maybe you can help me... (computer stuff)

[AliciaLuvzDizne]

ok here's my story:
I got a new computer (yay!) its very up to date (compared to my dinosaur laptop...lol) and I have a 1 gig network card. Now, Im at school and I try to connect my new pretty computer to the internet, and university computing says NO WAY...something keeps changing my Mac Address. So we remove service pack 2 because they think it keeps interfering and I call the guy who built it and he tells me that there is a possibility that the card is to fast, but it is a variable card so you can change the speed. (ohh by the way he's now in India for 2 weeks) So fine I did that and it still didnt work.
Keep in mind, every time i try something new I have to be in touch with University computing so they can change my Mac Address because every time you plug a new computer into the wall it shuts off your ethernet (FUN FUN)

So, right now I have my laptop connected to the internet, the old dinosaur that I was trying to upgrade away from. It is connected through a PCMCIA card.

Here's My Question:
I went to visit my dad yesterday (he's still in the hospital...little side track) and I was telling him my problem and he was wondering if there is an external usb device that will connect a pcmcia card to a PC. or internal works for me too... the point of this is to stop going to university computing because im sick of them and they are sooo sick of me... If I am able to use my pcmcia network card I wont have to, because the network is already set up to allow it.

Does this type of thing actually exsist? Does anyone have any other ideas as to what might be causing this? Or any other simple solutions for me?
should I just give up and bring my pretty new computer home?
Thanks!
~alicia~

 

[no2apprentice]

If that happened to me, the first thing I would do is to try to check that card on another system, to see if it's even working (you may have already done that).

You may want to consider buying a slower ethernet card, install that, and see what happens.

My way of thinking for your problem is this: the card you have should (should being the key word) be backwards compatable to slower lines. So, if it's not connecting, this leaves two basic ways to approach the problem: hardware or software. If hardware, either the card is bad, not connecting in the PCI slot, or there are motherboard issues. The software issues could be a matter of getting the right settings for your connection to work, but I am not experienced enough with that to give you any advice.

One other bit I just thought of, go to your Control Panel, open up System, click on the HARDWARE tab at the top, and click on Device Manager. Look through the listings of your devices and find Network adapters. Click on the little plus box and make sure your system is recognizing the card. If it's listed, it should be working properly (once again, should being the key word).

Good luck with your problem. I hope your solution is an easy (and cheap) one.

Network issues are not my forte, so that's all I can suggest. Good luck.

 

[AliciaLuvzDizne]

unfortunately (or fortunately however you look at it...) the network card works elsewhere so thats not it. but thanks...
im really trying to avoid talking to those stupid people anymore (university computing) because i have pretty much been trying to solve this problem for 3 weeks LoL

 

[no2apprentice]

Have the university computing geeks...I mean, people...talked to you about the settings in your system? Have they told you what to check to make sure your settings are correct for their line?

 

[Computer Magic]

unfortunately (or fortunately however you look at it...) the network card works elsewhere so thats not it. but thanks...
im really trying to avoid talking to those stupid people anymore (university computing) because i have pretty much been trying to solve this problem for 3 weeks LoL

Does the PC with the network card also work elsewhere. If so, then the problem lies with the configuration on your PC and connecting to the University Network.

1) Do you know how their network is set up to use a static IP or DHCP?
2) You may be forced to work with the University Support People. But they don't seem helpful.
3) Who helped with getting the laptop network card to work?
4) Do they have a recommended network card to use? Can you borrow one of theirs?
5) Are you using the same cable you used for the laptop and new PC?

 

[AliciaLuvzDizne]

Does the PC with the network card also work elsewhere. If so, then the problem lies with the configuration on your PC and connecting to the University Network.

1) Do you know how their network is set up to use a static IP or DHCP?
2) You may be forced to work with the University Support People. But they don't seem helpful.
3) Who helped with getting the laptop network card to work?
4) Do they have a recommended network card to use? Can you borrow one of theirs?
5) Are you using the same cable you used for the laptop and new PC?

1. nope
2. yuck! lol honestly i had no problem with them until recently. they are so sick of me they are starting to get RUDE
3. The laptop network card was no problem, the U.C. guy just told them the mac address and it got set up right away...meaning its not a problem with my jack
4. they didnt recomment anything, just to get a new one. and i HAVE a new one...this computer is only 2 or 3 weeks old. if i go to the store and buy another network card i'd have to re-submit a request (for the 4th time) to set up a new network card... this is why my dad was wondering if there was a way to use the laptops network card (pcmcia) in the desktop...save me more headache
5. yep

 

[AliciaLuvzDizne]

and yes, my settings are all correct for them...

 

[Computer Magic]

1. nope
2. yuck! lol honestly i had no problem with them until recently. they are so sick of me they are starting to get RUDE
3. The laptop network card was no problem, the U.C. guy just told them the mac address and it got set up right away...meaning its not a problem with my jack
4. they didnt recomment anything, just to get a new one. and i HAVE a new one...this computer is only 2 or 3 weeks old. if i go to the store and buy another network card i'd have to re-submit a request (for the 4th time) to set up a new network card... this is why my dad was wondering if there was a way to use the laptops network card (pcmcia) in the desktop...save me more headache
5. yep

I don't know of any device that will allow you to use your PCMCIA card with the PC. If the hardware is good and works on other networks, it really sounds like a configuration issues. Either the speed being sent or way the computer is talking to the network (ie IP). I would see what network card they recommend, and if you can borrow one to test. The University seems a little light on the computer knowledge.

 

[AliciaLuvzDizne]

ok
at the suggestion of my bf...i bought this...

http://www.compusa.com/products/product_info.asp?product_code=284683&pfp=BROWSE

i actually have no idea if this is supposed to work...is there supposed to be a mac address for this device because i havent been able to find one...
im gonna cry soon lol

 

[AliciaLuvzDizne]

i just thought of something else...

i have a router and wireless capabilities at my house...that would be a different mac address right? should i just bring it up and try that?

if i were to do this...do i disable the network card?

 

[Computer Magic]

ok
at the suggestion of my bf...i bought this...

http://www.compusa.com/products/product_info.asp?product_code=284683&pfp=BROWSE

i actually have no idea if this is supposed to work...is there supposed to be a mac address for this device because i havent been able to find one...
im gonna cry soon lol

This might work, although I never used a USB Network adaptor. I noticed it didn't say supports XP, but since it's 2000 it should. I would ask.

WHen plugged in, the plug and play should find this and configure. You will see the MAC address then.

 

[Computer Magic]

i just thought of something else...

i have a router and wireless capabilities at my house...that would be a different mac address right? should i just bring it up and try that?

if i were to do this...do i disable the network card?

Are you thinking about using the port on the wireless router to plug your card into? Otherwise you will need the wireless card also. This would give a different address on the network. Which also might work.

You can have more then one network card in the PC at the same time. You don't have to disable. We configure wireless laptops at work and leave the intergrated network card active for areas that are outside our wireless range.

 

[AliciaLuvzDizne]

i have a usb wireless thingy and so maybe tuesday i'll drag all that up here and call stupid UC...

thanks so much for your help!! i'll post again after i try it

 

[DisneyCP2000]

I don't know if this will solve it or not but it's worth a shot.

Story: Bosses PC worked at her desk (Internet and all)...but when she travelled out of town and into another area she couldn't get a connection at all. Nothing was changed...but the PC refused to get onto the network. Even by looking at the back of the laptop nothing blinked.

Solution: (after 2 hours of talking to support we changed a setting.)

Here's what the told me:

Open My Network Places.
Right Click on Local Area Connection.
Choose Properties.
From the General Tab choose Configure...
Choose Advance
Choose Link Speed & Duplex.
Check what the value is set at. If it's on a particluar speed change it to Auto Detect.

This is what I did for my boss and it worked out perfectly. She was then able top hop onto the network without a prob.

If this doesn't work go ahead and change it back.

If this network card is really causing so much probems due to it being so fast...maybe you could swap it out for a slower version. Network cards are fairly easy to install (plug and play) and cheap.

Hope this helps!

 

[AliciaLuvzDizne]

thanks.
that is a great suggestion...but its already been tried lol

and guess what it didnt work either lol enough to make you crazy right?

thanks again

 

[AliciaLuvzDizne]

GUESS WHAT!!


i got a new network card and it works!!! thank you sooo much for your suggestions. i finally just let go of my stubborn-ness and got myself a different network card and i even installed it all by myself (im so proud :lol: )
so in case i didnt say it enough... thank you thank you thank you!!
(im super happy)

 

[Computer Magic]

GUESS WHAT!!


i got a new network card and it works!!! thank you sooo much for your suggestions. i finally just let go of my stubborn-ness and got myself a different network card and i even installed it all by myself (im so proud :lol: )
so in case i didnt say it enough... thank you thank you thank you!!
(im super happy)

Great to hear. It's tough to let go of a hardware issue when you know it should work. Now you will be zooming around on that new PC.

Enjoy and good luck :sohappy:

 

[DisneyCP2000]

Congrats! And happy surfing :wave:

 

[AliciaLuvzDizne]

oh believe me guys...i dont think the smile has come off my face yet...
now i just have to figure out why my ipod isnt recognized most of the time
:lol: