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HP 6735s wireless Internet only works at home. If I go somewhere else it will say computer connected but ‘page cannot be displayed’! It’s very annoying and would appreciate some help.

Wireless Internet Access

Wireless Internet access allows you to browse the Web, send emails, and use the Internet without having to bother with yards and yards of cables or phone cords. Instead, you access the Internet via radio waves. Personally, I love it because it makes cleaning easier. Seriously though, it’s important to understand that wireless Internet access does not give anyone carte blanche to Internet across the world.

Using Wireless Internet Access

While you might have a wireless LAN card, you still need other facets in order to access the Internet outside of your home depending on the location. Even though I also have Wireless Internet Access on my laptop, I need to obtain the password if permitted from certain locations where I travel.

For example, some of the hotels that I stay in feature wireless Internet access, but I need to go to the front desk in order to get the password so I can log on. Even when given access, you sometimes have to visit a specific URL in order for the browser to display properly. This URL is usually given to you at the time you receive your password.

When I visit my daughter at RIT, I cannot access the Internet even though wireless Internet is available and I have a wireless card. This is because I cannot get a password since I do not attend school there. This is known as password protected Internet and most wireless LANs have it. So you see, it rather depends on where you are trying to access the Internet. However, if you are trying to access wireless Internet at a free Wi-Fi hot spot such as at your local coffee house, that is a different story.  

Connecting to Wireless Internet Access

My laptop prompts me when I am within range of wireless Internet. You should also receive a small prompt in the lower right-hand corner of the screen if you’ve set up your laptop to notify you of available wireless networks.

If the service is free and open to the public, you still need to select and connect to it in order to gain access to it. It isn’t like listening to the radio and if you are in ear range, you can hear it. You still need to take the action here that will allow you to use the wireless Internet.

Here’s the simple and easy way to connect to Wireless Internet Service outside the home:

1)      Navigate to Start in the lower left-hand side of the screen.

2)      Select “Connect to” on the right-hand side of the pop up menu.

3)      Select the option you want from among the choices that you are given.

Firewall Profiles

In addition to connecting and entering a valid password (if required), your computer’s firewall profile should be changed. After all, you don’t want the guy sitting next to you to be able to connect to your computer and look around.

IP Protocols

Finally, if your computer still cannot connect, it is possible that you need to adjust the IP protocols of your network adapter. For instance, if your home ISP requires a specific DNS setting, this setting could be interfering with public networks. Go into Control Panel > Manage Wireless Networks and right-click your wireless adapter. Choose Properties. Click on Internet Protocol Version 4 > Properties and write down your DNS server addresses for future use. Now, select “Obtain DNS server addresses automatically.” Do the same for Internet Protocol Version 6. When you return home, you will need to change your settings back.

If I have an Acer pink mini laptop, is it wireless and can it connect to the Internet router downstairs and the wireless printer?

Connecting an Acer Laptop to Wireless Devices

You don’t mention the model of your pink Acer, but I think it is fairly safe to assume that it is quite new, probably an Aspire, and almost certainly equipped with wireless capability. As long as you are using a wireless router for the other computer, or computers, in your house you should be able to connect your laptop to the same network. A wireless router is one that provides Internet access without requiring cables. Check the router and make sure that it is appropriate for a wireless network.

Connect to a Wireless Network

Establishing a wireless network or connecting your computer to an existing network should be fairly straightforward. There may or may not be a small switch or tab on the side of your laptop, if so, make sure that it is set to on or enabled. You might want to consult your user manual to be sure.

Connecting to a Wireless Network with Windows Vista

Assuming also that you are running Windows on your Acer, here are some steps to find and connect with the existing wireless network in your house with Vista.

1. Click Start, then Control Panel
2. Choose Network and Internet
3. Under Network and Sharing Center, choose Connect to a Network
4. Choose Show All, then Refresh
5. Your network should show up, select it and click Connect
6. Check the option to Start this Connection Automatically
7. You may need to enter a password. Check with the person who set up the original network.

Adding a Network to your Laptop

If no networks show up, here’s how you can add them:

1. In the Connect to a Network window, choose Set Up a Connection or Network
2. Choose Manually Connect to a Wireless Network
3. Click Next
4. Enter the name of the network… sometimes the network is named after the router, like Linksys, ask the person who set up the router network, or check on the other computer to see the name of the network its connected to
5. Enter the information for the network, you might also need to check for this on the other computer on the network
6. Check Start this Connection Automatically
7. Click Next, then Connect To and you should be online (again, you may need to enter a password to connect)

Connecting to a Wireless Printer

For the wireless printer, you will need to load the software that came on a CD with the printer onto your laptop and initiate the sequence to configure them. The wireless printer manual should walk you through the process. If you would like us to detail the steps, let us know the make and model of the printer as well as more details about your computer such as the operating system. Good luck!

I just got a Dell Optiplex gx270 and I cannot get my wireless g to get on the Internet. Am I missing something?

Wireless Network Cards

Well, unless you have added a wireless network card or adapter to your Dell Optiplex, you might be missing wireless capability. The Dell Optiplex, like most PCs, isn’t necessarily equipped with a wireless card from the factory but you can add one, or you can run a wire from your PC to your modem or router. If you decide to add one, make sure that you take your computer’s specifications with you to the store and check that the computer can support the card.

Check your System with Device Manager

If you aren’t sure whether or not there is a wireless adapter built into your system, you can check using Device Manager. Click Start, then Control Panel, then System and then Device Manager. Here you can scroll and look for a wireless card listing. If there isn’t one, then you will need to add it before you can get online wirelessly. If there is one, you can check for a yellow ! mark beside the listing, which would indicate a problem with the card or the connectivity.

Update your Drivers from Dell

Once you have a wireless adapter installed, you will most likely need to update your drivers. Dell has several driver releases for the Optiplex gx 270 and you can find them here. The drivers should help your computer’s operating system communicate with newer hardware, such as the wireless card and router. Here is the link to the Dell Optiplex gx 270 Drivers and Downloads page. Use the drop down menus to get the right drivers for your operating system.

Check with your Internet Service Provider

Once you download and install the new drivers, you should be able to get online, at least in theory. If you are still having problems configuring a wireless router or modem with your computer, you can contact your Internet service provider. Sometimes you need to adjust your IP address to configure your system with the provider.

I hope these suggestions help. If not, you can write again with some information about what you have tried, what works and what doesn’t, and we can take it from there. PS - Don’t forget to make sure that the wireless adapter is switched on. For example, many laptops have an on/off switch for the wireless adapter. Good luck!

Our home computer is Windows XP, with Telstra(bigpond) ADSL 2 for the Internet connection. Our son has an Asus Eee PC 701SD. We need to know if he can use his laptop for the Internet without any leads, ariels etc., or do we need something else to be able to do this? Telstra told us it’s not possible and would cost us $150 for them to send someone around.

Wireless Networking

It sounds like you are talking about setting up a wireless network for your house. It’s actually pretty simple to set up and is not as daunting as it sounds. A network will simply allow more than one computer to share an Internet connection, a printer and even share files if you wish to set it up that way.

ADSL stands for Asymetric Digital Subscriber Line (don’t worry, there’s no test later) and it is data technology that transmits information over copper telephone lines so that it is faster than a dial-up connection. In order to use this connection wirelessly with more than one computer, you will need a wireless router. If you want to use a computer over a wireless network, your computer will need a wireless adapter - the laptop probably already has one, but you can put one on a desktop PC if you want to put it in another room. Most of them you simply plug into a USB port on the unit.

Wireless Internet Set Up

Your Internet connection runs into your home over a telephone line. It will then run into a modem (which you probably already have hooked up). The modem converts the computer’s digital signals into a frequency that can travel over phone or cable lines. You will then plug the wireless router into the modem. The wireless router will send signals to the laptop and desktop computers (most home networks have a maximum of four computers that can be used with it), a lot like the signal for a cordless phone.

I’ve edited your question, but you say that you don’t know anything about the Internet and computers. While this isn’t a very difficult thing to do, you may want to pay a professional to come and set it up for you. Or, if your son is old enough and has the interest, he can read up on the Internet about the exact steps he will need to take and the equipment he will need and tackle the job himself. Don’t tell him how much the company would charge to set it up, but you might want to give him a tip for his efforts. We can also answer specific questions about the set up as long as we have all of the information at hand.

I’m having infuriating “access denied” problems for non-public folders on my two notebooks from my desktop. I’ve configured for “everybody full access” on all three PCs, and don’t have ANY problems accessing data on my desktop from either of the two notebooks. One notebook is running Vista Business, the other two computers use XP SP3. Wireless router directly linked to desktop PC. Any clues?

It sounds as if the desktop PC is properly shared on the network while the two laptops are not though it could also be a firewall issue. Let me get this straight: the laptops can view data stored on the desktop, but the desktop cannot view data stored on the laptops, correct?. Also, you say the folders are “non-public” so we’ll need to consider that as well.

Double-Check Vista Network Configuration

First, let’s look at the setup of your Vista laptop. Go to the Start button, choose Network and then click on the Network and Sharing Center. Make sure that Network Discovery and File Sharing are both turned on. In addition, go into the Windows Firewall and click the Exceptions tab. Make sure that File and Printer Sharing is enabled.

Double-Check Your Firewall Settings

If you are using a third party firewall, it’s possible that the LAN connections are being restricted. For example, the laptop may be able to view the desktop if the desktop is not blocking it. However, the laptop’s firewall may be blocking the desktop from accessing the laptop. Check the documentation for the various firewalls installed on your computers.

Sharing Folders

Windows Vista comes with some preconfigured Public folders where you can drag and drop files that you wish to share across the network. Since the non-public folders are not sharing, but the public ones are, it sounds as if you can access the laptops okay which rules out a firewall blocking or router error. So, let’s focus on the folders that you want to share.

To share a folder, you right-click it and choose Share and enter a share name. You’ve likely already done so and you have also worked with the permissions. However, there are two sets of permissions to consider: the share permissions and the security permissions. Right-click the folder that you are having trouble accessing from the other computers and choose Properties. Click the Sharing tab followed by Advanced Sharing. Click Permissions. Make sure that Everyone is highlighted and that all checkmarks are checked (Full Control, Change, and Read). Click OK until you get back to the dialog box.

Now, click the Security tab and make sure that the permissions there are not restricting access. If so, edit these restrictions to allow full access for Everyone.

Same User Account Names

Many solutions I’ve seen addressing problems like this advise setting up duplicate user names on all machines and then setting the folder’s ownership to that name. Theoretically, if you’re signed in as the administrator, you shouldn’t need to do this, but if the other tips don’t work, it’s worth a try.

These are a few thoughts that might help with this trick access denied error.