Linksys Question....

[MouseWife]

I am going a but nuts here, trying to fix the kids internets, they're broken!

What it seems is that their Linksys needs updating. I have gone to their site and uploaded something to fix it....it didn't.

Next, I've found this site that says, for free, you can upload 'DRIVERCURE' which will fix all of your driver problems. Even for cameras {my daughter says her computer does not recognize her camera so she can't upload her photos}.

http://www.driverdownloadcenter.com/tools.html

This is their website. Before I do anything, I would like to know if anyone has used this, and/or, how to I find out if it is legit, before I upload it?

Thanks in advance for any advice. This constant 'refreshing' of my modem is driving me nuts as nothing is wrong with my own internet connection.

[Betty]

What, exactly, is the problem going on?

You have a wired or wireless connection?

Are you getting any error messages?

[Kevy Baby]

Yeah - I would like to know more about the problem before installing an update. Especially one that fixes 'everything"

[MouseWife]

Hi guys! Thanks, first off.


Here is what I know {I never see their end of it, they don't mention an 'error' message, I think it just is really slow to load and then goes away to no internet...if they get a message, they aren't relaying it to me!!}:

We have a Linksys wireless router. This computer, the main one, is directly connected to Cox cable. The router is hooked up to my modem {that is right, isn't it how it goes? They hooked it up, or, my ex son in law did}.

A few things are hooked up, and, have been for quite some time without any problems. One room has a desktop {like this}, another room has a laptop as well as an XBox {with it's wireless adapter thing in there, I guess like a card?} and the last is one more Xbox in another room. This last one, it is closest to the router and he hasn't had any issues {but, he does not have internet}.

I have refreshed the modem/router. Nothing. I uploaded an upgrade {maybe the wrong one but I followed their directions....} nothing.

When my son brought his laptop into the living room, he had no problems.

So, this leads everyone to think the router needs upgrading. That, the devices on their computers as well as the router itself, do work.

Very annoying. I don't want to pay them to fix it.

Thanks you guys. I am the one who works on our computers so....we are pretty much screwed. :0)

[Alex]

I'm not going to offer any specific advice, since the description given is sending enough alarm bells that I'm pretty sure it isn't right and so I'd probably screw things up more.

But if everything worked and now one computer doesn't, but all the rest are still using the router (both wired and wirelessly) without issue, then I doubt the router is the problem (at least not in terms of a software or hardware failure).

[MouseWife]

Okay, you actually bring up what I was thinking myself. But, to go back, the item that works, is the one that is physically closer to the router.

The one that I would think might have a virus or something, has the same issue as the laptop that was carried into the living room and worked fine here. Did not work down the hall.

So, we are thinking it is {if not a virus} an issue with the router needing upgrading.

The big problem with the one computer that I think may have a virus? No internet means I can't check it. I guess I should bring it in here and see what I can do but I am alone and it isn't mine so, I have to wait for that.

[Pirate Bill]

You shouldn't need to fix the router. That isn't the prime suspect here. The problem is most likely software or hardware on the laptop. It's possible for one laptop with a lousy network card to get bad reception in the same location as another laptop with a better network card.

Unless you're seeing problems with all computers and all other variables are equal then the Linksys router is going to be the last place to look for problems.

If something used to work but doesn't now then I doubt it's a driver issue (unless they tried upgrading it and now it doesn't work). In these case the first thing to ask is, "What changed?" Any new software/hardware installed? Have you scanned for viruses/spyware? Have all Windows updates been applied?

I'd treat this computer as if infected until you know better. Hook it up to the internet but quarantine it from the rest of the network (just disconnect the router from the modem and plug the laptop into the modem directly). The rest of the network will loose the internet connection while you do this, but everything else will be kept safe while you fix the laptop.

[Pirate Bill]

One thing I forgot to mention...Don't panic!

Oftentimes when providing tech support for family, they sometimes think loosing internet is a life-or-death situation. And since you're basically doing them a favor, don't sweat it. Take your time. This will help you diagnose the problem better. Or they'll lose patience and take it somewhere else. It's a win-win.

[MouseWife]

Originally Posted by Pirate Bill

One thing I forgot to mention...Don't panic!

Oftentimes when providing tech support for family, they sometimes think loosing internet is a life-or-death situation. And since you're basically doing them a favor, don't sweat it. Take your time. This will help you diagnose the problem better. Or they'll lose patience and take it somewhere else. It's a win-win.

Thanks for that! You made me crack up and you hit it dead on. They freak out when the ink runs out, too. And, I am sooo trying to be stress free.

I will show them your post because kids never listen to their moms. :0) That is exactly what I want to do but I get frustrated and don't know the technical terms.

Thanks to you and everyone who gave advice. I will NOT do any work on anything {like uploading any drivers}. I think it is the other home computer, or heck, either of them. Their virus protection has run out and they don't seem as concerned about getting it back.

DAH!!

Oh, wait...no stress....Thanks you guys.

[Betty]

I agree with Pirate Bill.