Tangent 21 - BT Broadband Problems

Posted by
Alan

Posted on
20:34
Jun 19 2005

BT Broadband Problems

Hi people, I recently got ADSL from BT and set it up on my PC with no problems.

However, my Mum decided she wanted to have access on her (somewhat dated) PC as well, so attempting to follow the instructions on the setup CD, I connected her PC to the modem/router with the supplied cables, still leaving mine connected.

I couldnÂ’t get the main setup app to run Â– it just comes up with a blank window. I tried running another .exe file on the CD.

Soon after, I was instructed to insert the Windows CD (Win98 Second Edition Â– ItÂ’s quite an old machineÂ…) because it couldnÂ’t find Â‘choosusr.dllÂ’, which wasnÂ’t on the Windows disc. This happened 77 more times, leaving me with a huge number of missing files needed for setup, which donÂ’t seem to be on the Win98 CD or the BT CD.

I canÂ’t find the files to download online, and when Win98 was next booted up, it claimed Windows might need some of the files to work properly (even though it then seemed to boot up OK).

IÂ’d stick up a list of the files right now, but thereÂ’re 78 file names to type in so IÂ’ll stick them up a bit later, as well as the PC system specs.

Has anyone any ideas how to sort it out?

8 Replies and 1400 Views in Total.

gobstopper Eventually, I'll think of something witty to put here ;-)

by Alan
I connected her PC to the modem/router with the supplied cables, still leaving mine connected.

It is important to know whether it is a modem or a router as there is a distinct difference in behaviour between the two. I'm guessing, as you point out that your PC is connected to it too, that it is a router rather than a modem.

If so, I wouldn't have expected you to need to install any software at all. Most home routers are automatically configured to use DHCP. With all participating machines connected to the router via network cables (most routers allow about 4 or so machines to connect) and the TCP/IP network settings on each PC configured to "Obtain an IP Address automatically" that the machines should simply be able to connect without installing or configuring anything else. The router has the job of maintaining an open connection with your broadband provider and it is then able to "route" individual connection requests from each PC and make sure that the right answers are passed back to the correct machine.

As far as the problem with the missing files is concerned, I'm afraid to say that the best option, as far as I know, is to re-install Windows (the classic Microsoft solution to all ills). It will, unfortunately, mean that most of the applications will need to be re-installed too, but as long as you don't re-format the hard disk all the data files should remain.

Posted: 22:16 Jun 19 2005

Alan Got a message from the Great Lakes Avengers, They offered me a membership but didn't accept... they're a walking disaster... Just don't make sense at all... the worst heroes of all time, To call thems

Ah well, thanks for the advice.

Truth be told, we managed to sort it out just over an hour ago with the tweaking of much settings, after we realised that even though IE (which we were using to test the connection) still couldn't connect, AVG antivirus was mysteriously downloading an update - of all the cheek!

So now all works and is good. But I still haven't managed to convince everyone to switch to Firefox...

Posted: 23:28 Jun 19 2005

SkyBabies "That excruciating pain that removes you, that hurts, that makes you feel disembodied and alone, truly, truly alone, that pain is real." - Ginger, 2003

by Alan
So now all works and is good. But I still haven't managed to convince everyone to switch to Firefox...

Use the tabbed windows as your next point of attack - thats what swung me! I love having all my sites in one window with the tabs across the top - hehe

Posted: 23:44 Jun 19 2005

Mentioned that and the search bar, but no dice so far. But then it's the default browser on my PC, which as the fastest in the house, is kinda the default browser too...

Posted: 23:48 Jun 19 2005

Funky Monkey When I discover who I am, IÂ’ll be free

by SkyBabies
(quotes)

Use the tabbed windows as your next point of attack - thats what swung me! I love having all my sites in one window with the tabs across the top - hehe

Tabs do indeed rock the furry badger!

Posted: 18:32 Jun 29 2005

guffer Everybody is dead, Dave

Guess what new feature IE 7 has? Shock, horror its tabbed browsing