My Notebook Won’t Connect to My New N750 Linksys Router or When You’re Not Holding All The Aces Your Holding The Bag

Holding All the Aces
My ever faithful US Robotics Router has been acting very intermittent lately, so it was time to replace it. After all, the servers that sit behind it run this site and some others and we can’t have those down. So, with a little research I ended up with a Linksys N750 (EA3500) router. Configuring the basic router functions went pretty easily, it did take a while to find where to input the virtual settings so the servers would get pass thru on the correct ports. But, all in all it went pretty well and those functions wouldn’t be used by a typical household.

UNTIL…. I went to configure my notebook to connect to the wireless part of the router.

Holding the Bag
After using the settings that came with the router for wireless access, my notebook asked for the pass code (as normal), I supplied it, but, unfortunately it wouldn’t connect. I thought it must be in that new fangled WPA2/WPA Mixed setting. After all it’s too simple to just supply the wireless password and everything would work right? right! After all the usual computer consulting trouble shooting, I changed the settings to the old standard WEP, still no dice. Linksys support website said to attempt the connection put in the password and you’ll connect, then asked “Was this information helpful?”.  But what if that doesn’t work? What now?

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This is where we have to think small, and start methodically. Here’s what to do:

  1. Unplug the Linksys Router, wait about 20 seconds and plug it back in. Wait for it to boot up completely.
  2. Restart the device (in my case my notebook) and attempt the connection.
  3. It Worked.

Amazing how much, just resetting clears the confusion in a device sometimes. So, next time before you make the call, check the connections, power down the devices and try one last time. BTW, there is an order to starting network devices and each one should be completely up before you move on to the next one, and they are: Modem, Router, Switch, Computer.

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2 Easy Ways to Tune Up Your Computer

Everybody wants a faster computer. Except now you have everything just the way you want it, desktop is functional, all your programs are easy to get to. You don’t want to spend hours getting a new computer and setting it up. Heck, your happy. It’s just you want to have a little more oomph in your computer “Getty up”.

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Well, here are two ways you can further unleash the beast inside your computer.

Adding more memory
Many purchased computers have just a minimal amount of memory installed, computers use memory while running your programs. Programs do their work in memory, giving programs more room to work allows them to work faster. Increasing your computer memory will help.

Also, take a look at storage
There are still a lot of computers that have not taken advantage of some real technological advancements. Upgrading your hard drive from mechanical to solid state will create an immediate speed enhancement. Programs will load faster, databases will work faster. I can almost guarantee a WOW factor just from this upgrade alone.

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Some of us often confuse memory with storage
Think of it this way; let’s say you’re working in Microsoft Word in a new document and the power goes out. You would lose the document you’re working on, but, you wouldn’t lose Microsoft Word. It would still be on your computer. Why would you lose your document? Because memory is temporary storage. When you start Word, the computer takes Word from storage and loads it into memory. The new document you created hasn’t been saved yet so it’s only in memory and not stored. When the power goes out memory is cleared. When you save your document it’s taken from memory and stored in storage.

I would be happy to quote any upgrades you might have in mind. Here are just a few that could increase your system performance without purchasing a new system. Give me a call I’d be happy to help.