robertshex@yahoo.com wrote:
> On Jun 3, 8:56 am, roberts...@yahoo.com wrote:
>> I've searched the internet fruitlessly trying to find an answer to
>> what should be a simple question, given that this is probably one of
>> the most common things that people do with a computer.
>>
>> I have
>>
>> 1. A new laptop running Vissta
>> 2. A DSL connection to a 2wire 2700 modem/router
>> 3. A desktop hardwied to the modem router.
>>
>> I want have a wireless connection to the laptop. I gave
>>
>> 1. Run through connect to the internet dialog and see a connection to
>> "2WIRE387."
>> 2. Click it and the it asks for a "secuirity key or passphrase."
>>
>> I have no idea what it wants and there is no explanation anywhere. I
>> would appreciate information.
>
>
> I have discovered an application called "Think Pad Access Connection."
> I assume this has something to do with it. When I try to set up a
> network, it says that there is no signal. But wait a second,
> doesn;tthe 2Wire 2700 send out a signal? A better question is "How is
> anyone supposed to sort through the complexities of Vista, 'Think Pad
> Access Connection,' DSL connections and 2Wire modem/routers and figure
> out how to do anything?"
>
This is very simple and you're approaching it from the wrong end (the
computer instead of the router). This has nothing to do with Vista and
everything to do with not reading the setup instructions that came with
your 2Wire. ;-)
1. Go to the desktop wired to the 2Wire. Do:
Start>Run>cmd [enter]
ipconfig /all [enter]
Write down the Gateway IP address. This will be something like
192.168.0.254 or 192.168.1.1. This is your 2Wire's address.
Close out of cmd.
2. Still on the desktop, open a browser (IE, Firefox) and in the
addressbar type:
http://192.168.0.254 [enter]
You will substitute whatever the correct Gateway IP address is that you
found by doing ipconfig in Step 1.
3. Now you will be presented with the router's configuration utility.
Enter the username and password. Look in the router's setup manual for
the default username and password - the password is usually the serial
number on the bottom of the router but it may be different in your case
and I don't remember the default username offhand. The 2Wire help will
tell you.
4. Once you've done that and are in, go to the router's wireless
settings. Change the SSID from the default to something you will
recognize. I prefer that clients not use their family name but this is
your choice. My own SSID is "darktower" to give you an idea of what I mean.
5. Still in the router's configuration utility, go to the wireless
security and set it to WPA-PSK with TKIP encryption. Your 2Wire may have
WPA2 or WPA-Personal instead and that's fine. Enter a passphrase and
write it down. An example of a passphrase is (without the quotes)
"Childe Roland to the Dark Tower came".
Save all the router settings changes you made. The router will reboot
and then you're done there.
6. Now go to your wireless laptop. It will see your wireless network -
you'll see the SSID you gave it. It will ask you to enter the encryption
key or passphrase. Enter the passphrase you chose so it matches the one
on the router.
You're now done.
Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User