Am I smart enough to go wireless

17 years ago

I have a desktop computer with a broadband internet connection that I use for my work as well as for web surfing, shopping, bill paying, netflix etc. What I would like to do now is supplement this with an inexpensive laptop with a wireless connection to the desktop so that I can do all these things from other parts of my house. I understand that this will require that I get a wireless router for my desktop, a wireless equiped laptop and set up a wireless network. Is this something that one with just modest computer skills can do? My desktop has xp professional and the new portable will in all probability have Vista home basic. I don't want to get Vista for my desktop until I replace it. Will this incompatibility be a problem? Where will the installation proceedures come from; "VISTA help" or "XP help" or the instructions that come with the wireless router. Are there other sources for step by step instruction? What I would really like to do is be able to operate my desktop remotely from the portable so as to avoid loading/maintaining all my software and files on the portable. Is this practical and, if so, what do I need in the way of knowledge and software?

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (4)

mikie_gw
17 years ago
You dont need much knowledge. Wifi & networking both are pretty simple. Best place to ask questions should you get stumped with something maybe the forums at dslreports for your isp. That maybe a goodplace to look before running out and buying a router.

I use a laptop and one of the vnc programs to remotely configure my desktop and most programs are accessable by the laptop remotely... all of my desktop hdd's show in my laptop, as network drives.

What do you have now for a modem ? Many broadband modems are routers and some isp's will give you a wifi. router/modem or sell you one at a reduced price. Some are good, some not.. depends on the isp.
john02139
Original Author
17 years ago
Thanks Mikie. My isp is Comcast from whom I rent my modem. I will certainly check out their site for help and look into the possibility of buying a combined router/modem which would save me monthly rental cost. What do the initials vnc and hdd stand for? Again, thanks for the help--invaluable.
Related Discussions
WiFi?? or am I going nutz??
Q
Comments (18)
Hey there, Brandy. Thanks for the link. Believe it or not, I was once a computer sales/repair person. Many times, simply talking to a person would give me a clue. For example: I once had a customer who bought a brand new model haul it back saying "It won't even boot". I believed him and sent the machine to repair only to have it sent back with the note there was nothing wrong. The customer took it back to his office and an hour later was back with the system and the same complaint. I hooked it up in the store and it booted up just fine. The customer and I chatted for half an hour and he mentioned his offices were in an old telephone exchange building that had been converted. Eureka!! I told him to set up his computer on the opposite side of the room. Half an hour later I got a call from him saying everything was working fine and how did I know that was the solution. From what he told me, I figured the interior wall had been where all the cables had been for the Telephone exchange or the cables were still there and the walls had picked up a charge that interfered with the computer. After some investigation the customer, who was a lawyer, found out the cables were still there and and the walls did have a charge, filed a lawsuit about it as a hazard to his and his employees health. LOL. Sandy
...See More
I am NOT going to go to Santa Barbara this weekend.
Q
Comments (22)
I did not drive to Santa Barbara so I was partially successful in my quest to avoid the beast. I wrapped my car keys in bacon and fed them to the dogs last night to remove temptation. I just finished watering this morning and life was good, I was on track. At 9AM this morning I became the victim of a home invasion. 2 men, bigger and younger than me, barged in my front door. I recognized them from my orchid society. Against my will, they forced me into their car and headed for SB. What was I to do, there were 2 of them, only one of me. Once in SB I would have stood out as someone odd and bizarre if I didn't buy orchids which is what everyone else was doing like crazy. So in order to preserve my good standing in this group of 'The Usual Suspects', I got 10 from the $7.50 table at SBOE and 8 of Cal Orchid's Epidendrums. I'll post pictures on the Gallery. My kidnappers were kind enough to drive me home. No real problem except now I have to follow my dogs around for a couple of days to get my car keys back. I'll definitely NOT go to the next function in Santa Barbara, I'm not addicted and I'm in full control of my life. Nick
...See More
Are Birds Smart Enough to NOT to Eat D-con???...
Q
Comments (8)
DO NOTHING UNTIL YOU PROPERLY IDENTIFY THE CRITTER .... period .... spend at least an hour looking around at the tunnels.. and defining the pattern ... make some marks.. see which paths are active ... etc .... when you find a hole.. you are in biz .... take a large black pot [a local garden center might have a recycle pile ... 10 gal squat pot would be perfect .. not a tall one] ... and a mouse trap and a rat trap .... bait the traps with peanut butter ... top and bottom of the trigger ..... set them close to the hole .. and invert the pot over it.. and check it every day ..... i use gloves to keep my stink off the traps .... you will catch them sooner or later .... poison is poison .. what more do you need to know... its not good .... unless all else fails .... you will be amazed how few you will have to trap .... good luck ken
...See More
Am I not re-potting my pepeer seedlings deep enough?
Q
Comments (3)
I could be wrong, but it seems to me that the plants are very aware of where the top of the soil surface is located. I'm also sure that you're ok. I have also noticed a few plants have put roots very close to the surface. The only thing I do is to fill in any holes I've created when watering them (I never pack the soil, so the soil will give away the first/second time watering after transplantation). The pepper plants like good drainage and no "wet feet", so I guess the soil rotting could be an issue in a non-raised garden. I guess for piece of mind, you could maybe dig down 8-12 inches in your garden and see if there's traces of long standing water. In any case, if that turned out to be a problem, then I don't think half an inch to an inch deeper in the pot would make much of a difference. I have a raised bed that I use for my vegetables. It's kind of small and I cannot fit the 50 Pepper plants (or so!) that I am planning on keeping this year. I use containers for those. There's no way that I'll run into this problem.
...See More
mikie_gw
17 years ago
VNC, Virtual Network Computing
Windows/MSN messenger have remote desktop feature, Very nice, gives you remote control of a desktop .. but you have to accept the connection. Another words you have to use the desktop keyboard to initiate or accept the connection.
With one of the VNC programs you just remotely connect with login/password and can remotely do things like rebooting/defrag/program installs, etc from your laptop without ever getting off your couch.

Hdd ,,, thought everybody knew that one.. short for Hard Drive. If you map the full desktop hard drive(s) to your laptop you will have access to all programs and files it contains on your laptop just like another drive. Some of the configurations won't work unless you initially install the program on both desktop and laptop to build the registery keys but basic functionallity will work on most programs.
ross939
17 years ago
...and if you are still not confident, I'm sure Comcast might offer the service of instalation, for a nominal fee of course...

Am I smart enough to go wireless

Comments (4)

mikie_gw

john02139
Original Author

Related Discussions

mikie_gw

ross939

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Am I smart enough to go wireless

Comments (4)

mikie_gw

john02139Original Author

Related Discussions

mikie_gw

ross939

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

john02139
Original Author