Christmas Present Frustration & Horror Thread

[dr_mabeuse]

Before I hang myself from the misteltoe hook with a string of colored lights, I thought I'd ask here...

I have a 2-computer wireless network at home--my main PC and my laptop with a wireless card. They're connected by a dell router with what appears to be 4 channels (LAN 1-4).

I bought my kids 2 new Dell PC's for Christmas with wireless cards thinking I could add them to the network. This proved beyong my capabilities, so I called Dell's Tech Support only to be told (after agreeing to pay $99 for their help) that they're "not allowed" to tell you how to establish a network using more than 2 computers. They "don't support" that kind of network.

Well excuse me, but it seems to me that 2 computers does not a network make. It's more like a tin-can telephone. I got my $99 back, but now I've got these two new PC's with no way to connect them to the internet. Short of having to run another DSL line and set up another 2-computer network is there anything else I can do?

 

[Weird Harold]

Before I hang myself from the misteltoe hook with a string of colored lights, I thought I'd ask here...

I have a 2-computer wireless network at home--my main PC and my laptop with a wireless card. They're connected by a dell router with what appears to be 4 channels (LAN 1-4).

I bought my kids 2 new Dell PC's for Christmas with wireless cards thinking I could add them to the network. This proved beyong my capabilities, so I called Dell's Tech Support only to be told (after agreeing to pay $99 for their help) that they're "not allowed" to tell you how to establish a network using more than 2 computers. They "don't support" that kind of network.

Well excuse me, but it seems to me that 2 computers does not a network make. It's more like a tin-can telephone. I got my $99 back, but now I've got these two new PC's with no way to connect them to the internet. Short of having to run another DSL line and set up another 2-computer network is there anything else I can do?

First of all, can you use your current setup with any of the four ports, or are two of them dead?

Second, all you need to do is get a different four-channel wireless router -- one that actually supports all four channels -- and assign uinigue IDs to each of the four computers. There should be no need to add a second DSL line.

You might check with your DSL provider to see if their tech people know how to do what Dell isn't allowed to tell how to do with theDell router you already have.

 

[Liar]

Before I hang myself from the misteltoe hook with a string of colored lights, I thought I'd ask here...

I have a 2-computer wireless network at home--my main PC and my laptop with a wireless card. They're connected by a dell router with what appears to be 4 channels (LAN 1-4).

I bought my kids 2 new Dell PC's for Christmas with wireless cards thinking I could add them to the network. This proved beyong my capabilities, so I called Dell's Tech Support only to be told (after agreeing to pay $99 for their help) that they're "not allowed" to tell you how to establish a network using more than 2 computers. They "don't support" that kind of network.

Well excuse me, but it seems to me that 2 computers does not a network make. It's more like a tin-can telephone. I got my $99 back, but now I've got these two new PC's with no way to connect them to the internet. Short of having to run another DSL line and set up another 2-computer network is there anything else I can do?

Excuse me, but that just sounds utterly weird. I can waltz into any ol' computer hardware outlet and pick up a DSL router with standard wireless network access point built in (IEEE 802.11b or 802.11g for the faster version) for $50. And it will work immediately with an unlimited number of wireless clients (Edited to add that there might be different regulations for private wireless networs over in the states. Don't know anything about that. But technically, there is no limit to a standard wi-fi network, except it gets silly slow after a while.). I assume your computers run Windows XP? Then it should be plug in and go. Nu fuss, no trouble. What kind of derivative crap is Dell selling you?

Is Dell in bed with your DSL operator? If you bought the DSL line via Dell somehow, or in association with a computer buy, there might be a clause in the contract of that saying that you can hook up a maximum of two clients to the Internet. If so, the hardware they sell you might be non-standard and tampered with to technically prevent that. Of course, that's not how they'd put it. If that is the case, it's probably wrapped in some "enhanced security" mumbo jumbo.

 

[Selena_Kitt]

Well excuse me, but it seems to me that 2 computers does not a network make. It's more like a tin-can telephone. I got my $99 back, but now I've got these two new PC's with no way to connect them to the internet. Short of having to run another DSL line and set up another 2-computer network is there anything else I can do?

You just need to hook them up to your current router, but you need to create a unique "ID" for each computer... your current router SHOULD work, if it has four ports, and you have the wireless cards for your kids' laptops...

I had my computer geek guy do it (love him!! ) so I'm not sure of the details... but my suggestion would be to find a computer geek guy... ask around to people you know in the area, or you can start calling, open the phone book to "computer repair"... see what kind of prices you can get for someone either coming out or helping you in the phone... you might get someone nice who's willing to tell you really quick for free (cuz honestly, I don't think it's all that labor intensive if I remember right, we have three hooked up to a four way router and it took him about half an hour...)

 

[Guest]

The computers should set up their own ID's through the router. I attached the ones for my kids one at a time and ran them through the system without turning on the main computer.

They set themselves up. Then when I rebooted mine, everything worked.

I'm sure you'll get it to work. You can always search on-line for specific instructions (we did that, too). But what a terrific present for your kids!

(Good daddy!)

(edited to add - Don't go to the Dell site for assistance. Just toss the question out into space with a How To in front of it. You'll find aid on some fun computer geek forums.)

 

[Guest]

If the router you have is already set up for wireless (ie, your laptop), then connecting the other two shouldn't be a problem.

The computer should automatically search for a wireless network. In case it doesn't, you can right click on the wireless icon in the taskbar and click on "view available networks". Your network should be on the list and then you can just click connect.

If it's not showing up, then I'm going with what someone previously said that Dell's router is putting the cabash on more than two hooking up, and I'd go buy another wireless capable router from Wal-Mart.

We have a linksys wireless 4 port router with two computers hooked to it at the moment. It usually has three (2 hardwired and one wireless) but my hubby's computer is on the fritz.

 

[dr_mabeuse]

In fact, Dell is in bed with my DSL provider, and it just happened. A week or so ago, before I gave the kids their computers, Dell called me up and tried to sell me Comcast DSL service. Comcast is who I have now, but I guess they didn't know.

So you think this is a scam just to sell m/orey DSL hook-ups? Could be. When the Dell techie told me they "couldn't" tell me how to do it, she sounded as if there was someone standing there with a gun to her head. It was very weird and very suspicious.

No, I've tried using the XP Wireless Network Setup wizard and it doesn't work. It keeps on telling me a network cable in unplugged.

I'll go to computer store and talk to them there. Thanks for the help. $!*&@ Pain the ass computers!

 

[Guest]

In fact, Dell is in bed with my DSL provider, and it just happened. A week or so ago, before I gave the kids their computers, Dell called me up and tried to sell me Comcast DSL service. Comcast is who I have now, but I guess they didn't know.

So you think this is a scam just to sell m/orey DSL hook-ups? Could be. When the Dell techie told me they "couldn't" tell me how to do it, she sounded as if there was someone standing there with a gun to her head. It was very weird and very suspicious.

No, I've tried using the XP Wireless Network Setup wizard and it doesn't work. It keeps on telling me a network cable in unplugged.

I'll go to computer store and talk to them there. Thanks for the help. $!*&@ Pain the ass computers!

What a hassle.

I remember when we first networked the computers I was on the phone with our DSL providers for help. They told me they couldn't help us with the extra computers, only the main. We felt as if by networking we were illegally splicing satellite TV cable throughout the house or something.

We found a little hole-in-the-wall computer store (in a college town it is fairly easy). They sell new equipment, repair anything, build custom-made towers, etc. After making a couple of purchases they've become our new best friends for computer info.

I also found a couple of links. If you've already been through the XP tutorial they probably won't offer any additional help though.

http://computer.howstuffworks.com/home-network1.htm

http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfm?articleID=1428

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,4149,1276145,00.asp