Alright I did my best. I have a dell dimension 2300 that is a total turd. I want to use it to do music duty. I will use my squeezebox to access it, and use WMA in my work room off of it.

Problem is this... I cannot get a connection to the internet. It will connect to my router, and gives a good signal. I am using a netgear wireless card.

Any thoughts? I can still get on the net with my laptop and I tried shutting the computer down and bringing it back up.

I am using windows XP pro downstairs and windows XP home up here.

I would also like to be able to access my songs from downstairs up here on my laptop (if I am in the garage).

Thanks so much guys.

Evan

Is there an option to "repair connection" in the netgear software, or in "network connections? Also, you might have to reboot the router, and/or wireless access point. You need to set up a network between computers to share. "Network setup wizard"

It cannot repair the connection. Says it cannot get a valid IP address if memory serves.

I figured network setup wizard was the trick for the rest.

Evan

Go to start/run
type cmd
when the black dos prompt box pop up type ipconfig /all
This will show all the network connections on the machine.
Click the "C:\" icon in the upper left hand corner and from the edit menu and choose select all and hit the enter key to copy it.
Please paste the results in this thread and we can help you out!
Cheers!

Are you using any sort of encryption on your router?
If so you need to know the key.

It cannot repair the connection. Says it cannot get a valid IP address if memory serves.

I figured network setup wizard was the trick for the rest.

Evan

this could be due to a bunch of things.
1) signal strength
2) wireless security configuration
3) wireless channel configuration
4) software being used to configure the wireless, what came with the wireless card, or windows. I find most of the wireless configuration tools included with cards useless.
5) service pack on windows. for wireless i would recommend SP2 or higher on XP.
6) internet security/antivirus bundle software, i have seen norton and mcaffee security bundles get in the way. if you have one of those, or any other security package, disable the firewall temporarily.

first step would be to ensure you're getting enough signal strength.

second step would be to determine what kind of wireless security your router is configured to use, if any.

If you left it at default settings when you first got it, I couldnt tell you what security its using.

I would log into the router with the computer thats directly connected to it, go into the wireless settings, and see what the security is set to.
you may need to write down the "WEP key" and type that into the wireless config on the PC.

while youre in there, verify that both units are configured for the same channel.

then, i would check your service pack version by right clicking my computer > properties.

if SP1, i would plug it directly into the router to get network connectivity and update it.

after that, i would try to use the windows wireless configuration tool.



Theres lots of variables with wireless, and trust me, its a pain.
All of the steps I gave work 99% of the time in varying combinations.

I deal with this sort of thing every day at work......
Did i mention that I'm not too fond of my job??
LOL.

Go to start/run
type cmd
when the black dos prompt box pop up type ipconfig /all
This will show all the network connections on the machine.
Click the "C:\" icon in the upper left hand corner and from the edit menu and choose select all and hit the enter key to copy it.
Please paste the results in this thread and we can help you out!
Cheers!

Good idea. That may shed some light.

And/or type an

ipconfig /release then
ipconfig /renew

see if that gets you going.

Got the right gateway & DNS numbers loaded? Sometimes just clearing them out and typing them back in helps.

Good idea. That may shed some light.

And/or type an

ipconfig /release then
ipconfig /renew

see if that gets you going.

Got the right gateway & DNS numbers loaded? Sometimes just clearing them out and typing them back in helps.

wireless routers are almost always set to DHCP, so the DNS and gateway would be automatically given by the router along with the IP address.

the IP configuration on the wireless card should be set to "receive address automatically"

it sounds to me like the computer is not receiving an address.
Says it cannot get a valid IP address if memory serves.

Evan

I had a similar problem when I got my laptop. I needed to go to the router and tell it to send a signal. For some reason my new lappy would not see the signal. but my others would. Once I reset the settings on the router, all was well.

If the IP is something like 169.254.0.1 to 169.254.255.254 then this means windows is giving itself an IP address and not getting one from the router..

Wow, great thread guys. I hope this helps someone else out too. Ill work on it tonight and let you know. I generally can get things going but it takes seemingly forever and I never really know what I did to fix it.

Awhile back, I did have a password set on the router. Oddly enough the computer didn't ask for it. This was before I moved so I had assumed it got turned off.

The desktop "sees" the router when I look in network connections. The connection quality is "good" or "low" (worst case). Its not really that far from the router. I am likely going to move the router into the basement at some point at a central location. Unfortunately I opted for the non wireless squeezebox so my hands are somewhat tied.

Ill keep everyone updated after I get home tonight.

Evan

I reset my router, apparently it was still password protected! Its working. Now I have to get my squeezebox to recognize it!

I know its a stretch but I cannot get my SB to recognize that this computer is on the network. I have norton installed etc.. and am wondering if it is blocking the SB from seeing it.

Any suggestions? I am typing on the backup comp now so thats progress.

Evan

try turning your norton firewall off temporarily, if that does the trick
you will need to create exceptions in your Norton firewall for the ports used by the SB software.

here's the link for the networking page on the SB site
http://www.slimdevices.com/su_faq.html#networking

Make sure all your computers have the same workgroup. I use MSHOME on mine so they can all be recogized. Also you might have to share some folders on your c drive to access the files. Good luck...

Squeezecenter uses port 9000 (TCP) for it's web server and the Squeeze box looks for it and controls it on port 3483 (TCP AND UDP), your firewall will have to allow incoming connections on those ports.

If you have Norton Internet Security - '2008' (for example), if you open the Norton Security Centre and click on the Network Map 'View' button - you can lower the security for your network by clicking on 'edit' in 'Network Details' - this will allow your PC's to 'see' each other - anyway it worked for me when I set up 2 shared printers on my 4 PC network (3 x wireless, 1 x wired) now all 4 PC's can print to either printer.

John

Alright, I made a little progress last night. My squeezebox can only see the other computer when I disable the windows firewall altogether. I will create an exception for it. Software pulls up fine but gives an error when it tries to actually play music. I may need to reinstall software or something. The Norton setup I have is only anti-virus. It was on the computer when I got it.

Also, got the network deal working. Not sure how. I can now look at my music folder in my basement on my laptop and play songs. Pretty cool! I had no idea you could network printers. I will do that too..

Thanks guys!

Evan

Ever get this settled Evan?

I have a few things to input based on my own experiences over the years

1st. The Dell. I have a Dimension 3100 I have reduced to a lowly media server for my Kenwood N8100. I say reduced because any add on stuff that didnt come from Dell gives me the blue screen of death. (BSOD). I tried upgrading to 2 meg ram and BSOD. Linksys wireless G NIC... BSOD. So now it functions as a server. No Dells for me ever again.

Wireless stuff...

encryption sounds like it may be off setting wise. If the wireless nic is talking to the router but you're boxed into the router, then you need to set the encryption (security) . The router is telling you 'okay.. I see you, but youre not going anywhere without the key'

depending on the brand of the router, you need to log into it with a web browser using the address of the router. (Linksys defaults to http://192.168.1.1 , I think Netgear and D-Link are 192.168.0.1 ) and supply the password to access the wireless part of the router. and then see what the key is. If you're lucky, it'll be a passphrase if it's WEP.

speaking of... if it's wep, you need to know if it's 64 or 128. Or if it's WPA secured, your wireless nic must be set to match it. I've had to back down to wep 128 myself because my Netgear MP101 isnt WPA compatible.

but that is my best guess... you just need to get the encryption matched. You are connecting to the router, so I dont think your dell is the culprit.

unless youve seen the BSOD.............

It works now, if you ask me why I would tell you I have no friggin idea.. I did reset everything including my router which got rid of any existing encription so I suspect it was the culprit.

yes, the dimension is doing music server duty. Its slow as hell, but frees up my laptop to be more mobile.

Evan

well, congrats on getting it running

but you dont want to have an unsecured wireless system unless you live on an island. So I recommend at least some sort of encryption especially if you have neighbors or live in a busy area. When you reset your router, you surely turned on the SSID broadcast (which means if your SSID is 'Linksys' or 'Netgear' you are currently advertising yourself as a wifi hotspot.

it's nice to share but..........

That reminds me to go back and set all the encrypton back up.

I live in the boonies, there isn't a house close enough to pull a good signal from my dumb weaksauce router.

Thanks.

Evan