1st (sounds like you have done this) I would advise to connect directly to the modem via Ethernet cable to verify that you have a constant connection to eliminate possible ISP issue.

2nd thing you could try is to go to Device Manager and uninstall the wireless driver by right clicking on it and choosing uninstall. Reboot the computer and Windows will reinstall the driver.

Then try to connect to the router. If may have to reset the router (power cycle) by unplugging it and waiting a few minutes then plug it back in.

If that doesn't work, please explain word for word exactly what is happening.

Let us know. We can troubleshoot from there.

My ISP is Charter and I have three wireless computers and two
hardwired computers on my network!!!!!!!!!!!!

Never any trouble getting dumped here..............

Why aren't you calling up Charter and having them troubleshoot this?

@bbbluz: I will check what you have mentioned and get back to you.

@canibus: Did you set the wireless router up manually or use software to install it.

I have read and read and researched, and thought I understood everything there was to do. I am so disappointed.

I bought a wireless router and connected it.. Then I setup

the router manually!!!

We will go slow on this...This is my first question..

If the image below does not show here copy the link in your address bar

[url=http://www.postimage.org/][img]http://s1.postimage.org/a4ulq9fd9/router1.png[/img][/url]

@Kudzu9: Charter will not help me because they have their own wireless connection they want to sell to me and charge me an exorbitant monthly fee for it.

@canibus: I am attempting to set up my router manually. I did not see an image above and copied the link and posted in the address bar and nothing happened.

@bbbluz: I connected the cable moden directly to the wireless router with an Ethernet cable. There is no driver listed for the wireless router. This is what shows up in Device Manager: Network Adapters
Intel (R) PRO/1000 PL Network Connection
Scientific-Atlanta WebSTAR 2000 series cable modem
The first is the built in computer wireless connection and the second is the cable modem connection.

Do I have to connect the router to the computer? Is that what is wrong? I hate to sound so unknowledgeable, but that is what I am.

Is this a desktop computer you are trying to connect wirelessly?

What is the make, model#, and which Operating System is installed?

You have to connect modem to router to computer by ethnernet

setup the router--then you can setup the wireless..

@bbbluz: I am trying to set up a wireless network consisting of my desktop computer and a laptop computer; I would like to use the laptop in my bedroom. My computer is a Dell DXP051 running Vista Ultimate. The router is Netgear N600 WNDR 3400.

@canibus: The instruction sheet that came with my router shows it connected by Ethernet to the cable modem, but not to the computer by Ethernet cable. What it does show connecting from the router to the computer is what looks to be a cable with an USB connection on both ends. I looked through all of my cables and do not have one like that. Will have to go to the store to get one and will take the instruction sheet with me since I don't really know what I am doing.

Your router does not have a usb plug!!!!!!!You might have ethernet on one and usb to connect to computer....If you have an ethner cable hook one end to the router and one end to the computer.....

check this link out it is your router, I have the manual for your router...This is a image of your router that I posted...

http://postimage.org/image/31mqan9l0/

until you get the connections set up like this I can not help you nor can anyone else

http://postimage.org/image/ek7bd83o/

I do have the yellow Ethernet cable plugged (the plugs are larger than the normal telephone type plugs) in to the yellow area you indicated in the first picture. This yellow cable is the only one that came with my router.

The instructions on the second picture say: 4. Locate the cable you removed from the modem in step 2. Securely insert that cable (4) into a LAN port on the router such as LAN port 1.

I did not remove a cable from the modem. My instructions do not contain the detailed information that you have.
Perhaps if I could see step 2, I could figure out what I need to do. Or if you could point me in the right direction. I downloaded a manual from Netgear website, but it does not have any material with pictures such as you have shared.

By the way, I appreciate you taking your time to do this.

You need 2 ethernet cables like the yellow one...

one goes from modem to router

one goes from router to computer

You need 2 ethernet cables like the yellow one...

one goes from modem to router

one goes from router to computer

this image will show you

http://postimage.org/image/g3k5yf5w/

I am posting a picture of the back of a cable modem that is like mine. As you can see it does not have two connects for the yellow Ethernet cables. It has one square USB connect, 1 Ethernet connect, the power connect. This could be part of the problem. At present the square USB connect is plugged into the cable modem, with the flat USB connect plugged into my computer. Hope this helps. I am determined to complete this project.

An ethernet cable goes from that ethernet port to the router. A second ethernet cable goes from the router to the computer.

Ethernet interface is usually the preferred connection type for a number of reasons. Using the Ethernet connection frees your USB ports (and bandwidth) for other more useful peripherals.

If this is a desktop you need to install a wireless card in it, I don't think there is one and that's why you don't see a wireless adapter in device manager because there is none.

The only way I can see to connect this is to use the Ethernet connection as shown #4. Disconnect the usb,connection for now. Connect a yellow cable to Ethernet #4 on the modem, now the other end of that goes in the router that joins the router and modem. Now get another yellow Ethernet cable put one end into 1 of the available router ports there are usually 4.Now the other end of that cable would connect to the back of the computer. That won't be wireless but a direct connection for now.

I agree has anyone checked to make sure this desktop even has wireless ability? My guess is that it probably does not have a wifi card in it and will need one installed before any possibility of wireless connections. this is the info for that particular model (dellDimension 9150 DXP051)

Dell� Dimension� 9150 Service Manual

My desktop does have a wireless card.

I got another Enternet cable and set everything up. It was working to the point that I was setting it up wireless. Then all of a sudden, my cable modem shut down the Internet connection. So I had to unplug the router from the cable modem; unplug the power from the cable modem, plug it back in and restart my computer. Now I have access to the Internet and am pondering my next move.

Thought I would mention this, too, don't know if there is any significance, but:

The computer is also connected to the cable modem by a USB device (a cable with a square connection into the cable modem and a flat USB connection into the computer. Hope this makes sense.

With the Charter modem, the network is identified as 8; when the cable modem and the router were plugged in, the network was identified as 7.

this is what you need to do, you was told what to do in reply 7..unplug the cable mentioned in post above..

If you can not follow instructions we are wasting our time..

You need 2 ethernet cables like the yellow one...

one goes from modem to router

one goes from router to computer

this image will show you

http://postimage.org/image/g3k5yf5w/

@canibus: I did do exactly what you said to do in reply 7. I was very meticulous in following your instructions. As a result, I had no Internet connection whatsoever. The small icon for Internet in my quick launch bar had a yellow triangle over it, and when I hovered over it the following information was relayed:Currently connected to unidentified network. Access: Limited Connectivity.

However, there was no connectivity.

I am stumped, but more determined than ever to get this done.

Again, I appreciate all of your help.

unplug the power to computer---router ---modem

be sure to have the ethernet cables attached as I have posted!!!

then

1--plug power to modem- wait 2 minutes

2--plug power to router wait 2 minutes

3--turn computer on

it will work

then you can setup the wireless by the instructions from the
pdf manual for your router!

No idea why a USB cable was in the works as all. If you hook this up as Canibus has directed, it will work (minus the USB).

@grandms: I don't know why a USB cable was in the works either; all I know is that is what the cable company installed.

@canibus: I will try again.

the usb is what charter uses to connect the modem to the computer..

the setup changes when you add router......

You do not need this anymore--remove it!!!

@ canibus: I removed the USB and followed your instructions step-by-step (printed them out so I would be sure to do exactly what you said and ticked them off when each step was completed). When I finally turned the computer on, I had no internet access. The small icon for Internet in my quick launch bar had a yellow triangle over it, just as before. When I hovered over it the following information was relayed:Currently connected to unidentified network. Access: Limited Connectivity, just as before.

I have been working on this for two days, so I am going to give it a rest. Will probably just end up calling in the local IT guy. I just hate to spend the money, when I know (or thought) I could do it myself.

Thank you again for all of your help.

Why dont you try disabling in your Device Manager the thing that you have called your modem.

I dont know what that is.. but perhaps that maybe part of the problem.

This is what shows up in Device Manager: Network Adapters
Intel (R) PRO/1000 PL Network Connection
Scientific-Atlanta WebSTAR 2000 series cable modem
The first is the built in computer wireless connection and the second is the cable modem connection.

walnutcreek-
I'm still not getting it. If Charter is your ISP, you are paying them for the service. So why are they not helping you with your setup? Are you saying that Charter is trying to restrict you to a single wired connection and not letting you use your existing ISP cable feed that comes into your home in the way you want unless you pay more money?

He can use charters wireless router----but walnutcreek chose to buy his own router--so it is up to walnutcreek to get the router going...

I am with charter too and I bought my own wireless router so I had to set the router up..The process is simple to set up a router with charter, I have installed many for people in the area...

He is getting what he is suppose to from charter, charter's work fine for him..The problem is he does not know how to set up his router..He is not following the router instructions or it would be working...

He was using a usb cable from modem before he bought router..

So his problem is probably the ethernet card has been disabled in device manager is the reason it is showing
unidentified network. Access: Limited Connectivity..

going to device manager a turning on the ethernet card should fix the problem..

Thought I would update all of you as to my struggles with getting the wireless router set up. Finally, a couple of hours ago I got it accomplished. When I started to phone the IT person to come out and fix it, I thought, "Now, darn it! I know I can do it," so did not call him. Took me a little over a week to do it, but I DID IT!!!

The problem was not me not me not following instructions - I knew I set it up exactly as instructed. The problem ended up being in the Network Manager's Local Area Connection Properties Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4).

For some reason, certainly not because I had set it that way, this was set to "Use the following IP address:" and had an IP address and Subnet mask assigned. After clearing those and setting it to "Obtain an IP address automatically," I was able to connect to the Internet via the Internet.

Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!

Great news! so simple when you know what to look for. I have posted the instructions in case another user has a similar issue.

Windows 7 and Vista

From the Start menu, select Control Panel, or Settings and then Control Panel.Double-click Network and Sharing Center.

From the list of tasks on the left, click Change adapter settings (in Windows 7), or Manage network connections (in Vista).

For a wired network connection, right-click Local Area Connection, and then select Properties.

For a wireless network connection, right-click Wireless Network Connection, and then select Properties.

From the Networking tab, click Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4), make sure it is checked, and then click Properties.

Click Obtain an IP Address Automatically, and then click OK.

Windows XP

From the Start menu, select Settings, and then Control Panel.

Double-click Network Connections.

For a wired network connection, right-click Local Area Connection, and then select Properties.

For a wireless network connection, right-click Wireless Network Connection, and then select Properties.

From the General tab, click Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), make sure it is checked, and then click Properties.

Click Obtain an IP Address Automatically, and then click OK.

http://uits.iu.edu/page/aiyy

@zep516: I certainly hope this can be of use to others. And thanks for posting on your university's page. I cannot be the only person who has ran into this issue.

It's somewhat a common problem that can get overlooked. I hope it benefits others too. I constantly search for solutions for users only to come up empty in a lot of cases. Anyone finding this thread, and they will, can have the full instructions right here.