Tina C Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 We decided to get BB for Layla - £10 a month extra - great deal - if you can use it. I know this could be a complicated subject but I am just trying to find out if I am flogging a dead horse, so to speak. As we don't have the money to spend on a new PC we have the option of using a very old desktop (Windows98) - previously used dialup - or a not so old laptop (XP) - previously used bb - but we can't get the Virgin broadband working on either of them. We have gone through the book supplied and tried looking at Virgin's own online help pages. Useless! We know the modem is working because we tried it on Mike's (newer) laptop. We have sent an email to Virgin but it could take days for a reply. We could call the 'helpline' but calls cost £1 a minute My question is - is there anything obvious that we could/should do to get the thing up and running on our older PCs. I suspect it is something to do with the PC settings - either not recognising the modem or not set up to look for the BB connection properly? We don't want to go down the wireless route at the moment and she can't be networked into mine as it isn't mine anyway (ie I don't pay the bills). We are using Virgin as we don't want the expense of BT installation. Hugely grateful for any clues but feel a bit guilty as I have not been posting much lately (although have been reading and laughing/sympathising with you all as approapriate - just 'silently') thanks Tina Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bronze Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 I agree it sounds like a problem between the computers and the modem rather than anything to do with the actual bb. Is you work one bb because if she was networked into it it wouldnt actually cost anyone any more. (unless you have a download limit) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tina C Posted January 17, 2008 Author Share Posted January 17, 2008 The work one is BB Bron, but we are not supposed to use it for personal stuff Mike's work laptop found the modem without any difficulty but I assume with the older machines we are going to have to do something manually. I am just annoyed with Virgin as they say they provide everything to get you set up but they don't really - then they want to charge you for advice. So at the moment we have BB that we can't use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 I'm not very good at this, but I'll have a go! Did you have a disc to load the modem drivers on to the PC? When we first went on tiscali BB we loaded the disc, ran the software and it found it no problem. (thats as far as my knowledge goes though, sorry ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 Perhaps you should remove the old dial up files. Maybe they are getting in the way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tina C Posted January 17, 2008 Author Share Posted January 17, 2008 Thanks Snowy, that is another source of annoyance - got a letter saying engineer would provide a CD Rom but he assured me we did not need one. The installation guide provided contains no ref to a CD-Rom either so we assumed that was correct. Perhaps I should call and demand the CD-Rom we were promised in the letter. edited becuase I called Snowy Smowy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tina C Posted January 17, 2008 Author Share Posted January 17, 2008 This is great - advice from all directions- thanks! The instructions told us how to stop the computer using the dial-up by 'unticking' a box. We assumed that was enough - do you think we should remove the old files then - not sure how but should be able to work it out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 Where's Fred when we need him? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 It might help. Can't promise anything though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tina C Posted January 17, 2008 Author Share Posted January 17, 2008 Fred where are yoouuuu? I think we need the 'younger' generation onto this one Ooooh I just got this email mesage from my OH: 'I used the Michael Palin approach of “You get more from people if you are nice” and the lovely Jenny has arranged for a Steve Ramsbottom to call us tonight or tomorrow night after 6.30 to work out how to make windows 98 talk to the modem.' Fingers crossed everyone and thanks for reading! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 Good luck and hope it works! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperman Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 I think it is to do with your network settings. They are under Start/control/network if I remember rightly. You need to tick the LAN (local area network) configure also tick DCHP if there is the option I think that should be on the WINS tab. TCP/IP settings should be configured 'by server' or 'Automatically'. Also never dial a connection should be ticked but I think you already done that. You don't need to uninstall the dial up software. Finally unplug you router wait 3 seconds plug it back in again and then reboot the machine I don't know if this is necessary but Scotty always does it on Star Trek. There is also the possibility that your router does not support 98, quite a lot of hardware now only goes back as far as XP or 2000. Just checked and it looks like 98 is still supported. Hope this helps, but it is from memory and I don't even use Windows anymore. You could always install the Ubuntu operating system its free and very good and all applications for it are also free. I have been using it for about six months now I think it is great Hope this help, Kev. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tina C Posted January 17, 2008 Author Share Posted January 17, 2008 Once I have translated that Kev I will give it a go Hopefully the Virgin 'expert' will put us on the right track but will certainly try your suggestion while we are waiting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 I have Virgin broadband so if it helps I can tell you what my settings are (sounds like Kev's covered it though ). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bellekatz Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 If you unplug the modem you should leave it 30 secs as it needs time to drop the old IP address and pick up a new connection Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoid Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 Can I have the model numbers of the modem please. Also how does the modem connect to the pc? (USB etc) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tina C Posted January 17, 2008 Author Share Posted January 17, 2008 Can I have the model numbers of the modem please. Also how does the modem connect to the pc? (USB etc) Sorry Fred, been away from the forum for a couple of hours! No phone call from Virgin yet - typical The modem model number is E08C007 - no manufacturer as its branded Virgin Media. The modem connects via an ethernet cable. On the old desktop this goes via a PCI card we have installed ourselves (as there was no socket for the cable - told you its old!) and on the old laptop the (supplied by Virgin) ethernet cable plugs straight in. I have now tried Couperman's notes but not able to navigate myself to the places he suggested, or can't make sense of where I end up. Aha - but I haven't tried it on the laptop - will go and fiddle with the laptop now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperman Posted January 18, 2008 Share Posted January 18, 2008 Hope this helps, but it is from memory and I don't even use Windows anymore. You could always install the Ubuntu operating system its free and very good and all applications for it are also free. I have been using it for about six months now I think it is great My 20 year old cousin is one of the tech support guys for Ubuntu and is known to the bloke who owns it (another young bloke who was a South African space tourist I think). They all had a big shin-dig in Spain last year and I forced my cousin to book train tickets / hotel so that he could join in - he was nervous about going on his own but I think he had a great time when he got there and I told him that it would all be good experience for when he is older. He keeps trying to put Ubuntu on my machines - he has revolving desktops for work and play and stuff like that but I won't let him put it on our machines yet - they need to get more of the drivers sorted out (he still has to flick back into Windows for various applications). The only thing I miss about Windows is being able to run a hooky version of Autocad. The amount of software available for free on linux is unbelievable and the system itself is far better than Windows in my opinion. The main reason I switched was Microsoft spyware kept telling me that my legit software was counterfeit, I also didn't like paying extra for things that should be included with the o/s like DVD burning. I really like the look and feel of Ubuntu an I have learnt far more about how computers should work because the info is freely available with Linux. If I had a prob with Windows I usually fixed it with a fresh install as it was quicker than trying to find out what was wrong. I can now hold my head up high and state that I do not run pirate software. The biggest downside to Linux seems to be that fancy games aren't available for it yet, I can live with that. The South African dude is Mark Shuttleworth, he differs from Bill Gates in the fact he wants poor people to have access to the tinterweb and spends his money trying to achieve that by funding open source software projects such as Ubuntu which is an African word meaning 'Humanity to others' Microsoft is an American word that means 'More money for Bill' Kev. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rachel19 Posted January 18, 2008 Share Posted January 18, 2008 We installed virgin broadband in our student house a couple of months back and needed the CD for it so im confused as to why you didnt get one The others in my house had problems connecting due to old connections on their laptops interfering with it. Other than that we had no problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tina C Posted January 19, 2008 Author Share Posted January 19, 2008 Just wanted to say we are now up and running on the old laptop - with the help of Virgin Tech support - with no charge! Thanks to everyone who replied - and the techie chat between Dan and Couperman was quite interesting too I think Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted January 19, 2008 Share Posted January 19, 2008 Good news . Nothing worse than pcs/laptops that won't do what you want . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted January 19, 2008 Share Posted January 19, 2008 Am glad you are up and running. the techie chat between Dan and Couperman was quite interesting too I think The only sentence I understood was reboot the machine I don't know if this is necessary but Scotty always does it on Star Trek." That made perfect sense to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperman Posted January 20, 2008 Share Posted January 20, 2008 I must admit since using Linux (Ubuntu) I have learnt far more about computers and how they actually work even though I thought I was taking a backward step (ie command line stuff) I was happy navigating DOS and Unix fifteen years ago pre Windows, but I didn't understand how the systems worked software wise. I have built several Windows PCs from scratch and then spent weeks trying to get the required hardware/software to work usually involving shelling out cash. Linux Ubuntu isn't perfect and has a few minor issues, but generally speaking it works very well indeed. If you buy new hardware, the installation disc (for windows) is handy to park your Coffee on, whilst Linux tells you that it's ready to go. if you care to add the up the prices of: Vista, Microsoft Office, Photoshop, Nero, Lightwave, 3d studio etc, all of which Linux supplies viable alternatives to as standard for nothing, and then factor in the 'Don't need a virus checker' or ever have to worry about such things, then it is worth looking at. There is an alternative to Autocad apperantly, called VariCad for about £250 as opposed to £2500. Kev. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
babypink Posted January 20, 2008 Share Posted January 20, 2008 Hi I have just had virgin broadband put in, they gave me their own modem all I did was switch laptop on and fire up explorer, then typed in the URL in the handbook and it took a few minutes and then went through the set up and its worked. Sound to me like you modem may not be compatable if your BB was via ADSL it will not work as Virgin is Cable Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tina C Posted January 20, 2008 Author Share Posted January 20, 2008 Thanks babypink the problem did get resolved in the end - Virgin did give us the modem but we had to fiddle with the old equipment to get it working. I think it is much easier with 'modern' PCs. Still following Dan and Couperman's discussions with interest though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
