Broadband questions - Novice needs help

[thegiddygambler]

Evening, I am currently on a dial up with Tiscali and it is all paid through my BT phonebill. Had this arrangement since 2000.

My sister has just got an orange mobile contract and apparently she gets some sort of free broadband deal so she's bought a laptop.

She is asking me to switch to broadband but i'm reluctant to as I'm happy with the amt I'm paying - only £10 a month.

Also she is on about Orange Broadband Max so both our computers can be wireless. Having read a little it seems I'll need an adaptor to do this?
How much are they? Is my laptop "wireless enabled" Its a EISYSTEM 4405 about 3 years old and runs on Windows XP.

How do I cancel Tiscali? Just through BT or do I have to contact tiscali. May seem odd but ive just been paying the bill for 6 years and have never had any real dealings with Tiscali.

How quickly can it be sorted? Is it complicated to get set up wirelessy? I'm terrible with computers and worried I wont know what to do.

My sister has a Orange CD rom, presumably I'll need this to get set up too. And theyve sent her a livebox?

Sorry that this is a bit of an epic but technology scares me to be honest! And I'm only 27!

Any help greatly appreciated. thanks

[GotaFancy?]

When you've experienced broadband, you'll wonder why it took so long

You will need to cancel your contract with Tiscalli by the sounds of it.

Afraid I can't give you any specific advice on the systems you talk about, but I'm sure someone here can help

[thegiddygambler]

In my control panel Ive got an icon that says "wireless network set up wizard" does that mean i am wireless enabled?

[mowgli77]

I've got Orange broadband wireless. They send you a livebox that you plug into your phone line and an adaptor that plugs into your usb port on your pc. Also you need to install the broadband disc on your computer. You could have broadband set up through your desktop and someone else in another room on a laptop, both using same broadband connection. Should be the same for 2 laptops. You could also get your neighbours being cheeky bast@rds and using your connection, Orange warn about this when you sign up.
Not sure if you would need 2 usb receivers or not, best to check with orange.

[thegiddygambler]

Originally Posted by mowgli77

I've got Orange broadband wireless. They send you a livebox that you plug into your phone line and an adaptor that plugs into your usb port on your pc. Also you need to install the broadband disc on your computer. You could have broadband set up through your desktop and someone else in another room on a laptop, both using same broadband connection. Should be the same for 2 laptops. You could also get your neighbours being cheeky bast@rds and using your connection, Orange warn about this when you sign up.
Not sure if you would need 2 usb receivers or not, best to check with orange.

thank you. My sister is getting it put on tomorrow. So hers will be fine as she will have the adaptor. I think my computer has a built in wireless capability. Can anybody explain in lay mans terms how I will get my computer to run off the broadband thanks. Is it just a matter of playing around in the control panel???

[robert99]

Originally Posted by thegiddygambler

thank you. My sister is getting it put on tomorrow. So hers will be fine as she will have the adaptor. I think my computer has a built in wireless capability. Can anybody explain in lay mans terms how I will get my computer to run off the broadband thanks. Is it just a matter of playing around in the control panel???

tg,

EI are a relatively obscure Spanish firm that supplied Dixons.
Three years ago was the time that wireless networking hardware on the motherboard was being introduced to mass market machines. The manual has the specifications. You do have a fast LAN (local area network) port at the back for a network cable to connect to the router which is promising. Else you will need either a USB card or a PCI card (better and frees a USB port) that also slots in - cost around £20.
Your installation software will lead you through the set up process and you do not need to touch anything supplied by XP.

If you are wireless enabled you do not need to do anything except right clicking on the network icon that will be in the taskbar and open connections and connect to your sister's signal.

[thegiddygambler]

Originally Posted by robert99

tg,

EI are a relatively obscure Spanish firm that supplied Dixons.
Three years ago was the time that wireless networking hardware on the motherboard was being introduced to mass market machines. The manual has the specifications. You do have a fast LAN (local area network) port at the back for a network cable to connect to the router which is promising. Else you will need either a USB card or a PCI card (better and frees a USB port) that also slots in - cost around £20.
Your installation software will lead you through the set up process and you do not need to touch anything supplied by XP.

If you are wireless enabled you do not need to do anything except right clicking on the network icon that will be in the taskbar and open connections and connect to your sister's signal.

Thank you, i'm working on the assumption that I'm not wireless enabled.

[thegiddygambler]

after doing a bit of research on the internet ive found a little device going by the name of "netgear" do i just plug this little thing into the back of my laptop and it will all work?

[arsenalpunter]

http://www.pcworld.co.uk/martprd/product/seo/852034

I work at PC World by the way and this product has been quite popular.

[robert99]

Originally Posted by thegiddygambler

after doing a bit of research on the internet ive found a little device going by the name of "netgear" do i just plug this little thing into the back of my laptop and it will all work?

It can be easier to get the wireless adapter the same make as the router your sister has got. You can get a USB type but this takes up a port, or an MPCI card type that slots into the right hand side of laptop. The latter is more reliable. Whatever you buy, they supply the installation software and drivers and take you through the setup installation step by step.

[thegiddygambler]

Originally Posted by robert99

It can be easier to get the wireless adapter the same make as the router your sister has got. You can get a USB type but this takes up a port, or an MPCI card type that slots into the right hand side of laptop. The latter is more reliable. Whatever you buy, they supply the installation software and drivers and take you through the setup installation step by step.

cheers, when you say router would that be the orange livebox?

Oh and jeeez this broadband is quick!!! :-)

[thegiddygambler]

Sorry to be a pain but no sooner have i got myself half set up then another problem arises.

For some crazy reason, ive tried to type google and also the orange website into my address bar but instead I'm taken to a porno site??

Never had this problem in all my time on dial up. i did disable my windows firewall but that was only for a couple of minutes whilst setting the live box up?

However, as punterslounge is in my favs I've clicked on it and ive been taken straight here.

Why won't my address bar work properly, it takes me to a porno site!

[thegiddygambler]

Originally Posted by thegiddygambler

Sorry to be a pain but no sooner have i got myself half set up then another problem arises.

For some crazy reason, ive tried to type google and also the orange website into my address bar but instead I'm taken to a porno site??

Never had this problem in all my time on dial up. i did disable my windows firewall but that was only for a couple of minutes whilst setting the live box up?

However, as punterslounge is in my favs I've clicked on it and ive been taken straight here.

Why won't my address bar work properly, it takes me to a porno site!

Its now doing it when i click my favs! If I shut this page down I won't even be able to look for help on the net. its re-directing all my sites. help

[robert99]

Your browser has been hijacked.
If you can install Spybot Search and Destroy on your laptop then we can give you instructions how to switch the rogue browser "helper" object off.

[WorkingForTheEnemy]

Word of warning to anyone. Dont use NTL. My 2GB broadband connection runs more like its 2MB!!

[georgej]

download lavasoft's adaware.
this should clear out any bugs on your system