The Official Computer Tech Support Thread

Freebase Dali · 03-01-2010, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Burning Down

I don't have time to go through the entire thread at the moment, so this question may have been answered already. Here goes:

What is the best anti-virus/anti-spyware program for a Windows 7 laptop that I can get for under $100? I know there are several different ones out there (Norton, Trend Micro, etc.), but is there one that really "stands out" and works well?

I also have a new Mac Book Pro laptop. I've been using Macs for a long time and know that they aren't generally prone to viruses and such, but I still like the security of an anti-virus/spyware program. Is there one that works well with Mac OS X Snow Leopard?

Without a doubt, for windows: AVAST. And it's free (the home version).
You can download it here: avast! Free Antivirus - Download Software for Virus Protection
Some people prefer AVG, but in my experience, the program and virus database update system is a lot better in AVAST. In either case, both AVAST and AVG are every bit as good as any other virus program and are the most popular free antivirus software out there.

As far as your Mac, I dunno. I don't use Mac.

Burning Down · 03-01-2010, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freebase Dali

Without a doubt, for windows: AVAST. And it's free (the home version).
You can download it here: avast! Free Antivirus - Download Software for Virus Protection
Some people prefer AVG, but in my experience, the program and virus database update system is a lot better in AVAST. In either case, both AVAST and AVG are every bit as good as any other virus program and are the most popular free antivirus software out there.

As far as your Mac, I dunno. I don't use Mac.

Thanks a lot! Downloading right now. I'm not too worried about the Mac - I mainly use that computer for my school-related music projects and videos and pictures. I don't do too much Internet surfing on it.

P A N · 03-02-2010, 10:54 AM

hey all. for the last year or so my girlfriend and i thought we had a wireless modem and had no problems connecting to the internet. a couple of weeks ago we discovered our neighbour hanging out in the hall stealing what we thought was OUR wireless signal. then, the real owner of the wireless decided to secure their signal, leaving us to figure out that we had a hardwire modem, and we too had been stealing internet.

my girlfriend has a mac, and has no problem just plugging the ugly yellow cord into it and using the net (hence me posting this). but i have a PC running XP, and am feeling as though i actually need to hire someone to come figure this out. it's registering the connections and stuff, but it says they're firewalled.

so... anyone know anything about hooking the net up to a PC running XP?

any help at all would be ridiculously appreciated!!!

Burning Down · 03-02-2010, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zevokes

hey all. for the last year or so my girlfriend and i thought we had a wireless modem and had no problems connecting to the internet. a couple of weeks ago we discovered our neighbour hanging out in the hall stealing what we thought was OUR wireless signal. then, the real owner of the wireless decided to secure their signal, leaving us to figure out that we had a hardwire modem, and we too had been stealing internet.

my girlfriend has a mac, and has no problem just plugging the ugly yellow cord into it and using the net (hence me posting this). but i have a PC running XP, and am feeling as though i actually need to hire someone to come figure this out. it's registering the connections and stuff, but it says they're firewalled.

so... anyone know anything about hooking the net up to a PC running XP?

any help at all would be ridiculously appreciated!!!

It shouldn't matter what operating system you're using when trying to connect to a wireless Internet signal.

What kind of router do you have (like what brand)? Is it a 2-in-1 modem and wireless router or just a wireless router? Some routers require that the wired Internet connection goes through a desktop computer before going to the router itself, via an Ethernet port, USB, or DSL line, only because you need some kind of modem to process the signal. The modem in that case would be a card inside of your desktop.

I have a 2-in-1 modem/router, which can be used on it's own since everything is inside of it. I'm not sure if you can buy these in a store because my ISP has given me one to use for the length of my contract with them.

If you're not sure of what's going on with your Internet, hire a technician. I know, it costs money (nothing is free!) but it will probably be a lot easier on you if you're not tech-savvy. The technician will also be able to secure your wireless signal which will require a password for each new computer that wants to connect to the Internet on your signal. This is extremely important especially if you live in some kind of complex or apartment building! You don't want any unwanted download and bandwidth user fees tacked onto your bill.

P A N · 03-02-2010, 11:41 AM

i must have worded things poorly.

the wireless works fine. but we don't have wireless anymore, and have to use the ugly yellow cord going from the modem (connected via something that looks like coaxial cable) into our computers. my PC however just isn't having any of it.

now, my girlfriend lived here on her own before i moved in, so is it possible that she needs to "un-wall" one of these firewalls?

like, can she say that only her computer can use this modem, and any others that try will need a password? is that what a firewall is? and if so, is from her computer or mine that i change things?

ps. i know my girlfriend, being the one that bought the internet and hooked it up should know what to do, but all she had to do was plug everything into her mac and it worked, so she has no idea whats going on. there's like this big f*cking PROCESS i have to go through with this stupid PC crap...

i apologize for my bitterness.

Freebase Dali · 03-02-2010, 12:24 PM

I have no idea why you posted this question in the Stereo and Production Equipment forum. (Mods, please merge this into the Computer Tech Support thread)

Anyway, zevokes..

Go to your start button, then Control Panel, then Network Connections. You should see your Local Area Connection. This is the connection you're using if you have a LAN cable plugged into the RJ45 port on the back of your PC.
First of all, the Windows Firewall that's obviously applied to your connection shouldn't be causing you any problems unless it's configured to block all traffic.
To make sure this isn't happening, right click Local Area Connection and choose Properties. In the box that pops up, you'll see two tabs: General and Advanced. Click Advanced. Then click Settings for Windows Firewall.
I won't walk you through the advanced settings because we're just diagnosing right now, so simply click the OFF radio button and disregard all the annoying popups that will result. Click OK.

Now go back to the properties of Local Area Connection and in the General tab, scroll down to Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), select it and click the Properties button.
All you want to do here is make sure "Obtain an IP address automatically" is selected, and "Obtain DNS server address automatically" is selected. If so, great. If not, make it happen then click OK, then OK.
Now look at Local Area Connection. It should say "connected". If it says "disabled", then right click it, and choose "enable". In fact, even if it doesn't say disabled, go ahead and right click the connection anyway, click "disable", wait for a few seconds, then go back and enable it. This will refresh your connection.

Your LAN connection is now configured correctly.
The next instructions may vary depending on what type of modem/router you're using and whether it's a combo unit or two separate units. Give us the make and model of your modem unit and we can look it up on the web and be a whole lot more specific.

But you can try plugging in your LAN cable to the modem/router's PC LAN port and giving it a shot. It it's not working, we're going to need the make and model of your unit.

[extra stuff below]
Whether your modem/router unit has a Mac address filter or not, I don't know. Probably not, as that usually applies to wireless routers. But that would be the only thing besides a physical connection error or configuration error on your part causing you to be the only one unable to connect. You can look through the settings of your modem/router by simply typing in your default gateway address in the URL bar of your web browser.
To find out what the default gateway address is, go to Start > Run > type CMD > Press enter.. in the black console that pops up, type ipconfig
Press enter.
The default gateway address will be the address you use to configure your modem/router. Type it into your browser URL bar and go.

One of the following things should happen... Your modem/router's configuration page loads up. Or you're prompted for a password. (If it hasn't been configured by you or your girlfriend, the username is usually Admin, and there usually isn't a password... by default).
If neither one of those things happen, you're either using the wrong kind of cable (not likely the issue with most routers these days), you're plugged into the wrong port on your modem/router, your cable is bad (I'm assuming it's not if your girlfriend used it successfully, or your Network Interface Card is bad. (You can test your network interface card by pinging 127.0.0.1 in that black console you saw just a minute ago. You should get replies.)

Well, I'm tired of typing.
Start trying the things I mentioned in the order I mentioned them until you get to this point, had none of it worked. Then post your modem/router make and model so I can see how you're supposed to be connecting everything up for your setup.

Talk to you soon.

333 · 03-02-2010, 12:25 PM

Hah, Freebase. I knew you were going to respond with a book to this one.

Freebase Dali · 03-02-2010, 12:31 PM

I wish there was a compression algorithm that would allow me to use one word to say everything I just said. Or a real-life macro.

P A N · 03-02-2010, 02:13 PM

WOW MAN!

i thought this just wasn't gonna happen! thanks so much for typing all this out for me!

AND IT WORKED!

BUT, the internet just randomly started working after a failed attempt to type the default gateway into google chrome's URL browser. when i went to use netscape instead (i figured that because this computer came preloaded with netscape, it might have something to do with provoking the right outcome), i was looking over in the little black box at my default gateway address and came back to type it in and the internet was just on. so whatever that has to do with anything is a mystery to me, but i'm posting this from my PC, and that makes me happy!!!

the problem is, that i don't understand any of this, and fearing loss of a connection, will just have to stay up 24/7 hanging out on MB, guarding my computer from the will of the universe.

regardless, thanks DAL!

P A N · 03-02-2010, 02:15 PM

and sorry about posting this where i did... i'm slower than most kids.

03-02-2010, 10:54 AM	#313 (permalink)
P A N DO LIKE YOU. Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 629	university degree needed to establish internet connection?!?! hey all. for the last year or so my girlfriend and i thought we had a wireless modem and had no problems connecting to the internet. a couple of weeks ago we discovered our neighbour hanging out in the hall stealing what we thought was OUR wireless signal. then, the real owner of the wireless decided to secure their signal, leaving us to figure out that we had a hardwire modem, and we too had been stealing internet. my girlfriend has a mac, and has no problem just plugging the ugly yellow cord into it and using the net (hence me posting this). but i have a PC running XP, and am feeling as though i actually need to hire someone to come figure this out. it's registering the connections and stuff, but it says they're firewalled. so... anyone know anything about hooking the net up to a PC running XP? any help at all would be ridiculously appreciated!!!

03-02-2010, 12:24 PM	#316 (permalink)
Freebase Dali Partying on the inside Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 5,584	I have no idea why you posted this question in the Stereo and Production Equipment forum. (Mods, please merge this into the Computer Tech Support thread) Anyway, zevokes.. Go to your start button, then Control Panel, then Network Connections. You should see your Local Area Connection. This is the connection you're using if you have a LAN cable plugged into the RJ45 port on the back of your PC. First of all, the Windows Firewall that's obviously applied to your connection shouldn't be causing you any problems unless it's configured to block all traffic. To make sure this isn't happening, right click Local Area Connection and choose Properties. In the box that pops up, you'll see two tabs: General and Advanced. Click Advanced. Then click Settings for Windows Firewall. I won't walk you through the advanced settings because we're just diagnosing right now, so simply click the OFF radio button and disregard all the annoying popups that will result. Click OK. Now go back to the properties of Local Area Connection and in the General tab, scroll down to Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), select it and click the Properties button. All you want to do here is make sure "Obtain an IP address automatically" is selected, and "Obtain DNS server address automatically" is selected. If so, great. If not, make it happen then click OK, then OK. Now look at Local Area Connection. It should say "connected". If it says "disabled", then right click it, and choose "enable". In fact, even if it doesn't say disabled, go ahead and right click the connection anyway, click "disable", wait for a few seconds, then go back and enable it. This will refresh your connection. Your LAN connection is now configured correctly. The next instructions may vary depending on what type of modem/router you're using and whether it's a combo unit or two separate units. Give us the make and model of your modem unit and we can look it up on the web and be a whole lot more specific. But you can try plugging in your LAN cable to the modem/router's PC LAN port and giving it a shot. It it's not working, we're going to need the make and model of your unit. [extra stuff below] Whether your modem/router unit has a Mac address filter or not, I don't know. Probably not, as that usually applies to wireless routers. But that would be the only thing besides a physical connection error or configuration error on your part causing you to be the only one unable to connect. You can look through the settings of your modem/router by simply typing in your default gateway address in the URL bar of your web browser. To find out what the default gateway address is, go to Start > Run > type CMD > Press enter.. in the black console that pops up, type ipconfig Press enter. The default gateway address will be the address you use to configure your modem/router. Type it into your browser URL bar and go. One of the following things should happen... Your modem/router's configuration page loads up. Or you're prompted for a password. (If it hasn't been configured by you or your girlfriend, the username is usually Admin, and there usually isn't a password... by default). If neither one of those things happen, you're either using the wrong kind of cable (not likely the issue with most routers these days), you're plugged into the wrong port on your modem/router, your cable is bad (I'm assuming it's not if your girlfriend used it successfully, or your Network Interface Card is bad. (You can test your network interface card by pinging 127.0.0.1 in that black console you saw just a minute ago. You should get replies.) Well, I'm tired of typing. Start trying the things I mentioned in the order I mentioned them until you get to this point, had none of it worked. Then post your modem/router make and model so I can see how you're supposed to be connecting everything up for your setup. Talk to you soon. Last edited by Freebase Dali; 03-02-2010 at 12:42 PM.

03-02-2010, 11:41 AM	#315 (permalink)
P A N DO LIKE YOU. Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 629	i must have worded things poorly. the wireless works fine. but we don't have wireless anymore, and have to use the ugly yellow cord going from the modem (connected via something that looks like coaxial cable) into our computers. my PC however just isn't having any of it. now, my girlfriend lived here on her own before i moved in, so is it possible that she needs to "un-wall" one of these firewalls? like, can she say that only her computer can use this modem, and any others that try will need a password? is that what a firewall is? and if so, is from her computer or mine that i change things? ps. i know my girlfriend, being the one that bought the internet and hooked it up should know what to do, but all she had to do was plug everything into her mac and it worked, so she has no idea whats going on. there's like this big f*cking PROCESS i have to go through with this stupid PC crap... i apologize for my bitterness.

03-02-2010, 12:25 PM	#317 (permalink)
333 Music Addict Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 965	Hah, Freebase. I knew you were going to respond with a book to this one.

03-02-2010, 12:31 PM	#318 (permalink)
Freebase Dali Partying on the inside Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 5,584	I wish there was a compression algorithm that would allow me to use one word to say everything I just said. Or a real-life macro.

03-02-2010, 02:13 PM	#319 (permalink)
P A N DO LIKE YOU. Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 629	WOW MAN! i thought this just wasn't gonna happen! thanks so much for typing all this out for me! AND IT WORKED! BUT, the internet just randomly started working after a failed attempt to type the default gateway into google chrome's URL browser. when i went to use netscape instead (i figured that because this computer came preloaded with netscape, it might have something to do with provoking the right outcome), i was looking over in the little black box at my default gateway address and came back to type it in and the internet was just on. so whatever that has to do with anything is a mystery to me, but i'm posting this from my PC, and that makes me happy!!! the problem is, that i don't understand any of this, and fearing loss of a connection, will just have to stay up 24/7 hanging out on MB, guarding my computer from the will of the universe. regardless, thanks DAL!

03-02-2010, 02:15 PM	#320 (permalink)
P A N DO LIKE YOU. Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 629	and sorry about posting this where i did... i'm slower than most kids.