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Question about firewall
I am trying to connect my laptop wirelessly to my router with a laptop adapter. My computer is showing the connected symbols but I cannot access the internet and I have been told that a firewall is blocking access. Is it safe to turn off the firewall, I have AVG free security programme installed. Please help me in a non technical way as I am not overly clued up with computers. Thanks, Kath.
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Is it someone else telling you that the firewall is blocking access or is it the connecting software telling you?
When you're not connected to the internet, it doesn't matter if the firewall is on or off.
Connecting to a wireless router is best done initially using an ethernet cable, not the wireless. There is usually one supplied with the router, but a shortish one is not expensive. The reasons are first, you won't have anyone else in the neighbourhood 'listening in or seeing' your computer when you're connecting for the first time. Initially you won't have encryption enabled so a wireless connection could be 'looked at'. Secondly, there is less chance that the setup will be interrupted due to a loss of wireless connection. It is very likely that your encyption key has not been properly applied, which is causing the inability to connect to the internet.
So, 1. Connect the laptop directly to the computer.
I assume you've already installed the software for the laptop adapter. It is during this phase that the instructions tell you to physically install the adapter, be it a USB or a PCMCIA card.
2. Ensure the software is properly installed for the router.
3. Have the encryption key to hand to put in when asked for.
4. When the computer is connected to the internet, turn on the firewall. Turn the computer off and disconnect the ethernet cable. You should then be able to switch it back on and connect wirelessly to the internet. This is a general rule of thumb and some makes take a slightly different approach, so I hope it helps.
When you're not connected to the internet, it doesn't matter if the firewall is on or off.
Connecting to a wireless router is best done initially using an ethernet cable, not the wireless. There is usually one supplied with the router, but a shortish one is not expensive. The reasons are first, you won't have anyone else in the neighbourhood 'listening in or seeing' your computer when you're connecting for the first time. Initially you won't have encryption enabled so a wireless connection could be 'looked at'. Secondly, there is less chance that the setup will be interrupted due to a loss of wireless connection. It is very likely that your encyption key has not been properly applied, which is causing the inability to connect to the internet.
So, 1. Connect the laptop directly to the computer.
I assume you've already installed the software for the laptop adapter. It is during this phase that the instructions tell you to physically install the adapter, be it a USB or a PCMCIA card.
2. Ensure the software is properly installed for the router.
3. Have the encryption key to hand to put in when asked for.
4. When the computer is connected to the internet, turn on the firewall. Turn the computer off and disconnect the ethernet cable. You should then be able to switch it back on and connect wirelessly to the internet. This is a general rule of thumb and some makes take a slightly different approach, so I hope it helps.
Thanks for your answer but I don't understand everything that you have mentioned. I will try and explain what I have done, I bought the laptop adapter from Staples and started to install it, it wouldn't connect to the internet without the ethernet cable so I phoned Staples and was told I would benefit from a connect me deal at £14.99 which gave me a freephone number to a support team so I bought it and went through them to try to get connected, I realised that the wifi symbols were there on my task bar and that technically I was connected although I could not access the internet. After trying several things the support technician said that the firewall was blocking the connection to the actual internet and that he could not take me any further with the problem, I asked him if he could turn off the firewall but he said I needed a different support package from Staples called PC Support which lasted for six months and they would sort it out. What I want to know is why I can't just turn off my firewall until I am connected properly and then switch the firewall back on. I hope I have explained it enough for you to understand. I am no nearer solving my problem as I don't understand about encryption, I will probably just try the PC Support team as it has a money back guarantee to sort it out. Thanks again, Kath.
You say you can connect to the internet via the ethernet cable, therefore it's unlikely to be the firewall that's the problem
However you should be able to turn off the Windows firewall by clicking on the START button, usually in the bottom left hand corner of your screen (desktop) and typing 'firewall' in the address bar at the bottom of the pop-up. This will give you a choice of turning the firewall on and off and/or allowing certain programmes past it, plus various bits of other information. As it's a new computer, I'm assuming you're using Windows 7, but you can still get at the firewall controls the same way in XP and Vista. It is possible that when you get to the Windows 7 firewall control it will tell you that AVG is controlling it, in which case AVG will be the programme to use to switch it off.
Reconnect the ethernet cable and go to your WiFi router manufacturer's Website. Look for support for your model and if you've already registered it you should be able to get the necessary details of your own model including its encryption key, which you should note down. It will be a long string of upper and lower case letters plus some numbers. I recommend printing the page and put it somewhere safe.
If you're using the laptop's built in wireless, then a call to the manufacturer should assist with connection, though I am at a loss to know why Staple's could not help.
If your Wireless router was supplied by your ISP, then a call to them should help in a last resort.
The trouble is that when you boot up a computer the first time after getting it from the retailer it should find your router automatically and connect after you enter some personal details. You should use encryption when using a wireless router as your neighbours could access your internet traffic. Good luck!
However you should be able to turn off the Windows firewall by clicking on the START button, usually in the bottom left hand corner of your screen (desktop) and typing 'firewall' in the address bar at the bottom of the pop-up. This will give you a choice of turning the firewall on and off and/or allowing certain programmes past it, plus various bits of other information. As it's a new computer, I'm assuming you're using Windows 7, but you can still get at the firewall controls the same way in XP and Vista. It is possible that when you get to the Windows 7 firewall control it will tell you that AVG is controlling it, in which case AVG will be the programme to use to switch it off.
Reconnect the ethernet cable and go to your WiFi router manufacturer's Website. Look for support for your model and if you've already registered it you should be able to get the necessary details of your own model including its encryption key, which you should note down. It will be a long string of upper and lower case letters plus some numbers. I recommend printing the page and put it somewhere safe.
If you're using the laptop's built in wireless, then a call to the manufacturer should assist with connection, though I am at a loss to know why Staple's could not help.
If your Wireless router was supplied by your ISP, then a call to them should help in a last resort.
The trouble is that when you boot up a computer the first time after getting it from the retailer it should find your router automatically and connect after you enter some personal details. You should use encryption when using a wireless router as your neighbours could access your internet traffic. Good luck!
Hi rccatnap, my laptop is not a new one, it is running Windows XP, I bought it new at christmas 2004. In May 2009 I bought a desktop computer, running Vista Home Premium, so the laptop was not used much. Lately my husband has been using it via a 10 metre ethernet cable with was trailed across the lounge/diner to the router in the hallway, we decided to go wireless and so came to the present problems. We have 14 days from the purchase of the laptop card to return it for a full refund so I am keen to get it sorted as quickly as possible. I don't know if it makes a difference that the laptop is not new and doesn't have built in wi fi, my desktop is connected to the internet by a Netgear dongle as that didn't have it built in wi fi either. I will keep trying to connect, thanks for all your input. Kath.
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