computer router help needed
Thread Starter
|
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 6,335
Likes: 6
From: Midwest
computer router help needed
I need some help. this is for a friend of mine. i am not very computer savvy. she is trying to use a router and hook up her laptop computer to the internet with her desk top computer. she bought a router,and the place she bought it from reassured her she had the right one. she went to put everything together,but noticed her desktop modem has a usb port with a cable running from it to her computer. the modem she bought doesn't have this port,and none she has found has the usb port. the modem she bought will not work because it does not have the usb port. Where can she get the correct modem or is there a way to hook it up without using the usb port? she is going to call the cable company(she has cable internet) monday and see what they say,but they will probably want an arm and a leg for one. any help is appreciated!! thanks.
Moderator
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 164,377
Likes: 82
From: MA
Originally Posted by cjben
I need some help. this is for a friend of mine. i am not very computer savvy. she is trying to use a router and hook up her laptop computer to the internet with her desk top computer. she bought a router,and the place she bought it from reassured her she had the right one. she went to put everything together,but noticed her desktop modem has a usb port with a cable running from it to her computer. the modem she bought doesn't have this port,and none she has found has the usb port. the modem she bought will not work because it does not have the usb port. Where can she get the correct modem or is there a way to hook it up without using the usb port? she is going to call the cable company(she has cable internet) monday and see what they say,but they will probably want an arm and a leg for one. any help is appreciated!! thanks.
I assume this is an older pc without an internal network card.. But I would check to see if it has one already... They may have just taken the easy way and installed the USB...
Also I have seen where some people have both the USB and Ethernet cables connected to the modem and PC.. You only need 1 not both.. If this is the case just forget the USB one.
New User
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 0
Likes: 24
First you said router then you mention different modems.
There should only be one modem slot on the computer and one modem slot on the laptop.
USB slot on modem ?
She could always use a USB Hub to run both.
do either computers have a telephone line looking "only larger" plug-in in the back?
This is the ethernet plug in for networking
There should only be one modem slot on the computer and one modem slot on the laptop.
USB slot on modem ?
She could always use a USB Hub to run both.
do either computers have a telephone line looking "only larger" plug-in in the back?
This is the ethernet plug in for networking
Last edited by Mil1ion; Nov 10, 2007 at 10:52 PM.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,413
Likes: 11
Originally Posted by cjben
I need some help. this is for a friend of mine. i am not very computer savvy. she is trying to use a router and hook up her laptop computer to the internet with her desk top computer. she bought a router,and the place she bought it from reassured her she had the right one. she went to put everything together,but noticed her desktop modem has a usb port with a cable running from it to her computer. the modem she bought doesn't have this port,and none she has found has the usb port. the modem she bought will not work because it does not have the usb port. Where can she get the correct modem or is there a way to hook it up without using the usb port? she is going to call the cable company(she has cable internet) monday and see what they say,but they will probably want an arm and a leg for one. any help is appreciated!! thanks.
For the life of me I dont know why she just doesnt just run wireless. It pretty cheap now.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 5,946
Likes: 61
From: in the woods of MA
Yea, what you really want is to be able to use a cat5 connection (the one that looks like a fat phone plug) out of the cable modem. Then you can put the router between the cable modem and the PC, and you can also plug the laptop into the router just like the PC. Connecting the laptop to the PC can be done and it will be easy to see the PC from the laptop and vice versa, but getting to the Internet that way will be a little more complex as then the PC has to do a couple other functions for you (DHCP, NAT,etc.)
That setup is probably what the salesperson who sold you the router assumes you had (cat5 rather than USB).
But the routers now do all that for you, they're designed to hook multiple computers to one cable modem/Internet connection. The advice to go wireless for the laptop is a good one too - if the laptop is fairly a new PC (or a Mac that's less than 10 years old!) its probably set up for wireless. The wireless router can be had for $50. That would be the same setup - router hooked to the cable modem with cat5. Desktop PC hooked to router via cat5...
That setup is probably what the salesperson who sold you the router assumes you had (cat5 rather than USB).
But the routers now do all that for you, they're designed to hook multiple computers to one cable modem/Internet connection. The advice to go wireless for the laptop is a good one too - if the laptop is fairly a new PC (or a Mac that's less than 10 years old!) its probably set up for wireless. The wireless router can be had for $50. That would be the same setup - router hooked to the cable modem with cat5. Desktop PC hooked to router via cat5...
Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,628
Likes: 0
From: Calgary, Canada
Double check the cable modem, it may be connected via USB, but it may also have an RJ-45 connector. The desktop may also have the RJ-45 connector in the back, either built to the motherboard - in which case it will be clustered around the USB ports in the back, or as an add in card - in which case it will be in the add-in slots.
Trending Topics
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,246
Likes: 0
From: Princeton, MN
There are lots of correct answers above that all sound very different. I can try to make them a bit easier to understand.
RJ-45 = cat 5 = fat phone plug = Ethernet. Those are all pretty much the same thing. They all plug into that Network interface card, also called a NIC.
With the right settings you can either hook the modem into the router and use the router to split the signal between the computers, or you can keep the modem plugged into the USB port on the computer and get internet to the laptop from the desktop. That can be acheived either by a crossover cable between the Network cards on both computers or by plugging both computers into the router. Be careful though, the cat5 cable you use to plug a computer into a router is a bit different than a crossover cable you use to plug two computers directly together. The crossover cable has the send and receive wires flipped on each end because NI cards have incoming and outgoing connections that correspond to the opposite connection on the router. Kind of like an A end and a B end. In order to connect two A ends you have to flip the wires.
RJ-45 = cat 5 = fat phone plug = Ethernet. Those are all pretty much the same thing. They all plug into that Network interface card, also called a NIC.
With the right settings you can either hook the modem into the router and use the router to split the signal between the computers, or you can keep the modem plugged into the USB port on the computer and get internet to the laptop from the desktop. That can be acheived either by a crossover cable between the Network cards on both computers or by plugging both computers into the router. Be careful though, the cat5 cable you use to plug a computer into a router is a bit different than a crossover cable you use to plug two computers directly together. The crossover cable has the send and receive wires flipped on each end because NI cards have incoming and outgoing connections that correspond to the opposite connection on the router. Kind of like an A end and a B end. In order to connect two A ends you have to flip the wires.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026
Brett Foote
5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time
Joe Kucinski
Ford Super Duty: 5 Things Owners LOVE, 5 Things They LOATHE!
Joe Kucinski
Every 2026 Ford Truck Engine RANKED from WORST to FIRST!
Michael S. Palmer
The Best F-150 Deal of Every Trim Level (XL through Raptor)
Joe Kucinski
Cargo Master
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,413
Likes: 11
Simply put if I'm only running 2 boxes and their going to be wired I'm using a crossoverwire. It does'nt matter if you use 2-? boxes in order to connect them w/ a straight thru wire you have to have a hub/router to do so. So now you have 2 machines, a cable modem, a hub/router and 3 cat5 cables. You have to marry all this to each other and if something ever happens you got to trace it down.
Real simple a crossover between the 2 machines no powersources unlike the hub/router, run homenetwork wizard on the remote machine usse a usb flash and then run it on the laptop thats it. Running the network wizard sets the PC up to let the laptop getout on the internet thru it. If you ever have a problem its either in the wire or the 2 machines, then all you have to do is go to CMD type netstat and see if you can see the laptop and start tracing from there.
If you have the nics your looking at $15 depending how much wire you want. If you dont have the nics by the time you buy them and the wire you could have your freedom and gone wireless.
Real simple a crossover between the 2 machines no powersources unlike the hub/router, run homenetwork wizard on the remote machine usse a usb flash and then run it on the laptop thats it. Running the network wizard sets the PC up to let the laptop getout on the internet thru it. If you ever have a problem its either in the wire or the 2 machines, then all you have to do is go to CMD type netstat and see if you can see the laptop and start tracing from there.
If you have the nics your looking at $15 depending how much wire you want. If you dont have the nics by the time you buy them and the wire you could have your freedom and gone wireless.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 5,946
Likes: 61
From: in the woods of MA
Originally Posted by exiled
Simply put if I'm only running 2 boxes and their going to be wired I'm using a crossoverwire. It does'nt matter if you use 2-? boxes in order to connect them w/ a straight thru wire you have to have a hub/router to do so. So now you have 2 machines, a cable modem, a hub/router and 3 cat5 cables. You have to marry all this to each other and if something ever happens you got to trace it down.
Real simple a crossover between the 2 machines no powersources unlike the hub/router, run homenetwork wizard on the remote machine usse a usb flash and then run it on the laptop thats it. Running the network wizard sets the PC up to let the laptop getout on the internet thru it. If you ever have a problem its either in the wire or the 2 machines, then all you have to do is go to CMD type netstat and see if you can see the laptop and start tracing from there.
If you have the nics your looking at $15 depending how much wire you want. If you dont have the nics by the time you buy them and the wire you could have your freedom and gone wireless.
Real simple a crossover between the 2 machines no powersources unlike the hub/router, run homenetwork wizard on the remote machine usse a usb flash and then run it on the laptop thats it. Running the network wizard sets the PC up to let the laptop getout on the internet thru it. If you ever have a problem its either in the wire or the 2 machines, then all you have to do is go to CMD type netstat and see if you can see the laptop and start tracing from there.
If you have the nics your looking at $15 depending how much wire you want. If you dont have the nics by the time you buy them and the wire you could have your freedom and gone wireless.
There's one limitation to this setup - you have to have the desktop machine running for the laptop to get to the internet. That may be an issue for some people, but not for others. Myself? Routers are so cheap nowadays, I'd go the router route (he, he) and keep them independent - especially if the laptop already supports wireless...
Logistics Pro
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,562
Likes: 2
From: Southern MD
Originally Posted by NewEnglandHerdsman
There's one limitation to this setup - you have to have the desktop machine running for the laptop to get to the internet. That may be an issue for some people, but not for others. Myself? Routers are so cheap nowadays, I'd go the router route (he, he) and keep them independent - especially if the laptop already supports wireless...
Agreed.
While I have at least 3 pcs running 24/7, I like the ability to take my laptop outside and sit in the shade and peruse the net, or, VPN to work and not be charged vacation!
Wireless is LOTS better than being 'leashed' by CAT5 cable.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,413
Likes: 11
Originally Posted by NewEnglandHerdsman
There's one limitation to this setup - you have to have the desktop machine running for the laptop to get to the internet. That may be an issue for some people, but not for others. Myself? Routers are so cheap nowadays, I'd go the router route (he, he) and keep them independent - especially if the laptop already supports wireless...
The host machine only has to be powered on not nessery logged on. I myself use wireless cause I dont sit at the same place all the time. I dont see the point in a laptop that is limited to just one spot in the house might as well just use the PC.
New User
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 0
Likes: 24
Now I'm having trouble getting computers on network ID.
all 3 computers are hooked to a D-Link Router.
1) XP (main)
2) windows 2000 (laptop)
3) win 98 se (downstairs)
The XP PC only sees itself
The W2000 PC only sees the 98se
The win98se only see the win2000 .
How do I get the XP to see the other 2 and the other 2 to see the XP ?
I have tried so many things with reboots .....my head hurts
all 3 computers are hooked to a D-Link Router.
1) XP (main)
2) windows 2000 (laptop)
3) win 98 se (downstairs)
The XP PC only sees itself
The W2000 PC only sees the 98se
The win98se only see the win2000 .
How do I get the XP to see the other 2 and the other 2 to see the XP ?
I have tried so many things with reboots .....my head hurts
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 19,402
Likes: 38
From: Bonita Springs FL
What do you mean by "see"?
First thing is to make sure the network is functioning. Try to ping each machine *by IP address* from every other machine. If that's working, then Windows networking is having problems, which can be a mess to sort out.
First thing is to make sure the network is functioning. Try to ping each machine *by IP address* from every other machine. If that's working, then Windows networking is having problems, which can be a mess to sort out.
New User
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 0
Likes: 24
To see... means Identifies the computers on the network.
The Main computer with XP is not identifying the other 2 and the other 2 aren't seeing the XP .
Would the router contain the IP addresses of them all ?
I don't know about all the settings for the router and what they are supposed to be
The Main computer with XP is not identifying the other 2 and the other 2 aren't seeing the XP .
Would the router contain the IP addresses of them all ?
I don't know about all the settings for the router and what they are supposed to be
Last edited by Mil1ion; Nov 12, 2007 at 07:28 PM.