My home network setup consists of a router (D-Link DI-624S) which provides wireless network for two laptops (an LG with Windows XP and a Toshiba with Windows Vista) and also has an in-built print server allowing an HP Photosmart C6180 printer to be shared amongst all the computers. The wireless connection from the Toshiba laptop drops-out every few minutes when browsing the internet but seems OK when just checking email. Sometimes the connection restores automatically after a few seconds, but other times it must be repaired or requires a reboot. There is no communication problem when the Toshiba is connected to the router via cable and there are also no problems at all operating the LG over wireless. Following your previous advice for other questions I have used Task Manager to stop all non-essential processes to identify whether one of those processes was causing the problem. However, the problem continued when everything possible was switched off. The Toshiba computer is running Trend Micro for internet security. How can I fix this problem with wireless drop-outs? (more…)

I am attempting to setup Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) on my desktop computer which connects to the internet using an ADSL Speedstream (Optusnet) modem. I have been able to complete this task previously for a dial-up connection, but there does not seem to be a method for the ADSL connection in the Network Connections window. The network between my desktop computer and the other computer works perfectly fine – I just need ICS setup. The computers are running Windows XP. (more…)

Recently I installed a broadband router to share the internet between my PC and internet capable digital TV set top box (STB). However, I am having two problems with this setup. First, despite following the instructions for creating a home network with Windows XP Home Edition, I cannot “see” the network in My Network Places, and attempting to see other computers on the network produces an error message that I have insufficient permission. That said, both the PC and STB can access the internet, they just cannot see each other. Second, the PC rarely stays connected to the internet for more than five minutes. The only way to re-establish the connection is to restart the computer or repair the connection (although even this failed on one occasion). There appears to be no reason for this disconnection, although on a couple of occasions a dial-up connection dialog box appears. Scanning the computer with PC-Cillin 2007, Ad-Aware, Trojan Hunter, Spy Sweeper, and Windows Defender shows that the computer is free of any malware. How can I fix these issues? (more…)

When shutting down my computer a message appears saying “Application Layer Gateway Service has encountered a problem and needs to close”. How can I stop this message from appearing? The computer is running Windows XP. (more…)

My home network consists of five Windows XP computers, and all but one talk to each other. How can I make them all talk? The network properties on all the computers are the same, with the following components enabled: File and Print Sharing, TCP/IP, and Client for Microsoft Networks. (more…)