Wireless network help!

[4D]

Dear knowledgeable ones 

I am trying
to link an old pc to my wireless network using a usb
network adaptor and little knowledge.  It ain't working! 

Am I being 

[jayohaitchenn]

Yes you are.

[Batch]

"It ain't working!"

With such descriptive problems do you work in tech support/system test?

[@MacPhlea]

Dear knowledgeable ones 

I am trying
to link an old pc to my wireless network using a usb
network adaptor and little knowledge.  It ain't working! 

Am I being 

When you say old PC - How old is it?

When you say your Wireless network - is it really yours?

When you say USB - is it just a USB cable?

basically top being a count and help yourself

[Bosey]

When you say old PC - How old is it?

When you say your Wireless network - is it really yours?

When you say USB - is it just a USB cable?

basically top being a count and help yourself

He said it's a USB adapter. As well as the above its probably best to add:

Did it come with a CD or did it Install device drivers when you plugged it in? You my need drivers.

What version of Windows have you got?

PC Spec?

Manufacturer of your router and the adapter?

Also right click my computer and hit properties, Hardware tab, Device manager. See if you can see the adapter listed. If it is then right click, properties. What is the Device status?

[Batch]

He hasn't even said what the nature of the issue is yet.

For example, I had an old old wireless card and the most up to date driver would only support WEP.

[slinky]

Rather than using a little knowledge use a lot of knowledge or failing that use a network cable.

[sonicyouth]

Have you tried turning it off and on again?

[4D]

Sorry guys, a few more details...

Sky broadband router
Belkin USB adapter
Pc about 7 years old
Windows xp
No cd installation disc for the adapter

The pc was always used with a network cable, it is now in a room with no cable. The wireless network is fine with my laptop!

[Batch]

Any indicators as to model of Belkin adapter?

Usually the order of doing things is:

1. Obtain correct driver
http://en-uk-support.belkin.com/app/product/list/q/network-adapters

2. Install driver onto XP PC

3. Plug in USB adapter when prompted by install procedure ( or after install if not prompted)

------
From then on it gets a little less specific because each manufacturer/model may be slightly different:

4. Open adapter driver utility/windows wireless utility  - usually it will install it's own driver and there will be an icon in the sys tray to double click, or if not you will have to select from programs->belkin> ,etc.

5. See if your network is listed in the list of networks it can see. Select it and "connect". usually the security type is auto selected and you just enter a password.,  but this is not always the case and sometimes you need to change the encryption parameters manually.

I think Sky list the default SSID and key on a sticker on the bottom of the adsl router.


I think you'll have to suck it and see how far you get then come back for advice at whichever step you get stuck on.

[Samdy Gray]

I'm going to guess that your router is using WPA2 and your XP isn't patched up to date.

[4D]

Any indicators as to model of Belkin adapter?

Usually the order of doing things is:

1. Obtain correct driver
http://en-uk-support.belkin.com/app/product/list/q/network-adapters

2. Install driver onto XP PC

3. Plug in USB adapter when prompted by install procedure ( or after install if not prompted)

------
From then on it gets a little less specific because each manufacturer/model may be slightly different:

4. Open adapter driver utility/windows wireless utility  - usually it will install it's own driver and there will be an icon in the sys tray to double click, or if not you will have to select from programs->belkin> ,etc.

5. See if your network is listed in the list of networks it can see. Select it and "connect". usually the security type is auto selected and you just enter a password.,  but this is not always the case and sometimes you need to change the encryption parameters manually.

I think Sky list the default SSID and key on a sticker on the bottom of the adsl router.


I think you'll have to suck it and see how far you get then come back for advice at whichever step you get stuck on.

Thanks Batch, I'll give it a go. I'll put my idiot head back on now....I guess I'm going to have to move the pc back to the room with the network cable to obtain the driver.     

[Batch]

Thanks Batch, I'll give it a go. I'll put my idiot head back on now....I guess I'm going to have to move the pc back to the room with the network cable to obtain the driver.     

Yup, unless you have another computer on t'internet and a memory stick/dvd writer/etc.

[4D]

Yup, unless you have another computer on t'internet and a memory stick/dvd writer/etc.

I do. I'll give it a crack tonight.