Well whatever the value of the subject HP, Amazon is now sold out at the price I was considering. I've found a Gateway 17.3" for a few dollars less, and my past experience with Gateway has been good - but so what? things change. I am currently using my old Gateway in a desktop setup so the cracked screen isn't an issue... it is running great. Gateway NE71B10u 17.3-Inch Laptop AMD E-Series Dual-Core E2-1800 1.7 GHz (1 MB Cache) 6 GB DDR3 750 GB 5400 rpm Hard Drive 17.3-Inch Screen, AMD Radeon? HD 7340 Graphics Windows 8, 4-hour battery life Also has a USB 3.0 and the 6 GB/750GB looks real good, should hold up memory-wise for a few years...but then don't take my advice on that one. Not trying to jerk all my friends around, please consider this just an update for those who have provided advice/views on my HP machinations. I may yet set back to a 15.6" and there is a Gateway the same as the above less the larger screen.

Thanks for all the suggestions - I tried looking at the "Filter MAC Addresses" and not sure I am understanding - but I went to the web address for the router and found the place where you can select the option for "Only Allow Computers with MAC Address Listed Below to Connect" but that option was not selected and no addresses listed. So I didn't feel comfortable setting it up as opposed to adding another address if there'd already been some listed there. I did follow the instructions for finding the address on the laptop but the number looked a bit strange - just a bunch of zero's with an alpha character at the end which made me think maybe I hadn't found the actual address and of course that made me hesitant about adding to the router for fear I might foul up the 2 computers that are working correctly. I did try the 'flush' and powered everything back up in the sequence you gave me but same thing, and then had to do it again in order to get the 2 original computers back online. So now, I am debating the uninstall of the Lenovo ReadyConn - I may try that when I get the courage. OR I've been thinking that I might just be better off buying a new router. The one I have is 3 years old - if it's old for a router, then maybe that is my best bet and hope a new one will fix my issues. I can't thank you enough for all the help you've given. I'll keep working with this and trying and re-trying as I have time over the next few days. If/when I get this resolved I'll let you know what I've come up with. Thanks again for taking the time and making the effort to help - it is a great comfort to those of us that so desperately need it. Frances

It is really an individual decision based on ability-to-pay and the necessary piece-of-mind an individual user requires. Historically from postings here and my readings elsewhere, extended warranties favor the purveyor whether the item in question is a computer, an appliance or an automobile. They are a money machine. If I might say, I for one didn't purchase an extended warranty two months ago when I purchased my new system. Before you make your decision, ignore everything the salesperson says. It is the consumer's responsibility to read what is and is not covered. Be informed about deductibles, down-time, lemon coverage, liability, shipping, data loss, just to name a few. If you feel you should have an extended warranty I would recommend if possible one offered by the manufacturer rather than a third party. I am sure you will make a wise decision based on what's best for you. Good Luck! Enjoy! DA

NO I do not really care at this point in time at all if you agree or disagree this is not a forum for conversations it is a help forum and needs to stay on TOPIC! If you care so much to pontificate your points of view then please do it on the other side if you have not noticed there is another little link button up there for the conversation side. Doing what you have done over and over again causes the topic to go off course and it makes it exponentially more difficult to keep track of what we have tried and done to help the person that came here needing help. If you want to have that type of conversation and discussion then please for the sake of everyone start a NEW thread of your own for that and do not do it on someone elses thread that is in need of help. On most of the other professional help forums I am on causing a post to go off topic is cause for banning and doing it repeatedly is just absolutely rude. My time is just as valuable as anyone else including the person that started the post asking for help! Most of us that are volunteers on help forums are on many many other help forums all over the internet not just one! Keeping threads on track for the actual problem is essential. As I said feel free to start your own threads to discuss what ever you feel the need to discuss but please don't do it in the middle of a post of someone else. Thank you grandms for stating exactly the point.