Tina Norris Fields
tinanfields at torchlake.com
Sat May 14 09:17:29 CDT 2011
Hello All, I thought I would finish the story. The Fields-Family computer has been completely re-established. It took doing the reformatting and reinstallation sequence twice - not sure why, but there were other details going wrong, too, that may have had an impact. Anyway, first I copied all the data files, documents, photos, music, videos, etc. from the Fields-Family computer to an external hard drive. Then, I did the complete re-installation of WinXP-SP2, with full reformat of the hard drive. Then, I did the SP3 update. I re-established drivers for the peripheral equipment. I set up the Admin account separate from the Family account. I got Vipre installed, running, and regular scans scheduled. Their copy of Office 2003 was not their original disk set and they had no idea where the original set was. I had a spare set, so I used that. Along the way, I noticed that the wireless network connection kept dropping. You already know that my DL-415 router at the POE was failing and I replaced it with a NetGear WNDR3400 router. Well, the DL-415 in my office was also dropping the signal - I watched my link status monitor and saw the signal drop out, then come back, repeatedly. So, there is now a new WNDR3400 in my office, too. Also, I noted that the USB wireless adapter on the Fields-Family computer wasn't functioning. I replaced that with another new NetGear adapter. While I was buying that, the store manager asked me if I wanted to invest $7 for a three-year replacement guarantee, in case anything went wrong, or the USB connector broke - and I burst out laughing, because that was exactly what had happened to the old one. It had apparently been bumped - no surprise there, with active kids and the adapter sticking out from the front of the computer - and the connector had a nice slope to it at about a 5-degree angle, rather than parallel to the rest of the body of the device. So, yes, I bought the additional guarantee. This new adapter came with a cradle, so, I used a USB port in the back of the tower and placed the adapter in its cradle on a shelf above the work-station. With all this new equipment, I reconstructed the entire wireless network - starting with the router at the POE. With my new computer in my lap and both new WNDR3400 routers sitting on the floor, I set the first one up, named it, and created a new SSID name - made note of all the settings. Then, I set the second one up, named it, and joined it to the new SSID - made note of all the settings. This router is cable-connected to the first router, no placed back in my office where it belongs. The DL-415 router in the garage apartment is still working fine. All the IP addresses are as they should be, and the 128-bit security key is established for the whole network. It's working beautifully, now. I've almost finished transferring the files and programs that I use all the time to my new computer. This five-year-old one will probably become one of my student computers here in the little classroom I have in my home office, or maybe it will serve as a sort of backup machine to use when I don't want to risk harm to the new computer - haven't decided, yet. Just wanted to let you know I got it all working again, and corrected some errors along the way - such as making sure the girls are not working in an administrator level user profile, and their wireless adapter is out of harm's way - things like that. Larry is working on the bookcase and work station construction for the library in their house. When that is completed, the Fields-Family computer will go home, and I will have room for one more student computer here. Best regards, T >