Hi everyone, I help maintain a property. Virgin cablemodem , linksys router ,and then a 16 port switch. All the rooms are hardwired and all was well till someone bought laptop with Vista. No connection. The know little of computers, but the lynksys router doesn't need any fireware to work with Vista.
All the other connections are fine. I'm thinking of getting a wireless "vista ready "router tomorrow. Is this likely to help.How easy to set up, or can you recomend someone in the city centre who can fix the system. Many thanks for suggestions. Richard

Shouldn't matter if it's Vista, XP or anything else as long as it's talking IP over ethernet.
All the laptop should be trying to do is obtain a config from the router using standard DHCP (stuff like IP address, default gateway etc).
Your problem is most likely that the laptop is perhaps trying to be too clever. Maybe it's network card is trying to connect at gigabit, rather than fast ethernet. Maybe the network card is disabled in preference to wireless? Haven't got Vista so can't advise on how to check/adjust.
Personally I wouldn't go replacing your router just yet. Wired is safer and swifter than wireless, and generally a lot less hassle. IMHO.

Seconded. Don't replace the router. Fix or throw out Vista. It will be something pointlessly stupid, but it IS capable of connecting.

Thanks all. He's only ever connected wirelessly.. and has the computer language setting in Russian! So, My computer..connections, I'll get him to look for non wireless option

forgive me if you've already done these things

make sure the wired connection is not disabled at the vista end

don't let vista auto negotiate the connection, find out what the cabling will support and fix the NIC at that that - I know someone who moved into a property that had been cabled by the previous owner, they managed to get one of the twisted pairs the wrong way round on every socket in the house, consequently the cabling will only support half duplex and auto negotiation screws everything up .. I really should sort their cabling out but I don't fancy spending a day upside down in a cramped cupboard with no light, sorting cables by touch, the cupboard got added after the cables :roll:

finally make sure the antivirus solution and firewall installed on the vista machine isn't blocking network traffic because it's a different network to the one it was set up on

ditto - don't use the windows settings to handle the network, it sucks!

Did you use any sort of security on the router, eg WAP password.

All fixed. Called at two computer places, one was "yes its hell"
The other gave a wry smile ,and said it might be a nightmare or a ten minute job.
Anyhow , the answer was something like ,Acer management , then disable the wireless connection in preferancce to LAN. Took all of a couple of minutes. Couple of clicks in fact.
Many thanks for all who left such clear instructions,top marks!!

my XP Pro switches seamlessly between the WiFI and the hard NIC
and Vista is meant to be an improvement is it ? :rolleyes:
acer management bloatware crap, they should never install this rubbish it's totally unnecessary :rant:


glad you sorted it tho :thumbsup:

my XP Pro switches seamlessly between the WiFI and the hard NIC
and Vista is meant to be an improvement is it ? :rolleyes:
acer management bloatware crap, they should never install this rubbish it's totally unnecessary :rant:


glad you sorted it tho :thumbsup:

Similarly.. Dell's auto-disabling of a network card if it's not booted with a network connected to save 5 microwatts of power. At least they've updated quickset so you can turn it back on agian easily.