Router can not be read by computer

I have been having a strange problem off and on for a few months, and now it seems to be permanent. I can no longer get connected to the internet through my wireless router. I have a Dell Inspirion 1705 laptop with Windows XP. I have a Linksys Wireless-G router model number WRT54G. I originally had my computers networked. . with a real basic desktop and then my laptop. My desktop recently died. . so now I have just my laptop. I thought this would make things easier, but I'm afraid the problems are worse. It was working fine this morning. . and now the only way I can use it is with an ethernet cable connected from my computer to my router. Does anyone have any suggestions? When I look at my network connections I have three things listed: 1394 connection (1394 net adapter), local area connection (broadcom 440x), and wireless network connection (which I believe is supposed to be this router I need) (intel/pro wireless 3945AB. Do you need any other information???
Thanks.

 

If you're down to just your laptop, you really don't need the router. All you should have to do is connect your laptop to your cable modem with the ethernet cable and then your modem to your ISP.

 

Hi,
Good one Tecumseh! Although I might wonder if it is a "workaround ". I suppose adding other computers back into the network would be the test.

Originally I thought it might be this way:
I might see that the original desktop was the "server ". What is happening now is that a "workstation" has taken the role of server, of course it depends on how the network system was set up in the beginning. The installation might need to be uninstalled (including any special network settings) and reinstalled.

I now think this may be more probably:
You say that it has gotten progressively worse. Try turning off the power to the router, wait a while and turn it back on, before connecting to the internet...this may mean "resetting" it before you start the computer if it is an "automatic internet connection" that connects at startup. If this gives you consistent connections I would consider getting a new router (or live with resetting it )

Matt

 

Thanks for the suggestions. I do need the router, because the whole idea is to be wireless so I can carry my laptop around the house and work in other areas, and I have another laptop that we occasionally use too.

I have tried powering down everything and letting it sit for a bit. . and that didn't work. I don't quite understand what you meant to uninstall--the router, or the network setup? I did have the desktop set up as the server, but even after that died for a few days everything still worked great. I installed a new wireless printer the other day. . but everything was working fine after that too. I really don't think there is anything wrong with the router because it's brand new, and the one I had before was doing the same thing.

Do I need a workstation set up if I'm only using the two laptops?

 

Thanks, Tony! I didn't completely understand every step. . and I didn't seem to have some of the stuff listed that you said I should, but it's working! After I renamed the router and then reselected it. . it is now connecting wireless!

Thanks again.

 

I had actually tried resetting it before. . so I'm not sure why it didn't work, but I guess I won't worry about that. Thanks again for all your help. . you guys always solve my problems!