[miketheratguy]

Hey everybody. This is my first post and I'm sort of new at this wireless stuff, so please bear with me. I also tried to search this question but got an internal server error, so I dunno if it's been posted already.

Anyway the situation I'm in is that I just bought a used computer and tried to install a wireless USB adapter so I can suck in my neighbor's internet signal. I actually do have permission for this, he's on vacation for 2 weeks and is letting me use it while he's gone. I don't however know any of his internet specs or any of that.

So I installed it on a computer that isn't here anymore and won't be coming back- an old 2005 Compaq model. It worked just fine. The installation took 5 minutes and found my neighbor's signal immediately. I surfed the net until the computer was moved from the house.

So I tried to install it on a used computer I bought a month ago, and it doesn't work. I've tried about a dozen installations and never once did it say it was successful or get to the point that it will pick up a signal and connect me to the internet. Once or twice it saw the signal, then failed to connect me, then didn't see the signal again. Other times, it failed to recognize the connected adapter. Still other times, it apparently recognized the connected adapter and got hung endlessly on a little box that said something like "initializing system settings". I went so far as to reformat my system, and it doesn't make any change whatsoever. Yet even after all that, I can take the adapter and install it effortlessly on a friend's computer and connect to the internet, which I just did before registering to this site.

Bottom line is that it's something with this specific computer. The adapter worked on the 2005 Compaq Presario desktop PC, yet is giving me hours of headache on a 2007 Gateway. It makes no sense.

Long story short, if I just bought this Gateway computer brand new from a store and tried to install this adapter, I would have brought the adapter back to the store assuming IT was the problem because surely the device is made to work on all recent computers. But I'd be wrong, because by process of elimination I know it's the computer. At first I assumed it was because I got this computer used. But I never had a problem doing anything else with it, and as I said, it's now been reformatted.

Is it a missing driver? I dunno, I went to Gateway's site and they don't offer many drivers. The ones I see are from a couple years ago anyway, before this model was made. I'm stuck and helpless!!!!

I'll give you any info you require and answer any questions to the best of my abilities. The adapter is a brand new "Netgear Rangemax wireless -N USB 2.0 adapter (model WN111)", which has been installed on 2 different computers with no problem. The computer I'm failing to install it on is a Gateway desktop PC model E-6610D, manufacturing date july 2007. I'm using Windows XP Professional 2002 edition Service pack 2.

Please, please help me. I'm trying to get into college this winter and I could really use this window of internet opportunity. Thanks LOADS for any help.

[JohnWill]

It's against the terms of service for the ISP for your neighbor to share his Internet access. I suggest a reading of the TSG Rules, we don't assist in such activities here.