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.

Zep - I have 3 devices in my network list: 1) 1394 net adapter 2)intel 82566mm gigabit network connection (this one I was able to get an updated driver - but on my network connections, it still shows as local area connection - "network cable unplugged,fire..." and I'm not able to click that and get the rest of the sentence. if I click it it just gives me the name of the adapter. 3) intel wireless wifi link 4965AGN The first and third ones say they are connected and firewalled. I believe that this last wireless 4965AGN is the one that has problems and gets repaired. I could be wrong about that. The LAN one I think has always been unconnected/unplugged. I don't know what that's for or if I need it. Is that my wired internet connection? Thanks. Lynn. PS - if I go through network devices and select update drivers, it only offered updated drivers for the intel 82566mm gigabit network connection. Is there any point in googling for updated driver if this route indicate no new drives exist?

A simple message buried in an avalanche of unnecessary words. The heading is enough for direction - home WIFIs should have WPA2 enabled. On the other hand, little mischief is accomplished on the millions of unsecured signals that exist. Newer versions of Windows require password authentication anyway, so with that and a firewall, it's hard to imagine there's much risk of unwanted access. Paranoid souls always have the option to turn off their WIFI signal and simply use hardwire connections.

Possibly. The first thing you should try is moving the existing router around. Sometimes even a few inches of movement can make a difference. Generally speaking you want the router to be up high and free of obstructions around it. The are also, depending on the router, hacks for the firmware that allow you to change the settings increasing, for example, signal strength. You could also look into different antennas for the router. Another possibility is to use a "repeater." While there are devices especially made for the purpose, they tend to be a little expensive. You can use another router, access point, or even some print servers to function in the capacity of a repeater and position it on, say, the first floor somewhere. The last alternative and one guaranteed to work, is to run a length of CAT5 cable between the basement router and your bedroom. Although depending on the layout of your house, that may or may not be easy to do. Another option might be to run CAT5 between the basement and first floor, positioning the router there.