More help/info needed please!

[Jackie]

First of all, bit thanks to everyone who answered my post... Wont pretend I understood it all, but I think I am getting there!

A few more Q's tho...

NO, my laptop does not have a card slot, it does have an ethenet thingy tho? (is on dial up at mo) can i buy a card thingy that slots in there to be able to get broadband?


**Oh and will i need a usb port on the laptop for connecting? cos ours hasnt got one.
No you will not need a USB port on the laptop. Any laptop that can go on line will have PCMCIAA slots, usually on the left side where you can insert a credit card sizes card for a wired or wireless connection.** is this what i mean? where we now plug dial up into, do we replace it with another card thingy? (ours does come out)

1) Why do you want to do wireless? because my sons bedroom (desktop) is not directly above and wiring could be a pain, floorboards up etc.


3) Do each of your computers have an ethernet port? ours and other desktop is, dont know about laptop.

4) What OS is on each computer and how much RAM? ok... thicko alert... whats OS? we have 1024 ram, 2nd desktop has 256mb, and no idea how much laptop has... how much do i need?

Some things you need to know:


3) Avoid DSL if the service is PPPoE. Please consult with your DSL provider. Doh, whats DSL and whats PPPoE, will ask if we are *PPPoE, but dont wanna sound too thick on the phone!

Seems to me that maybe wired up would be better, but as i have said, we dont really wanna run wires thru. But if we do, then can we still run all the PCs or at least the two desktops, thru the same internet phone line/account?

One last thing... (i think!)

when it comes to *networking* the pcs... hows this done? do we need a wire or anything? And does it meal ALL our files are shared from then on, or just internetty stuff? Dont really want my 12 year old looking thru my 19year olds stuff!

Thanks for your help, look forward to hearing from you soon!
Jackie

[PrntRhd]

Hi,
It is better to post replies on the same issues in the original thread: http://www.pcguide.com/vb/showthread.php?t=32488, but anyway:
The OS means Operating System (Windows XP/2000/ME/98). We need to know what they are on each PC to determine what you will need if you want to share files and let's us know what sharing choices are available since each OS is different.
You can share one internet connection with several PCs with a device called a Router (this can also include wireless services), turning that group of PCs into a Local Area Network (LAN). You can enable/restrict sharing of files for users sharing the LAN depending again on the operating systems involved.
The laptop question was aimed at determining if it was a recent type with built-in wireless or if wireless has to be added to it. Can you post the brand/model of the laptop so we can look up the specs?

[Jackie]

Sorry about that.

Thanks for the help...

Laptop is:

Compaq - Armada 4220T

Jackie

[PrntRhd]

Compaq Armada 4220T (UK), this could be a problem going wireless, it is a Pentium I 266MHz MMX with Windows 95? WIN95 is no longer supported by Microsoft and it predates wireless cards out today so drivers would be a big problem. Others here would know if it can be networked on Ethernet at all.
:(

[Jackie]

the card thingy (that the dial up wire goes into, it does say ethernet card or something like that? will have to get my hubby to take it out again and i can tell you what it says.

We do have windows 98 on it tho.

[PrntRhd]

There are wireless cards that will fit into the same Slot where that PCMCIA ethernet card goes, allowing the computer to connect without wires if there is a matching Wireless Access Point (like a wireless router) available. Be aware wireless is slower and generally not as secure as wired connections.
Hopefully the OS is 98SE.
What OS are on the other PCs?

[LadyGrey]

Hi Jackie,
I was where you are right now about 3 years ago. Don't give up!!!! What the guru's here need to help you are your exact model numbers and names and anything you can get out of what ever manuals you have on this system. These people are so smart if you can just give them the name of your computer and the model number I bet they can come up with something!! It's gonna take alot of questions and answers but I can tell you from experience that they will stick with you as long as you stick with them!
Just get a calm on and really look at what you have, look at the under side of your notebook and write down what you see. Post back.
Take care,
LG ;)