try a full power down of everything I do mean everything. Power off the computers, the router, the modem etc. leave all power off for 5 mins or so, then power up in this order, power to modem only let it get fully lit up, then power on to router, let it get fully lit up, then power up your computers letting each get fully loaded. Then try to connect to your wireless, I assume you have put in your wireless network passphrase for the laptops that are trying to access the wifi network.

OK...obviously I'm too dumb to be allowed to post on this forum. My sister just called the people who put her computer together. She does NOT have an internal wireless adapter. Not only that, the item we purchased, the ASIX adapter, is just an adapter...not what we thought it was. I am totally confused about the difference between "Ethernet" and the external adapter...and the whole thing. I see now that we need to purchase an external wireless card. Is that right? And could someone explain to me what it is that the Device Manager is seeing if it's not the item that allows for wireless connectivity? So sorry to be so incorrect about the information I thought I was providing all of you. I know nothing about hardware, as you can see. Thank you again for all of your help. Bugsy

I was able to flush the dns on both the xp and vista laptops. But I still can't connect either laptop wirelessly to the "fmaily room" network (which is still unsecured). I cannot access the Nat,spi or firewall soI don't know if that's the problem. Both laptops show a strong signal (full bars) to the family room network - but don't connect. They do connect via wired connection (does this mean I have so far created a network switch). On both laptops I selected "family room" as the preferred network to connect to. But both connected to my Lynn network (from the opposite corner of the house - with only a weak signal). On the Vista laptop it says Windows cannot connect to "family room" - and when asked to connect to family room, it said "Windows association failed due to an unknown reason." When I selected "diagnose and repair, it said Windows did not find any problems with your Internet connection." Then I tried one further thing. I saw on the Vista laptop that it still listed the family room network as having WPA2 security - so i changed what the laptop had for listed for family room network to reflect no current security settings. Then I tried to connect again. It wouldn't connect. Then I clicked repair/diagnose - and it said "this network is marked as a "hidden" network and is either not in the range of this computer or the wireless settings saved on this computer do not match the settings of the network." It is in range of the network - 3 feet away and receiving a full strong signal. So perhaps the network settings do not match the router or access point (although I'm not sure where to look to check this since I think I set it all up to match). The other thing is says is "if you own or set up this network, reset your wireless router or access point and try connecting again." Should I try this? Does it mean unplugging SMC access point, linksys router and modem - waiting and replugging them in? If so, in what order? Or does this mean resetting the SMC completely and starting from scratch? So now what? Jane - I realize that Mikie's the guy - and I very much appreciate his help. Those links helped me get clearer on definitions, but don't really get specific enough to address these set up complications. Thank you. Lynn.

If you find yourself still having issues after reinstalling the adapter at the Library on Monday. Always use the next choice. That's to boot the computer to Safe Mode with / Networking. Then try a connection to www.Google.com. Don't surf the Internet in this mode. If you can connect in this mode that tells us if a program is causing an issue such as a Firewall or Anti Virus. Restart the computer, keep tapping the F8 Key, wait for the Windows Advanced options Menu to appear. Using the arrow keys, select Safe Mode w/Networking. Then just see if you can establish a connection with www.Google.com