#$@!$*#@$&!# network settings!

I'm so frustrated with this it isn't funny. I spent several hours yesterday trying to get Eric's system talking to the network and it would say it was connected but couldn't find the internet. Mine worked fine. So after class last night, I changed our encryption from WEP to WPA so we could just enter a password to get in. Simpler and supposedly better. Well, then NEITHER system could find the internet. After about three hours of fussing with it and changing the network name from TickledPink to something less girly and a password that matched my mood, I gave up. I figured today I would remove the @$#$%@$! encryption. Eric woke me up to kiss me goodbye saying, "Thanks for getting my computer fixed!"

huh?

Hmm. It was raining last night and our cable system was going on and off. We have DSL but maybe there were power problems somewhere that affected both? OK. I hopefully booted my laptop. To my delight, yahoo messenger attached! Then, because my computer is stupid and tries to re-attach and bungles itself up for reasons I haven't been able to figure out, it lost connection again. OK, no biggie. I'm used to that. I clicked the icon and said "Repair" as I always do. It stalled at "Acquiring IP Address."

OK computer, two can play that game. I told the network to disable the card, popped the NIC card out of the slot and waited ten seconds, then clicked it back into place. Nothing happened. I clicked the icon. No networks appeared in the window. Refresh did nothing. I popped the card out and rebooted. This is my alternate strategy. Wait until the boot process is finished and THEN click the NIC card in place. The double connect doesn't happen then. (Yes, I understand the problem is in my Startup but can't for the life of me figure out which program in the list is messing with my network connection.)

Nothing. This time, refresh Wireless Networks comes up with the network. I click it to enable my connection. It stalls at Acquiring IP Address again.

I reboot the router, which does have a yellow warning light on it. Still the warning light, still the "Acquiring IP Address" message.

You know, I'm about ready to run cables through the wall. If I get nice muted colors, maybe they won't be so obvious draped across the fireplace we never use.

I have homework to do that requires the use of my laptop ONLINE, damnit! If Eric's system weren't working, I'd take the stupid encryption off. But his is such a freaking bear to get working I don't dare change anything again. I think I'm calling Linksys. Or I'm buying a long network cable just for me for now.

another half a day wasted

Eric'c laptop won't work with WEP encryption but will work with WPA encryption.
My laptop works great with WEP but the router won't give it a network address with WPA.

I've just spent the last four hours in three separate chat sessions with the good people at Linksys. I've downloaded and installed firmware, found Eric's networking cable behind everything on his side of the room only to find my laptop doesn't recognize the router connection even with a wire, and I have again unencrypted our wireless network just to get all the machines working. I really thought if I had problems between Linksys products that they'd be able to get it going. But nooooo.

I feel like Cartman on South Park.. "Screw you guys, I'm going home." Only I'm home already. Grrrr.

That's 4 hours I should have been working on my final project for networking or for Advanced Java. Now I eat and go to two different doctors appointments and to computer lab.

PTHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! (that's a raspberry)

I wonder if the router is damaged? The last tech guy didn't think so because it works unencrypted. *sigh*

Why am I going into networking again? Oh. Steady work that won't be exported. That's right.

For those who think milk chocolate is too sweet

Mochas made with dark chocolate syrup are Da Bomb!

Safeway was out of dark chocolate syrup last night when I went in to buy more. :( Today's non-fat soy mocha was waaaaay too sweet. Bleh.

Oh well. Caffiene is my friend until I get more of the higher dose of Adderall later today or tomorrow.