Holvin writes in with a networking question.
Q. I wish to set up a home network for one desktop and a laptop. The first step I have taken is to try and set up NetGear WGt 624 router. I have made cable connections from cable modem to router and router to desktop as instructed in NetGear manual and switched devices in the prescribed order but cannot connect to the router i.e. http://192.168.0.1 or http://www.routerlogin.com/basicsetting.htm. Once the router is connected to the computer and cable modem, the browser stops working and connection to the internet etc also fails. None of the NetGear support Dept suggestions have so far solved the problem.
A. If you are getting a network cable is unplugged message then that most likely means there is a hardware problem with your network card, the router or the cable itself. If the internet worked before the router was in place then I would check into the router itself. This is assuming you were using the same cable as before for the connection.
Another way to test is to hook up your laptop to the router via the network cable instead of the wireless to see if you can get a connection. If so then there is something wrong with your network card on your desktop. If not then I would check out the cable and the port on the router. You can also try one of the other ports on the router assuming you have the 4 port version. Also make sure to check the connection light on the router to make sure it is lit up. If you have a connection light on the back of your network card make sure it is lit up as well. It will most likely be green for a good connection and orange for no connection.
When you get either computer is connected to the router and you are not getting a network cable unplugged message anymore you can ping the router to test connectivity. Open a command prompt by going to Start, Run, type in cmd and click ok. From there you would type in ping 192.168.0.1 and press enter. You will get 4 responses if the connectivity is working. If you cant get to the web interface using your browser I would check for firewall software like Norton Internet Security that may be blocking it.
