Problems with Internet connection (SBC Yahoo! DSL)

Hi all,

I'm having problems setting up my internet connection on my new Dell Inspiron E1505. It comes with Windows Vista Home Premium.

I have SBC Yahoo! DSL, and my Windows XP laptop and old Windows 98 computer both connect fine. I don't remember exactly how I set it up on the XP laptop, but for the Windows 98 computer I first put in the Home Network setup CD and then put in the SBC Yahoo! DSL cd to install it. But the Dell E1505 didn't come with a home network setup CD, so I just put the DSL installation CD in and ran it. It works fine until after it's copying programs to my new laptop, and then after a while an error message pops up from Windows saying the TCP/IP configuration utility has stopped working, so I click the Close Program button. The DSL setup then seems to continue on, and at the end it asks me to shut down while I set up the adapter or something (my XP laptop is the one 'hosting' the connection). After I restart, another error message pops up saying the WebWorks MFC application (which I assume is the installation program) stops working, and I don't know what to do after that.

Sorry for the long post, but does anyone have any ideas? Thanks.

P.S. I'm not sure if this helps, but my SBC Yahoo! DSL uses just phone lines, and on my old Windows 98 computer I just plug in the phone line and set it up and it works.

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Edit: Another problem I have is that I can't find anywhere to plug an external mouse in. Are the only options for this laptop a USB mouse or wireless mouse?

 

Hi,

No need to appologise - I've seen many much longer posts.

Sorry I don't have many suggestions on that information - I assume your using dialup?

Also, if you haven't got a PS/2 port you can either install a PCI adapter card or use a USB mouse. WIll clarify tommorrow when I've got more time.

Sorry for being so vague now but will expand when more time.

 

Answered on your other post. Understand you are new to the forums, welcome. Please remember not to double post. If you look to the left hand side you and others who want to help will see your post so you don't have to post twice.

 

Wingsbr, i'll remember that next time.

mattireland, it's SBC Yahoo! DSL but I use the same modems as with phone lines.

 

Not sure about the Internet problems - haven't had any problems with SBC Yahoo DSL on XP myself and don't have Vista yet. I'll remember this thread for when I do get Vista.

As for the mouse, you can also get an external PS/2 to USB adaptor. It should be fairly easy to find at the local computer or electronics store. I have a USB to PS/2 adaptor (the opposite) on my old desktop and the mouse works fine.

 

I’m not familiar with SBC Yahoo DSL service, but if it is truly DSL, then you need a special DSL modem. The standard 56k modem shipped with E1505 is not a DSL modem, it is just a Dialup modem.

In any case (even if your connection is regular dialup or use an external DSL modem) you should (unless they use some sort of special encryption / compression etc.) be able to connect without installing any special software provided by the ISP. In XP/Vista you can setup a dialup networking connection, which is all you need.

 

The SBC DSL CD will not work with Vista. SBC has yet to supply anything that will work with Vista. If while running Vista you try to download the SBC software, they will tell you that the software will not work on Vista, it only works on XP. What a bummer.

 

stubbykay is this true? If so then what can I do? Is there another way to setup DSL? I've seen other ways described but they all use another cable, mine just uses a modem to connect to the internet (it should be on a network with the XP host laptop and a Win 98 computer).

How come a friend of mine installed SBC Yahoo! DSL without problems on his Vista laptop?

 

I dont know personally but they claim it should work...I hope this is true.

http://helpme.att.net/article.php?item=10680