laptop has stopped downloading

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bvalleygirl

28 posts

Geek

#18162 30-Dec-2007 14:28

Our laptop has just stopped downloading. It is networked, but the other two computers are receiving ok. One of our grandchildren used it and since then nothing. There is no problem with the internet connection it is just receiving the mail on the computer.
Any suggestions. It is a Compaq.

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#102360 31-Dec-2007 09:05

Have you tried some Anti-spyware programs? I have no specific recommendations (search, or someone else might reply) but "AdAware" might be a reasonable start.

What is your Operating system? Windows XP? Windows Me? 98? Vista?

bvalleygirl

28 posts

Geek

#102411 31-Dec-2007 17:00

Thanks for your reply. We are on XP. We use AVG and it has worked fine until this happened.
Regards,

ahmad

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#102434 31-Dec-2007 20:34

Hi, how are you connected to the internet?

Dialup
Cable
Broadband using a wired modem connection
Broadband using a modem with wireless connection to your computer
Wireless (like Woosh)

Have you tried running some anti-spyware programs like Adaware: http://www.lavasoftusa.com/products/ad_aware_free.php

AVG is a virus scanner - you need to try a spyware scanner like Adaware.

bvalleygirl

28 posts

Geek

#102809 3-Jan-2008 22:58

Thanks for your reply. Our laptop is on Broadband using a modem with wireless connection to your computer .
The problem is that we cant get onto the internet to even run adaware.

thanks.

ahmad

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#102824 4-Jan-2008 01:45

So I take it your other computers are ok for you to access Geekzone?

Can you plug your laptop into the modem/router using one of the ethernet/network cables from one of your other computers? I'm presuming that each of your other 2 computers connects to the modem with a cable?

If you can plug your laptop in and try that, it will help determine if something is wrong with the laptop or perhaps with the wireless networking.

Can you let us know your results?

Hopefully others can chip in because I'm certainly not an expert :)

Also, do you have a USB flash drive or some other way (like burning a CD) so that you can download Adaware to another computer and then transfer it to your laptop for installation?

bvalleygirl

28 posts

Geek

#102844 4-Jan-2008 09:29

Thank you so much for your time and suggestions. I am off to yoga, but will do all your suggestions when I get back.

Regards

ahmad

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#102944 4-Jan-2008 18:13

bvalleygirl: Thank you so much for your time and suggestions. I am off to yoga, but will do all your suggestions when I get back.

You have that completely the wrong way around. You should do Yoga AFTER you work with computers :p

Sharesies

Trade NZ and US shares and funds with Sharesies (affiliate link).

bvalleygirl

28 posts

Geek

#102988 5-Jan-2008 01:37

You are so right about that, although I think the yoga is very very very very hard!!! Anyway, we have taken the laptop off wifi and have it on my connection on the ethernet. it is wiorking well, so it is obviously the wi fi which is faulty. What do I do now?

ahmad

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#103068 5-Jan-2008 18:38

Who actually set up your Wifi? I know it's a cop-out but any chance that person could look at it? That way, even if they couldn't fix it, "they would know what questions to ask".

I haven't tried helping someone online with Wifi purely because I'm not that knowledgeable and there are so many different things to consider.

Step 1 though: What does Windows tell you? There should be an icon in the "System Tray" area (that's immediately to the left of the clock on the bottom right of the screen). Looks like this:

DOUBLE CLICK on it.

That will bring up a windows similar to this:

Can you tell us if the computer can detect any wireless networks?

P.S. Is the wireless on your computer ON? If your grandchild used it, but didn't touch the modem/router, and assuming they weren't "clever" enough to access your modem/router settings and change those, then perhaps your Wireless has just been switched off?

Some laptops have a physical switch, slide or button to turn wireless on and off - have you got one? What is your Compaq laptop model number? (Turn the laptop upside down to look for that information).

Sorry about the number of questions but there are so many possibilities. Please look carefully and answer each to help us assist you faster.

bvalleygirl

28 posts

Geek

#103225 6-Jan-2008 23:46

Your suggestions and effort have been wonderful, thank you.

The Wi-Fi icon shows that the laptop is ‘connected’ with excellent signal strength.

The wi-fi is a Linksys Wireless –G Access Point with SES. It is attached to Dynalink RTA1335.

The laptop is a Compaq Presario V2000. Couldnt find any buttons off and the little blue wifi one is on.

The guy who set it up has left our town and I cant find him. I wonder if I should ring the Linksys or Dynalink people.

Regards,

itxtme

2102 posts

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#103273 7-Jan-2008 10:03

Alright lets get to the bottom of this!

Firstly from your 1st post it appears you can still get your emails on this computer (via outlook or whatever program you use) is this correct?

Now this being true it appears the grandchild has mucked around with the browser setting inadvertintly. What browser do you use to visit web pages?? Is it internet explorer?

If it is then these instructions will tell you how to check your browser is set up correctly...

Open up internet explorer

Click Tools -> Internet Options

Next go to the "connections" tab

Check there are no dialup connections present in the box there. If there are remove them or disable them by choosing the option "never dial my default connection"

Next click the "lan settings" button on the same "connections" tab. Check that there is no proxy server set. In other words make sure the "Use a proxy server for your LAN...." is UNCHECKED

Also CHECK the "Automatically Detect Settings"
and ensure the "Use automatic configuration scrript" is UNCHECKED

Hit ok, and OK to close those tabs and then close the browser. Restart it and try connecting to a website.

bvalleygirl

28 posts

Geek

#103467 7-Jan-2008 22:24

First our setup: I have the main computer which is networked through a Dynalink router. The second computer is connected thru this router and it's working.

The Linksys Wireless-G Access Point is also connected to the router.

I can ping the router. I cannot ping the Linksys Wireless-G Access Point.

On the laptop, which is the wireless connection, the wireless icon says it is connected, and the signal is excellent. However I cannot use it to communicate AT ALL. No Outlook nor IE. How dumb is that?

freitasm

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#103496 8-Jan-2008 08:33

So far it seems people have been looking at the laptop side. HAve anyone tried to reset the router to factory defaults and start from the scracth?

Was the wireless router protected before? If not could it be that a prankster changed its configurations and locked you out?

Find how to reset the router and start from there...

itxtme

2102 posts

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#103510 8-Jan-2008 09:30

I also thought that they had been locked out except they state "There is no problem with the internet connection it is just receiving the mail on the computer"

If what they are trying to say is that emails work fine but they cant browse im thinking browser problem, either grandchilds played with those settings or gone to a site thats hijacked the browser..

ahmad

1937 posts

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#103579 8-Jan-2008 14:23

Presumably the internet connection is fine given that plugging the same laptop via ethernet allows it to work as before?

Restarting the WAP and other equipment is a good idea though. I don't know why but restarting solves so many problems.

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