Get my Laptop Online

caveman · 09-01-2005, 10:36

After taking advice on how to get PC and Laptop to work on BB with router etc. I thought I would first check that the laptop would work on my home BB comnnection. What more do I need to do than just set the LAC / TCPIP properties to "obtain IP address automatically". The laptop is set up with IP addresses etc. for use on network at work. I thought it was as simple as just configuring it the same as my PC / TCPIP obviously theres more. Please tell me what?

Kliro · 09-01-2005, 10:39

I think that only works if you have a cable modem??
Why dont you try running the NTL internet setup disk?
I dont think you need your PID number or whatever because you've already set the net up once.

Paul K · 09-01-2005, 10:42

Do not run the NTL setup disk as it may stop the laptop working on the works network it is already configured for.
Is it a Windows XP Laptop and what have you done so far to get it to work on the wireless connection? If I remember you were talking about sharing the internet connection through your PC?

09-01-2005, 11:08

If you are tryning to get the laptop working in the first instance by just plugging directly into the cable modem. You have to power the modem off and on again (and leave it off for a while - say 30 seconds), so that it picks up the new MAC address. You'll have to do the same again whenever you plug in a different device (desktop or router). If you have a set-top box (STB) rather than a modem, you may also have to go through the registration process for each device, but I don't think that is necessary with a stand-alone cable modem (SACM). It also might be best if you keep all this in one thread, so that new posters can get the whole picture.

caveman · 09-01-2005, 11:13

Nice to talk to you again Paul. The latest is I'm going to buy a Netgear RP614 wired router as I've found an easy way to run cables to his room.
From other advice that I had recieved I was going to use the "alternate configuration" facility on the TCPIP properties of his laptop. As I said before the laptop is presently set up with IP configuration for his workplace and we he would use it set to auto for home BB. BTW the OS of the laptop is XP Pro.
Seeing as my BB worked straight away after reinstall with LAC set to auto, I thought it was a simple matter of similarly setting the laptop to "automatically
obtain an IP address" but that isn'e so as it wont connect.
Would everything be different if I had already installed the router and tried to get the laptop to work on auto settings.

Paul K · 09-01-2005, 11:19

Are you currently trying to connect the laptop directly to your SACM for the BB feed then? If so have you tried this:
power the modem and PC down,
Connect laptop to SACM,
power up modem,
power up Laptop
try to open any webpage in browser.
Also what settings have you got in use for Internet Explorer on the tools, internet options, connections tab? Especially in the LAN settings part.

caveman · 09-01-2005, 11:58

If I reboot the STB for configuring it to the laptop, will I have to go through same procedure when I reconnect ethernet to the PC.
So that I don't get any problems with my connection would it be safer for me to wait until I get the router and then wouldn,t need to do any of this would I?

09-01-2005, 12:15

As I understand it, if you have a stand-alone modem, you have to reboot each time you connect a different device. If you have an STB, you also have to (or at least you used to have to) register each device (which means you need your original details from the Welcome letter). You only have to register each device once, and, with an STB, I'n not sure whether you need to reboot each time you swap over. With a router, you can avoid all this by 'cloning' the MAC address of your desktop (which is already registered) into the router, so the STB doesn't know the difference. (Sounds a bit technical, but 'cloning' the MAC address was an easy menu option on my router, and probably will be on yours. In actual fact, you can probably clone the desktop's MAC address on the laptop, but that is a) getting a bit deep, b) MAY cause problems back at work and c) WILL cause problems when you have both PCs connected to the router.

The other thing to check, as Paul has already suggested, is that the laptop is not set to use a proxy server at work (IE tools,options,connections, LAN setting). If it is, the easiest solution is to set up a new account on the laptop for BB access, as the IE settings are account-specific.

Paul K · 09-01-2005, 14:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by caveman

If I reboot the STB for configuring it to the laptop, will I have to go through same procedure when I reconnect ethernet to the PC.
So that I don't get any problems with my connection would it be safer for me to wait until I get the router and then wouldn,t need to do any of this would I?

To be certain that the change in attached equipment has been registered the safest way is to reboot the STB when connecting a different PC, once the router is in place you won't have to worry about rebooting the STB when you disconnect the laptop.
I would power down the equipment, connect up, power up the STB, wait for the lights to stop flashing and then power up the laptop and then go through the registration process if it is asked for. You may need to force the issue with it by pointing the browser to a certain page (can't remember the registration address off the top of my head) but after that a quick reboot is all that might be necessary.
With the router in place you can connect/ disconnect whatever PCs or laptops you like as the STB will see the MAC address of the router at all times so the STB will not even know other equipment is attached to it

caveman · 09-01-2005, 17:31

Quote:

The other thing to check, as Paul has already suggested, is that the laptop is not set to use a proxy server at work (IE tools,options,connections, LAN setting). If it is, the easiest solution is to set up a new account on the laptop for BB access, as the IE settings are account-specific.

Unfortunately I've just checked his laptop and it is set to use a proxy server. To set up a new account do you use a wizrd and create another LAC icon, which you default for home use?

09-01-2005, 17:47

LAC? Not sure what this is. I would go to Control Panel, Administrative Tools (in 'classic view' - not sure what the equivalent is in 'XP' view), then 'Computer Management', 'Local Users and Groups', right-click on 'Users' and select 'New User'. Enter the details. Having created a new user, open 'Users', and you will see the new user in the right-hand pane. Double-click the new user, select 'member of', and add 'Administrators'.
Log off then log on as the new user. Open IE - you'll probably get the 'define connection' wizard. Select 'connect via LAN' and 'N' to 'create e-mail account now'. You should now be able to connect OK.
(There is a 'simpler' User Accounts' facility in Control Panel, but I'm not sure that will work if the laptop is set to be a domain member, as it probably is if used at work).

caveman · 09-01-2005, 17:59

I am not really understanding this. I thought you previously meant to set up another Local Area Connection icon on his laptop because his current config. called for "use proxy server" and automatic set up on router would not happen at home. Therefor he would need another config so that he could switch to it for "automatically obtain IP address". I cannot see why he would need to set up another user account on his laptop as he is the only user.
Bear with me if I'm slow

09-01-2005, 18:46

OK.

I've confused you - sorry. There are two things to set up. The first is the 'Local Area Connection', which I think you have already set up for 'auto' with the works settings as 'alternative configuration'. This is set up for the machine, whoever is logged on. The other thing to set up is the Internet Explorer options (in particular, whether to use a proxy server), which are set up for each user, so can be different for each user.

To use the laptop at home on BB, you need to tell IE not to use a proxy server. There are two ways you/he can do this.

Option 1) Go into IE, Tools, Internet Options, Connection, LAN settings, and untick 'Use Proxy Server' (make a note of the proxy server settings, including any under 'advanced' first, just in case, but I THINK these get rememembered - greyed out - so they are reactivated when you tick the 'proxy server' box again). You/he will need to remember to tick the box when using at work, and untick when using at home.

Option 2) (the one I was suggesting in the earlier post) Set up two users on the PC, one with the 'proxy server' IE option for use at work, the other without the 'proxy server' IE option for use at home.

Hope this is clearer, but please post back if not.

caveman · 09-01-2005, 20:03

Quote:

Option 2) (the one I was suggesting in the earlier post) Set up two users on the PC, one with the 'proxy server' IE option for use at work, the other without the 'proxy server' IE option for use at home.

I assume you mean laptop and not PC. I think he had better stick to option 1 for the simple reason that the laptop is set up by his IT dept. with them having the admin. rights. I don't think they like anyone interfering with settings. From what you say that option although a pain, would not breach any of their rules, as they would be none the wiser.
Assuming it works the Local Area Connection - TCPIP settings would respond to whatever network he was on whether home or work and the only manual input would be the proxy settings in IE. Is that correct?

09-01-2005, 21:11

That's correct - but if ONLY the IT dept have admin rights, are you able to change the TCP IP settings to auto (with alternate for work)? I.e. do you/your son also have admin rights?

(and yes - I did mean lap-top -sorry).