We bought a new HP which has Windows 7. That's up & running FINE and connected with the internet, hardwired, through the router. We have a Toshiba netbook that we have a Belkin wireless router (N+) that connects to the internet and we can access the printers and external hard drive without issue. We were using a Dell that has Windows 98 (2nd edition) on it and up until we pulled that one down, it worked fine hooking directly into the modem (Westell). We have Norton 360. We have DSL.

The HP is in our living room as is the modem and the router. I can use the wireless Toshiba anywhere in our house without issue. Problem, we are trying to hook up the Dell in the spare bedroom and wanted to connect to the internet, external hard drive, etc.

We ran the wiring to the spare bedroom for the jack and that works as we took the wireless netbook, unplugged the router completely and hard wired up the netbook in the spare bedroom and could access the internet. I am assuming the "wired" jack holes in the router are working okay because I can plug our HP into any of those and it's connecting fine. I don't know how to "TURN off" the wi-fi (built in) on the netbook to check if the router is working from the living room to the spare bedroom (that runs by hard wire.


Upon hooking up the Dell in the spare bedroom and plugging everything in - the computer boots up fine but cannot access the internet. Of course the Dell is out of warranty and Dell wants to charge just to talk to us with no guarantee they can correct anything. I get the internet error page and when I run the diagnostic it mentions something about not having a valid IP address. ATT (our provider) says it isn't their issue but our computer's problem. Any other suggestions please Thx. Rosemarie

If you are capable, you can go to win98 network settings and make sure TCP/IP protocol is set to Auto IP and Auto DNS and that DHCP is enabled. also make sure the Alt CONFIGURATION tab is disabled and all info is deleted. If you change anything you will need to apply/ OK to save it and reboot before new settings will take affect.

please note that win98 is not very safe/secure on the net and it would be best to install XP if you can.Ok .. now you are going to think I'm a complete idiot. First .. the old Dell does have Windows XP, not Windows 98 (this is what happens when you hang on to your old computers .. we destroyed the Windows 98 computer, got rid of it). The other stuff still applies. I'm so sorry .. I re-read again what you wrote, then realized my initial information was completely wrong !!! Please let me know if I should try the same thing you initially said. Thanks.yes the same info applies to xpWanted to let you know .. I got my problem solved...Not sure why my IP address disappeared but after spending a couple hours with Belkin and another few hours with ATT .. I finally got through to someone who understood that my IP address was gone .. and got me a new one BUT the address wouldn't stay in the computer .. Every time we tried to go back to the ipconfig /all the #s were gone. I WENT to Best Buy and bought a new network interface card .. and my problems were all resolved. The computer found the internet and works fine surfing the web.

BUT .. I now need to figure out how to make the Windows 98 computer SHARE so we can have that stuff save to the external hard drive, use the printers (which are already sharing with our other computers) .. I think I'm just spending so much time I'm losing my thoughts ... Can you help please. Thanks !!Quote

I now need to figure out how to make the Windows 98 computer SHARE