Column: Answering Some Common Windows XP Home Networking Questions

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Chuck said:
Right then. Let's give it a rest on the bridge solution, and explore the other
possibilities.

Possibility 1 - make Dell an ICS server.
# Disable the bridge on Dell, verify that it's WiFi connection gets DHCP, and
that it has Internet service.
# Leave DHCP off on the wired router.
# Leave Dell and Ibmchar connected to the LAN on the wired router.
# Leave IBMChar as is - it should get DHCP from Dell.

Run the Network Setup Wizard on Dell, and select:
This computer connects directly to the Internet. The other computers on my
network connect to the Internet through this computer.
NOTE The second sentence is the key here - it turns ICS on.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/using-network-setup-wizard-in-windows.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/using-network-setup-wizard-in-windows.html

Possibility 2 - buy a Wifi card for IBMChar, and connect it to the WiFi LAN.
# Shop around, and you can get a PCI wireless adapter (a Hawking Wireless-G) for
as little as $20.
<http://shop1.outpost.com/search?sea...ring=wireless+pci&minprice=&maxprice=&x=0&y=0>
http://shop1.outpost.com/search?sea...ring=wireless+pci&minprice=&maxprice=&x=0&y=0
Click to expand...
This did not work. The IP address at ibmchar did not change from previous,
after I ran the wizard on the DELL, and after I ran the wizard on the
ibmchar. I did notice a change on the DELL.

Here is the file
Windows IP Configuration



Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : DELL

Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :

Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid

IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : Yes

WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No



Ethernet adapter HOME:



Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :

Description . . . . . . . . . . . : GVC-REALTEK Ethernet 10/100 PCI
Adapter

Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-C0-A8-88-9B-4C

Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No

IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1

Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0

Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . :



Ethernet adapter JER333:



Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :

Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Realtek RTL8185 Wireless LAN
(Mini-)PCI NIC

Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-0E-2E-6D-74-C1

Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes

Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.2.100

Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0

Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.2.1

DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.2.1

DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.2.1

Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Thursday, February 09, 2006
5:25:43 PM

Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Saturday, February 02, 2036
5:25:43 PM
 
This did not work. The IP address at ibmchar did not change from previous,
after I ran the wizard on the DELL, and after I ran the wizard on the
ibmchar. I did notice a change on the DELL.

Here is the file
Windows IP Configuration



Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : DELL

Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :

Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid

IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : Yes

WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No



Ethernet adapter HOME:



Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :

Description . . . . . . . . . . . : GVC-REALTEK Ethernet 10/100 PCI
Adapter

Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-C0-A8-88-9B-4C

Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No

IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1

Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0

Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . :



Ethernet adapter JER333:



Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :

Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Realtek RTL8185 Wireless LAN
(Mini-)PCI NIC

Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-0E-2E-6D-74-C1

Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes

Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.2.100

Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0

Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.2.1

DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.2.1

DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.2.1

Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Thursday, February 09, 2006
5:25:43 PM

Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Saturday, February 02, 2036
5:25:43 PM
Click to expand...

Well, I'm not surprised.
Ethernet adapter HOME:
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : GVC-REALTEK Ethernet 10/100 PCI
Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-C0-A8-88-9B-4C
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0

Did you tell the NSW to share the connection thru the GVC-REALTEK? Did you
select
This computer connects directly to the Internet. The other computers on my
network connect to the Internet through this computer.

Is the Windows Firewall / ICS service running?
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/06/services-running-on-your-computer.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/06/services-running-on-your-computer.html

You have a cable coming from the GVC-REALTEK plugged in to the wired router, and
into which port? And which port is the cable from IBMChar plugged into? Is
DHCP on the wired router shut off? What IP address is the wired router LAN set
to?
 

Well, I'm not surprised. [SOMETHING MUST BE OBVIOUS TO YOU BUT NOT TO ME]
Ethernet adapter HOME:
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : GVC-REALTEK Ethernet 10/100 PCI
Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-C0-A8-88-9B-4C
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0

Did you tell the NSW to share the connection thru the GVC-REALTEK? (NOT SURE
HOW TO DO THIS OR IF NSW ASKED) Did you
select
This computer connects directly to the Internet. The other computers on my
network connect to the Internet through this computer. [YES]

Is the Windows Firewall / ICS service running?[ PROBABLY - LITTLE TIME TO
CHECK RIGHT NOW]
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/06/services-running-on-your-computer.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/06/services-running-on-your-computer.html

You have a cable coming from the GVC-REALTEK plugged in to the wired router,
and
into which port?PORT 2 And which port is the cable from IBMChar plugged
into? PORT 1 Is
DHCP on the wired router shut off? YES What IP address is the wired router
LAN set
to? CANNOT CHECK AT THIS POINT- THOUGHT IT WAS 192.168.2.0 or .2
 

Well, I'm not surprised. [SOMETHING MUST BE OBVIOUS TO YOU BUT NOT TO ME]
Ethernet adapter HOME:
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : GVC-REALTEK Ethernet 10/100 PCI
Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-C0-A8-88-9B-4C
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0

Did you tell the NSW to share the connection thru the GVC-REALTEK? (NOT SURE
HOW TO DO THIS OR IF NSW ASKED) Did you
select
This computer connects directly to the Internet. The other computers on my
network connect to the Internet through this computer. [YES]

Is the Windows Firewall / ICS service running?[ PROBABLY - LITTLE TIME TO
CHECK RIGHT NOW]
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/06/services-running-on-your-computer.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/06/services-running-on-your-computer.html

You have a cable coming from the GVC-REALTEK plugged in to the wired router,
and
into which port?PORT 2 And which port is the cable from IBMChar plugged
into? PORT 1 Is
DHCP on the wired router shut off? YES What IP address is the wired router
LAN set
to? CANNOT CHECK AT THIS POINT- THOUGHT IT WAS 192.168.2.0 or .2
Click to expand...

Yeah - occasionally I get dramatic. Here's the issue. You enabled ICS on Dell.
Yet IBMChar still isn't working (what causes "This did not work. The IP address
at ibmchar did not change from previous, after I ran the wizard on the DELL, and
after I ran the wizard on the ibmchar.").

One of the frustration of testing Computer A and Computer B is, if there's a
problem, you cannot really tell if the problem is in Computer A, or in Computer
B. So you have to start from the beginning.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/08/solving-network-problems-tutorial.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/08/solving-network-problems-tutorial.html

Right now, I need to know if ICS is working. Which means you start and examine
all components required. One component is the WF / ICS service, which people
have been know to disable for many reasons.

Next, we examine the LAN between Dell and IBMChar. Is the wired router in use
as a router, or as a switch? How are both computers connected? Is DHCP running
there (which would interfere with getting DHCP from Dell to IBMChar).

Then occasionally, you leave diagnostic details out, because you think they're
irrelevant. When you make changes, and provide "ipconfig /all" from only 1
computer, that slows the progress.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/06/background-information-useful-in.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/06/background-information-useful-in.html

Buying a WiFi card for IBMChar would so far be a better solution - I've never
been a fan of ICS. But it's your network, and your dime. I'll keep trying to
help, if you keep posting.
 
A LOT SNIPPED OUT.

Yeah - occasionally I get dramatic. Here's the issue. You enabled ICS on
Dell.
Yet IBMChar still isn't working (what causes "This did not work. The IP
address
at ibmchar did not change from previous, after I ran the wizard on the DELL,
and
after I ran the wizard on the ibmchar.").

One of the frustration of testing Computer A and Computer B is, if there's a
problem, you cannot really tell if the problem is in Computer A, or in
Computer
B. So you have to start from the beginning.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/08/solving-network-problems-tutorial.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/08/solving-network-problems-tutorial.html

Right now, I need to know if ICS is working. Which means you start and
examine
all components required. One component is the WF / ICS service, which people
have been know to disable for many reasons.

Next, we examine the LAN between Dell and IBMChar. Is the wired router in use
as a router, or as a switch? How are both computers connected? Is DHCP
running
there (which would interfere with getting DHCP from Dell to IBMChar).

Then occasionally, you leave diagnostic details out, because you think
they're
irrelevant. When you make changes, and provide "ipconfig /all" from only 1
computer, that slows the progress.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/06/background-information-useful-in.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/06/background-information-useful-in.html

Buying a WiFi card for IBMChar would so far be a better solution - I've never
been a fan of ICS. But it's your network, and your dime. I'll keep trying to
help, if you keep posting.

--
Cheers,
Chuck, MS-MVP [Windows - Networking]
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/
Paranoia is not a problem, when it's a normal response from experience.
My email is AT DOT
actual address pchuck mvps org.

I won't get to look at my system until tonight ar during the weekend. I am
hoping to get INTERNET Access for ibmchar without adding hardware and without
ICS if I can. Some response that might be helpful prior to me looking at the
system again. I am not sure if ICS is working or not - now would I tell. I
ran the NSW and asked for ICS, I checked both networks after this and could
not communicate between networks and could net get internet for IBMCHAR. I
ran NSW on ibmchar and selected that it connect throuhg the network - throuhg
another computer, and this did not have any effect on any of the ipconfis
addresses nor did it provide internect access for ibmchar or restore the
ability of the 2 computers to see each other. You asked me if I set up ICS -
I thought I did but I do not know how to check this. (Perhaps it is in the
material you referenced which I have yet to read, but I did what I thought
you asked and I did not get the expected results.) The DHCP was disabled on
the wired router. Presumably that is why the IPCONFIG address for IBMCHAR is
so different, whereas before it was similar to the address of the wired
router when DHCP was enabled. How te network gets this address I do not
know.
I do not know how to disable ICS on the WiFi - so if I did so I would not
know I had done it.
Is the wired router in use as a router or a switch - I don't know the
answer. It is turned on, DHCP is disabled, and at one point I changed the IP
address to be seam first 3 numbers as wired router.
It has been difficult to get you ipconf/all from the ibmchar when I lose the
connection between it and DELL - so I have only commented on it. I will try
to give you all the details from now on.
I still am not sure if what I am asking is impossible for XP, or if it is
just difficult because everything needs to be set correctly
 
A LOT SNIPPED OUT.

Yeah - occasionally I get dramatic. Here's the issue. You enabled ICS on
Dell.
Yet IBMChar still isn't working (what causes "This did not work. The IP
address
at ibmchar did not change from previous, after I ran the wizard on the DELL,
and
after I ran the wizard on the ibmchar.").

One of the frustration of testing Computer A and Computer B is, if there's a
problem, you cannot really tell if the problem is in Computer A, or in
Computer
B. So you have to start from the beginning.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/08/solving-network-problems-tutorial.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/08/solving-network-problems-tutorial.html

Right now, I need to know if ICS is working. Which means you start and
examine
all components required. One component is the WF / ICS service, which people
have been know to disable for many reasons.

Next, we examine the LAN between Dell and IBMChar. Is the wired router in use
as a router, or as a switch? How are both computers connected? Is DHCP
running
there (which would interfere with getting DHCP from Dell to IBMChar).

Then occasionally, you leave diagnostic details out, because you think
they're
irrelevant. When you make changes, and provide "ipconfig /all" from only 1
computer, that slows the progress.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/06/background-information-useful-in.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/06/background-information-useful-in.html

Buying a WiFi card for IBMChar would so far be a better solution - I've never
been a fan of ICS. But it's your network, and your dime. I'll keep trying to
help, if you keep posting.
Click to expand...
I won't get to look at my system until tonight ar during the weekend. I am
hoping to get INTERNET Access for ibmchar without adding hardware and without
ICS if I can. Some response that might be helpful prior to me looking at the
system again. I am not sure if ICS is working or not - now would I tell. I
ran the NSW and asked for ICS, I checked both networks after this and could
not communicate between networks and could net get internet for IBMCHAR. I
ran NSW on ibmchar and selected that it connect throuhg the network - throuhg
another computer, and this did not have any effect on any of the ipconfis
addresses nor did it provide internect access for ibmchar or restore the
ability of the 2 computers to see each other. You asked me if I set up ICS -
I thought I did but I do not know how to check this. (Perhaps it is in the
material you referenced which I have yet to read, but I did what I thought
you asked and I did not get the expected results.) The DHCP was disabled on
the wired router. Presumably that is why the IPCONFIG address for IBMCHAR is
so different, whereas before it was similar to the address of the wired
router when DHCP was enabled. How te network gets this address I do not
know.
I do not know how to disable ICS on the WiFi - so if I did so I would not
know I had done it.
Is the wired router in use as a router or a switch - I don't know the
answer. It is turned on, DHCP is disabled, and at one point I changed the IP
address to be seam first 3 numbers as wired router.
It has been difficult to get you ipconf/all from the ibmchar when I lose the
connection between it and DELL - so I have only commented on it. I will try
to give you all the details from now on.
I still am not sure if what I am asking is impossible for XP, or if it is
just difficult because everything needs to be set correctly
Click to expand...

OK, let's wait til you have time to get to the system, and to read some of my
articles.

There are a lot of possibilities for problems. Rather than list them every time
here, I try to look at the possibilities, and ask you to read a relevant
article. Many of my articles link to other articles, for further information.
Since I'm not in front of your computer, I can't look at it myself, so I'm
hoping that you will do so after reading my articles for ideas about what to
look for.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/06/how-to-get-most-out-of-pchucks-network.html#Hypertext>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/06/how-to-get-most-out-of-pchucks-network.html#Hypertext

ICS, in general, can be turned on by running the NSW, and selecting:
This computer connects directly to the Internet. The other computers on my
network connect to the Internet through this computer.

And, in general, ICS can be turned off (which is also used to create an ICS
client) by selecting:
This computer connects to the Internet through another computer on my network or
through a residential gateway.

I say, "in general". Read the NSW article, and look at the list of Actions
performed in each case. Maybe there you will see something relevant to your
problem.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/using-network-setup-wizard-in-windows.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/using-network-setup-wizard-in-windows.html

And check out how to use a router as a switch, which you are hopefully doing
with your router.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/06/file-sharing-on-lan-with-two-routers.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/06/file-sharing-on-lan-with-two-routers.html

And read all of this with an open mind. If something doesn't make sense, ask
questions. That's what everybody here is for, the questions.

And I understand the frustration of trying to get network diagnostics, when the
network isn't working. At one time, I started to write a network diagnostic
program, but realised that if I could run it as thoroughly as I designed it for,
I wouldn't need it. DOHH. Just do the best you can.
 
Chuck said:
OK, I'm glad that you intend to get a WiFi card for the Little Computer sometime
in the future. Let's see what the challenges are with using a workaround first.

A bridge, generically, is a 2 node switch connecting 2 networks with different
physical structure. In your case, you will be bridging WiFi ("input" to Main
computer) to Ethernet ("output" from Main computer, "input" to Little Computer).

An ipconfig log is one of the most basic diagnostic tools in Windows Networking.
Please read this article, and linked articles, and follow instructions
precisely:
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/troubleshooting-network-neighborhood.html#AskingForHelp>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/troubleshooting-network-neighborhood.html#AskingForHelp

If we can't get a bridge working, and you end up using ICS, which is a software
based NAT router, your Little Computer will end up on a subnet by itself. The
Ethernet card on Main Computer will have an IP address of 192.168.0.1 (with
subnet mask of 255.255.255.0, which is the same as saying subnet 192.168.0/24),
and this cannot be changed. Neither the WiFi LAN, nor the Ethernet LAN (if you
use the wired router as a router), will be able to use 192.168.0/24 - you will
have to reconfigure both to allow for ICS on Main.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/ics-is-ok-but-you-can-do-better.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/ics-is-ok-but-you-can-do-better.html

Another downside of ICS is that you will end up with a segmented LAN. If you
are planning on running Windows Networking (file / printer sharing), that will
be possible only with a lot of additional work. Network Neighborhood, in
particular, won't work properly.

Anyway, let's start with a bridge on Main, and see what "ipconfig /all" looks
like for all 3 computers. That might give us a clue what your problem is. A
bridge will be hella simpler than ICS, since you already have NAT on the WiFi
router.
Click to expand...

Hello Chuck,
I am trying to setup a direct link USB network between my laptop and
desktop computers. I would like to download your files on blogspot.com.
However I am in China and your blogspot.com site is blocked to me.
Will you please direct me to another site that has these files or send
the files to me.
Thank you
Howard Graham
(e-mail address removed)
 
Hello Chuck,
I am trying to setup a direct link USB network between my laptop and
desktop computers. I would like to download your files on blogspot.com.
However I am in China and your blogspot.com site is blocked to me.
Will you please direct me to another site that has these files or send
the files to me.
Thank you
Howard Graham
(e-mail address removed)
Click to expand...

Howard,

I'm not sure how I can send PChuck's with any amount of reliability. The
information is based on hypertext, and for any subject, the information needed
might be from any of dozens of articles, all linked to each other. It's a total
of close to 150 articles right now, and growing every week.

Also, I apply updates at any time, so the information is subject to change
without notice.

Let me do some thinking about this.
 
If your laptop has integrated wireless hardware then it also probably has an
on/off switch to enable/disable the wireless hardware. Check your laptop
users guide/manual for help with that. If it has an external plug-in
wireless card the card must be installed and drivers also installed...

--

Al Jarvi (MS-MVP Windows Networking)

Please post *ALL* questions and replies to the news group for the
mutual benefit of all of us...
The MS-MVP Program - http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
rights...
 
sorry but i dont have a laptop its a dsktop

Sooner Al said:
If your laptop has integrated wireless hardware then it also probably has an
on/off switch to enable/disable the wireless hardware. Check your laptop
users guide/manual for help with that. If it has an external plug-in
wireless card the card must be installed and drivers also installed...

--

Al Jarvi (MS-MVP Windows Networking)

Please post *ALL* questions and replies to the news group for the
mutual benefit of all of us...
The MS-MVP Program - http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
rights...
Click to expand...
 
Well, did you install a wireless card and the appropriate drivers?

--

Al Jarvi (MS-MVP Windows Networking)

Please post *ALL* questions and replies to the news group for the
mutual benefit of all of us...
The MS-MVP Program - http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
rights...
 
i installed the ntgear wpn111

Sooner Al said:
Well, did you install a wireless card and the appropriate drivers?

--

Al Jarvi (MS-MVP Windows Networking)

Please post *ALL* questions and replies to the news group for the
mutual benefit of all of us...
The MS-MVP Program - http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
rights...
Click to expand...
 
I followed your instructions and nothing happended I'm still not getting any
connection to the other pc
No connnection on the internet, only connection on LAN with RJ45 ethernet
cable. No connection with wireless over the internet or with ethernet?

Now what?
email: (e-mail address removed)
 
I am writing this letter to ALL Wireless Router manufacturers.
I have a Linksys Wireless Router Model:BEFW11S4. It is 7 years (yes, count
them, all of seven little years) old. I have visited the Linksys website
numerous times trying to set up the WEP/WPA security on that wireless router
(as all responsible wireless router owners should!). I found that there are
no links to any wireless router setting websites that are congruent with the
screen shots from Linksys' own self help technical support site. I have had
to call Linksys several times to resolve this issue only to be placed on hold
for lengthy times (sometimes my call was dropped and I had to start over ....
how sad for such a large company to have such poorly trained phone
receptionists!), then be transferred (see previous comment about the phone
receptionists) to a supposed supervisor, only to finally be transferred to
someone who tells me that the warranty has expired and wants me to pay $40.00
for the technical support to do the right thing that I want and need to do.
First, the device works fine (as evidenced by this e-mail that you have
just received)!
Second, why should I have to pay for doing the right thing?
Third, if I am going to be EXTORTED into buying a new wireless router so
that I can do the right thing and set up an encryption key for a secure
network, what on Gods' Green Earth makes anyone think that I would CHOOSE to
buy another Linksys product when ALL that I have ever received from them is a
functional wireless router (yes, even after seven whole years) and the
crappiest Customer Service/Technical Support I have ever had the displeasure
to encounter!
I shall copy this letter and try to find as many Chat Rooms as possible in
order to spread the word of ALL that I have gone through with the Chain of
Command at the Linksys phone center, well above and beyond what any
reasonable person should expect to go through, and still have NO RELIEF
concerning my singular issue with their product and its capabilities that I
SHOULD be able to enjoy as the owner of said product! What has happend to
"The Customer Is Always Right" Customer Service mantra (I can't say "In
America" because the call was handled in India)? Is the Customer, the ones
that makes the company what it is through the purchase of products, so
worthless to the company that they can just be treated with abject contempt
and scorn? Is the Customer to thus be trampled underfoot? Are we paying to
be so abused? I, for one (yes, one, the beginning of all), shall NOT be
treated in such manner, and CERTAINLY shall NOT PAY to be treated as such!
In this world of expanding technologies, it shall be those with the
GREATEST Customer Appeal that shall continue to be found worthwile in the
publics' eyes (and pocketbooks) and shall grow to meet the demands of a
growing world - ESPECIALLY in the Electronics Department!
It is now my strongest desire that the Linksys Corporation suffers
irreparable damage and goes out of business for their Crappy Customer
Service! I can only hope that I reach enough people around the world to bring
this desire true!
 
I am writing this letter to ALL Wireless Router manufacturers.
I have a Linksys Wireless Router Model:BEFW11S4. It is 7 years (yes, count
them, all of seven little years) old. I have visited the Linksys website
numerous times trying to set up the WEP/WPA security on that wireless router
(as all responsible wireless router owners should!). I found that there are
no links to any wireless router setting websites that are congruent with the
screen shots from Linksys' own self help technical support site. I have had
to call Linksys several times to resolve this issue only to be placed on hold
for lengthy times (sometimes my call was dropped and I had to start over ....
how sad for such a large company to have such poorly trained phone
receptionists!), then be transferred (see previous comment about the phone
receptionists) to a supposed supervisor, only to finally be transferred to
someone who tells me that the warranty has expired and wants me to pay $40.00
for the technical support to do the right thing that I want and need to do.
First, the device works fine (as evidenced by this e-mail that you have
just received)!
Second, why should I have to pay for doing the right thing?
Third, if I am going to be EXTORTED into buying a new wireless router so
that I can do the right thing and set up an encryption key for a secure
network, what on Gods' Green Earth makes anyone think that I would CHOOSE to
buy another Linksys product when ALL that I have ever received from them is a
functional wireless router (yes, even after seven whole years) and the
crappiest Customer Service/Technical Support I have ever had the displeasure
to encounter!
I shall copy this letter and try to find as many Chat Rooms as possible in
order to spread the word of ALL that I have gone through with the Chain of
Command at the Linksys phone center, well above and beyond what any
reasonable person should expect to go through, and still have NO RELIEF
concerning my singular issue with their product and its capabilities that I
SHOULD be able to enjoy as the owner of said product! What has happend to
"The Customer Is Always Right" Customer Service mantra (I can't say "In
America" because the call was handled in India)? Is the Customer, the ones
that makes the company what it is through the purchase of products, so
worthless to the company that they can just be treated with abject contempt
and scorn? Is the Customer to thus be trampled underfoot? Are we paying to
be so abused? I, for one (yes, one, the beginning of all), shall NOT be
treated in such manner, and CERTAINLY shall NOT PAY to be treated as such!
In this world of expanding technologies, it shall be those with the
GREATEST Customer Appeal that shall continue to be found worthwile in the
publics' eyes (and pocketbooks) and shall grow to meet the demands of a
growing world - ESPECIALLY in the Electronics Department!
It is now my strongest desire that the Linksys Corporation suffers
irreparable damage and goes out of business for their Crappy Customer
Service! I can only hope that I reach enough people around the world to bring
this desire true!
 
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