Internet on my laptop

No1newts · 23 Feb 2010 at 20:45

Ok I am probably doing something immensly stupid here but some help would be appreciated.

I have a new laptop (well a year old) but have never had to use it on the net before. Just tried to get it working before but it wont connect. All I have ever had to do before is put the wire in (its broadband) and hey presto the net works.

Have I done something stupid or missed something obvious?

Ta

gamesaregood · 23 Feb 2010 at 22:09

Put which wire in? USB to a modem? Network to a Virgin Router / Modem? Network to a ADSL Router?

Broadband is a fairly loose term which could mean just about any fast internet connection available!

No1newts · 23 Feb 2010 at 22:24

Cable from the modem into the computer.

gamesaregood · 23 Feb 2010 at 22:26

No1newts said:
Cable from the modem into the computer.

Which Modem? Is the cable USB or Ethernet? Who is your ISP / what type of connection is it?

No1newts · 23 Feb 2010 at 22:34

gamesaregood said:
Which Modem? Is the cable USB or Ethernet? Who is your ISP / what type of connection is it?

I dont know half this stuff cause im the type who just plugs it in then goes.

ISP is Virgin, the cable is a blue one the connection? Just a normal broadband one.

Sorry I cant be any more useful :rolleyes:

gamesaregood · 23 Feb 2010 at 22:42

No1newts said:
I dont know half this stuff cause im the type who just plugs it in then goes.

ISP is Virgin, the cable is a blue one the connection? Just a normal broadband one.

Sorry I cant be any more useful

Ok sounds like your plugging it directly into the cable modem supplied by Virgin... the only thing I can't answer is if its a USB cable or an Ethernet... chances are it will be an Ethernet as Virgin no longer support USB but its possible if you've had it a long time etc it could be USB...

Presuming its Ethernet (Square type plug, looks like this Click Here):

If this is the case the modem can only supply a valid IP address for one device at a time, as you've been using it with you other Desktop / Laptop they will have the IP and it can't give another one out.

Basically what you need to do is:

- Disconnect Blue Ethernet cable from the original PC
- Power Off Virgin Modem
- Power On Virgin Modem
- Connect Blue Ethernet cable to laptop

Once the modem has booted (around a minute normally) the internet will work on the laptop. If you want to then change it back around the process will need to be reversed...

Of courser if you would like to use both at the same time you will need to purchase a router.

No1newts · 23 Feb 2010 at 22:47

gamesaregood said:
Ok sounds like your plugging it directly into the cable modem supplied by Virgin... the only thing I can't answer is if its a USB cable or an Ethernet... chances are it will be an Ethernet as Virgin no longer support USB but its possible if you've had it a long time etc it could be USB...

Presuming its Ethernet (Square type plug, looks like this Click Here):

If this is the case the modem can only supply a valid IP address for one device at a time, as you've been using it with you other Desktop / Laptop they will have the IP and it can't give another one out.

Basically what you need to do is:

- Disconnect Blue Ethernet cable from the original PC
- Power Off Virgin Modem
- Power On Virgin Modem
- Connect Blue Ethernet cable to laptop

Once the modem has booted (around a minute normally) the internet will work on the laptop. If you want to then change it back around the process will need to be reversed...

Of courser if you would like to use both at the same time you will need to purchase a router.

Brilliant thank you very much for the advice!

I wouldnt need to use both at once but if I then want to switch the internet back to my desktop just do the turn it off trick again?

And yes it was Ethernet thanks

Daegan · 23 Feb 2010 at 23:18

No1newts said:
I wouldnt need to use both at once but if I then want to switch the internet back to my desktop just do the turn it off trick again?

You'll need to do that whenever you connect a device with a different MAC address (an identifier given to the network adaptor) to the modem.

Alternatively you can clone the MAC address from the network adaptor on your desktop to the one on your laptop (or vice versa and if its driver software allows it), so as far as the modem's concerned it's the same device being connected.