find.

You can get a new, fully-equipped laptop for ~500US$. And, at least with
Dell, you can still order one with XP instead of Vista; XP reduces the
RAM needed and reduces the problems.
--
Cheers, Bob

On Fri, 16 Nov 2007 06:59:43 -0500, Bob Willard wrote:

> You can get a new, fully-equipped laptop for ~500US$. And, at least with
> Dell, you can still order one with XP instead of Vista; XP reduces the RAM
> needed and reduces the problems.

why would anyone recommend getting a laptop or any computer for that
matter and offer up XP as a good reason to do so?

Who's network is it? Before you go re-installing everything you
should look for the obvious stuff first. It is unlikely that it
you've done something so critical that it won't connect.

Tell us about your router. What model is it? Who is the internet
provider? What bandwidth do you have from the IP?

I've been where you are.... so don't worry. in 22 years you'll be
quite confortable



On Fri, 16 Nov 2007 05:39:25 -0500, dollface86
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>
>Hi all,
>
>I'm a complete novice when it comes to computers. I don't understand
>any PC terminology so explaining things to me will be relatively
>difficult unless explained in lamens terms!
>
>I'll explain my problem/s:
>
>I bought a LAPTOP from Ebay (idiot, I know). I didn't read much about
>it because all that information doesn't mean anything to me anyway.
>Basically, I later realised it doesn't have a cd-rom. This doesn't
>bother me as that was not my intention of getting a laptop.
>
>Originally, the wifi worked fine, now all of a sudden it doesn't. I've
>tried system restore to a date of when it was working and i've
>considered a reformat. A reformat would be like going to hell and back
>though due to not having a cd-rom!
>
>It started when I was trying to sign-in to MSN messenger and it would
>automatically reject me signing in. I rebooted thinking that this is the
>solution to everything and there-on my connection would say *Acquiring
>Network Connection* or something along those lines, but never ACTUALLY
>connect.
>
>I've also noticed I have no IP. I thought every comptuer has an IP when
>connecting to the internet!
>
>Please help. I'm considering sticking chopsticks in my eyes and
>slapping myself with a tuna fish! Relieve me of this darn stress!
>
>Regards,
>
>Emily
>
>
>------------------------------------------------------------------------
>View this thread: http://www.wirelessforums.org/showthread.php?t=32222
>http://www.wirelessforums.org

For exactly that reason! You can avoid VISTA!!!!!

Allow or deny? Allow or deny?

Vista is the biggest mistake MS has made to date. But now they have
the coin to buy their way out of it.

Ubuntu 7.04 is my OS of choice...with the new OS10 Leopard right
behind.

N.


On Fri, 16 Nov 2007 07:52:10 -0500, "mr.b" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>On Fri, 16 Nov 2007 06:59:43 -0500, Bob Willard wrote:
>
>> You can get a new, fully-equipped laptop for ~500US$. And, at least with
>> Dell, you can still order one with XP instead of Vista; XP reduces the RAM
>> needed and reduces the problems.
>
>why would anyone recommend getting a laptop or any computer for that
>matter and offer up XP as a good reason to do so?

mr.b wrote:

> On Fri, 16 Nov 2007 06:59:43 -0500, Bob Willard wrote:
>
>
>>You can get a new, fully-equipped laptop for ~500US$. And, at least with
>>Dell, you can still order one with XP instead of Vista; XP reduces the RAM
>>needed and reduces the problems.
>
>
> why would anyone recommend getting a laptop or any computer for that
> matter and offer up XP as a good reason to do so?

I did not say -- or even imply -- that XP was a reason to get a new PC.
I did point out that if you get a new laptop from Dell you can still get
it with XP instead of Vista; an important point, since many of us think
that Vista is not ready for prime time.
--
Cheers, Bob

On Sat, 17 Nov 2007 11:58:23 -0500, Bob Willard
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>mr.b wrote:
>
>> On Fri, 16 Nov 2007 06:59:43 -0500, Bob Willard wrote:
>>
>>
>>>You can get a new, fully-equipped laptop for ~500US$. And, at least with
>>>Dell, you can still order one with XP instead of Vista; XP reduces the RAM
>>>needed and reduces the problems.
>>
>>
>> why would anyone recommend getting a laptop or any computer for that
>> matter and offer up XP as a good reason to do so?
>
>I did not say -- or even imply -- that XP was a reason to get a new PC.
>I did point out that if you get a new laptop from Dell you can still get
>it with XP instead of Vista; an important point, since many of us think
>that Vista is not ready for prime time.

I have to agree with you there. And I have to add that I think that
Vista is going in the wrong direction.

On Sat, 17 Nov 2007 11:58:23 -0500, Bob Willard wrote:

> mr.b wrote:
>
>> On Fri, 16 Nov 2007 06:59:43 -0500, Bob Willard wrote:
<snip>
sorry Bob...my attempt at humour failed miserably...I'm a penguinista
myself...

> I've also noticed I have no IP. I thought every computer has an IP when
> connecting to the internet!

Each computer that is actually connected to the 'net has an IP
address. However, many, if not most, computers connecting to the 'net
these days do not have _fixed_ IP addresses. The IP address is
assigned when the computer negotiates a connection via a modem, router
or other device.

As someone else has suggested, I would say tell us all something more
about how it is that you're attempting to connect. What collection of
devices is involved?

Bill

On Sun, 18 Nov 2007 06:04:05 -0800 (PST), Bill Bell
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>> I've also noticed I have no IP. I thought every computer has an IP when
>> connecting to the internet!
>


Some people are dum soo dum , get a tech
he will fix your problem