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My modem installs ok and everything but when I go to connect I get connected but dormant. I have XP, please help?

Update your Software

Right off the bat, I would make sure that all your related software is up to date, beginning with your operating system. Here is a link to the Windows Updates web page where you can download the latest service pack releases. There are also firmware releases that are published for devices like modems. You can look to see if there are any available for your modem by visiting the manufacturer’s website.

General Troubleshooting

Typically, resolving a modem connectivity issue will involve network stability and physical components - issues that make knowing more about the modem itself, the connection and the type of Internet service you use, as well as the service provider important. Without knowing more about your modem and your ISP - Internet Service Provider - I can offer you some general advice, but you might also have a lot of luck by contacting your service provider or the modem manufacturer directly for more specific troubleshooting advice.

Dormant Mode

Some users report “dormant” error messages that are related to their Internet connections - such as users who are on pay-as-you-go plans. In this case, the ISP provider sets the modem to use a dormant mode when the connection is inactive, to save you minutes and money. If this is the case for you, you can contact the ISP to find out how to configure this differently.

Establish a Direct Connection

The first step in modem troubleshooting is always to get a direct connection to the computer. In the event that you are using a router to share the connection or act as a firewall, disconnect the router and work on the connection directly until it is stable. If you are using a wireless modem, try connecting the computer with a cable, just until you get the modem properly configured. Plug the computer directly into the port on the modem. If you are connecting with a USB cable, you can check that Windows isn’t turning your connection off:

1.  Click the Start button

2.  Choose Control Panel

3.  Choose Device Manager

4.  Check USB Controllers - make sure that the power save mode isn’t shutting off the USB ports

Power Cycle your System

Once you have made these adjustments, power cycle the system - tech code for turn everything off and on. Turn the computer off normally, then unplug all the connections… computer, modem and any related devices. Wait for about a minute then replug everything in and turn it on. Sometimes this is enough to do the trick.

Contact your Internet Service Provider

If not, you will likely have to get into things with your service provider. Sometimes, for mysterious reasons, Internet protocol - IP - addresses loose their functionality and need to be reset. You can do this over the phone with your service provider. The tech will take you through the steps to find the issue and, hopefully, resolve it.

Good luck!

I have a Dell Latitude C540/C640. Could you please let me know how I turn on the wireless on this computer?

Laptops with Built-in Wireless Adapters

Many laptops come with built-in wireless adapters, but it appears that the Dell Latitude C540/C640 may not. I downloaded the user’s manual and didn’t find any mention of a built-in wireless adapter. Look on the laptop itself for a small on/off slider or wheel labeled “wireless” or “Wi-Fi” as that’s how most built-in adapters appear. The switch or wheel would likely be mounted along the edges of the laptop.

However, it’s doubtful that your computer has an onboard WiFi adapter. Try going to Control Panel > Device Manager and then clicking on Network Adapters. Any adapters listed other than an Ethernet controller? Anything with the words “wireless” or “Wi-Fi” listed?

You can also go to Control Panel > Network Connections and see if a wireless adapter is listed. If so, try right-clicking the adapter and seeing if any options for enabling the card are listed.

PCI Wireless Adapters

While it’s doubtful that this particular laptop has wireless built in, you’re not necessarily out of luck. The user’s guide says that it has a Type IIIA mini PCI card slot with Wi-Fi wireless support. This means that you can buy a wireless PCI card and insert it into the slot on your computer. It looks like the PCI card slot is located on the left side of your computer toward the screen.

Installing PCI wireless cards is generally a simple matter of inserting the card into the slot and allowing Windows to recognize the device and load the appropriate device drivers. You will need to configure the card to connect to your home’s wireless network. Prices range anywhere from about $20 to over $100.

Sharing Cricket Modems

Here is what I am trying to do: I have a cricket modem. I have a laptop running windows 7 and a desktop running XP. I have been trying to network so I can use the cricket modem with both computers. I was able to network no problem, cricket works on both computers, but I must be doing something wrong, because I can’t “share” the connection. I know it can be done, because I have seen posts that people are doing it, any ideas?

Cricket Modems and Internet Connection Sharing

Cricket USB portable broadband modems are popular choices to increase Internet accessibility at a reasonable cost. Several opinions seem to suggest that you will need to use a wired or wireless router to share the Internet connection from your Cricket modem, but there is talk of another solution.

Windows Internet Connection Sharing - ICS

The connection sharing technique that I think you are looking for has more to do with your operating systems than with your modem model. Windows offers an Internet Connection Sharing feature that allows a Windows computer to share its connection with other computers that are linked by a local area network (LAN). Setting up a shared Internet connection is not very complicated and doesn’t require any additional software.

Establish a Local Area Network

Before you can launch the Internet connection, you first need to establish a local area network. To do so, the server computer - the one with the direct physical connection to the modem - needs to have two network connections, one for the Internet and one for the LAN. Using the Windows Network Setup Wizard, you can establish the link and launch the Internet Connection Sharing - ICS.

Enable ICS

To enable the ICS, start on the host computer, the one with the Cricket modem attached. The following instructions are written for Windows XP, so it is advantageous to use your desktop running XP as the host computer.

• 1. Click the Start button, then choose Control Panel
• 2. Click Network and Internet, then Network and Sharing Center, and then choose Manage Network Connections
• 3. You will see your connection options listed, right click the Cricket connection, then select Properties
• 4. Select the tab called Sharing, then click the box beside Allow Other Network Users to Connect through this Computer’s Internet Connection to select.

Reconnect your TCP/IP Connections

This configuration will change your computer’s IP address and assign a static IP for your LAN. For this reason you will likely need to re-connect the TCP/IP connections between your two computers. To do this:

• 1. Click Start, then Control Panel, then Network and Internet, then Network and Sharing Center, and finally Manage Network Connections
• 2. Right click on the LAN connection, and choose Properties
• 3. Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) or Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6) and then choose Properties
• 4. Choose Obtain an IP address automatically

This should do it, and your computers should now be able to share your modem connection. For more advise and details about ICS, you can visit the Microsoft website and enter ICS as the search term.

I recently purchased my first home computer. It is a wireless laptop with Windows 7. I also set up my wireless router. I only use my laptop for email, Internet, and to do bills and banking. I’ve read that for security on wireless networks, I should: 1) change the default network name, 2) Activate address filtering, 3) Disable SSID broadcast, 4) Disable DHCP and set a fixed IP address range on the router.  Is all this necessary? I did encrypt it with WPA encryption and have Norton installed. It also says I should turn “off” my router when I log off. Please advise me.

Wireless Home Network Security

The more you can do to secure your wireless home network, the better. While it may seem unlikely that someone would target your computer, you’d be surprised. In fact, I was watching a show on TV last night, System Crash (a four-part series that is currently airing on the Smithsonian Channel), that said that because financial institutions are so well secured from hackers that hackers have been known to actually follow bank employees home and hack into their home networks in hopes of finding remote access passwords to the financial institution! While a hacker may not be staking out your home specifically, if your network isn’t hidden from public view and tightly secured, it is vulnerable to anyone who stumbles across it.

Encrypting with WPA Encryption

Encrypting with WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access) encryption is definitely a good first step. This encryption technology is far superior and more secure than earlier forms of encryption such as WEP (Wired Equivalency Privacy).

Changing the Default Name and Disabling SSID Broadcasts

Even with WPA encryption, it is conceivable that a talented hacker equipped with sophisticated password cracking tools can break through your barriers. Because of this, other measures should be put into place. Changing the default name from something generic like “Linksys” to “XYZ” can deter hackers specifically searching for home networks that have default router settings. Don’t use names that can identify your network as belonging to you because if a hacker is specifically looking for your network, it would be conveniently named and easy to find. Better yet, disable SSID broadcasts, and your network name will not be broadcast to others within range in the first place.

Activate Address Filtering

Activating address filtering is also extremely useful. When activated, only computers and devices that you have specifically allowed may connect to your network. If an unauthorized computer tries to connect, it will be blocked. If your home network is small, this is an easy, effective way to block intruders. Simply look up each network device’s MAC address and enter into your router’s designated address filter area.

Disable DCHP and Setting IP Addresses Manually

Disabling DCHP is another measure that you can take. DCHP automatically assigns IP addresses to devices within range of the network - possibly unauthorized devices. By disabling DCHP and setting ranges of IP addresses manually, it is less likely for an unauthorized device to be accepted into the network.

As far as turning off the router when not using your computer goes, that is certainly an added step that you can take to keep hackers at bay when the computer is offline. However, with all of the other safeguards in place, it shouldn’t be necessary. If it gives you added peace of mind, by all means, turn it off.

What does “request timed out” mean when I try to ping my host?

What is Ping?

Ping is a utility used for testing a network data packet’s transmission from one address to another to make sure that data will arrive over the network as expected. When you ping an IP address, a packet is sent across the network to the IP address. When all goes as expected, the packet arrives at the IP address which then responds back to you with a “pong.” After the exchange is completed successfully, the ping utility calculates the time it took for the packet to make the round trip.

Request Timed Out

When a ping is made, the packet travels across the network, eventually finding the entered IP address. This isn’t necessarily a direct A to B route. The packet makes its way across the network, going through routers, hubs, firewalls, and Internet access points along the way. While a “request timed out” error could mean that your network needs to be tweaked, it could also mean that the packet encountered an issue somewhere along its route.

For example, below are some common potential reasons for a ping request timed out message:

• Excessive network congestion (either within your personal network or the Internet)
• The destination address is offline
• The destination address is not configured properly
• A device in between the originating computer and the destination computer is not configured properly
• The destination address is an invalid address
• The packet took too long to reach the destination address (it may eventually reach it, but hasn’t done so before reaching the time out point)

In short, when you receive a ping request timed out message, it means that the packet originally sent has not been received by the host. In some cases, re-pinging is all that’s necessary. For example, if the request timed out error occurred because of network congestion, the traffic jam will eventually ease and the ping will make its way to the destination and back without a problem. On the other hand, if your firewall or router is not configured properly, re-pinging will not be successful until the underlying problem is corrected. You may need to configure your router or firewall to unblock the IP address.

I connect to the Internet with Cricket Wireless Broadband on my desktop. How can I connect a second computer, my laptop, to maximize my Internet experience?

Cricket Wireless

Cricket Wireless Broadband is a little bit different than some of the other wireless broadband services that I’ve encountered. Rather than having a broadband modem that you connect to your home’s network or to the computer itself, Cricket Wireless uses a small USB device that installs directly to your computer or laptop. The tag line for Cricket says “Plug in. Click. Connect.” After viewing the Cricket Wireless demo, it looks like it really is that simple: plug in, click a few installation buttons, and connect wirelessly to the Internet.

However, this doesn’t lend itself to Internet connection sharing as well as some of the more traditional broadband services such as cable modems. In a cable modem situation, you’d connect the modem to a wired or wireless router and then you could connect multiple computers to the router, all of which can then access the Internet via the shared modem.

Options for Sharing Cricket Wireless

It looks as though you must activate your computer for use with the Cricket device which makes sense. What’s not clear is whether the Cricket device can be used on several computers. For example, I have a “Rhapsody to Go” MP3 player that I can use with three different computers. Each computer must be registered on my account. Once registered, I can connect the device to any of the three computers and download unlimited music to the device. I imagine that a similar feature is offered with the Cricket Wireless modem.

Here’s what I would try. Since your PC is already established, try removing the Cricket modem and installing it on your laptop. When prompted to activate the laptop, does a message appear? What does it say? It might say something like, “You must first deactivate your desktop computer” which would mean that the modem only allows one computer on the account. On the other hand, if the message says something like, “Activating second computer, one license remaining” then you could go ahead with the installation and then swap out the modem depending on which computer you want to use at any given time. Since Cricket advertises that you can take your Cricket wherever you go, I would assume that you’d be able to install it on both devices. In fact, one of the site’s FAQs says that “you can take your Internet with you from your home desktop to your laptop at the park.”

Hopefully, swapping the modem back and forth will work for you. If you want both the desktop and the laptop to connect at the same time, you may be able to share the modem over your home network or use a USB hub.