New
#1
Setup Help, Wireless Router
I'm going to display my ignorance, and hope someone can help clarify my confusion.
Here's what I have
1. A new Windows 7 Ultimate 64 computer, connected to a cable modem
2. A Netgear RangeMax Dual Band Wireless N Router model WNDR3300
3. An older Windows XP Home SP 3 computer with (at present) no internet connection.
4. A USB wireless network adapter that I want to use on the old computer (Cisco Dual Band Wireless N USB Adapter, model WUSB600N).
Here's what I want to do.
1. Connect the wireless router via a network cable to my new computer
2. Connect the wireless network adapter to my old Windows XP computer
3. Connect my cable modem to the wireless router
4. Have both computers share the internet connection, and (if I can figure out how to do it) have them also share files, folders, and printers (I have two printers, both installed on the new computer.
Now for the points of my confusion.
1. The VERY brief quick setup sheet that comes with the wireless router says: (1) Before you unpack or connect the router, insert the CD into a computer accessing the internet via a wired connection. (It has a picture showing NOT to insert the CD into a computer with no internet connection). (2). Follow the CD instructions to connect and configure your router.
2. Although the manual on the CD has a lot more detail, it is (to me at least) still confusing.
3. When I got the router, I asked about compatibility with Windows 7, and was told that I needed to download an installation CD from the Netgear web site to use to install in lieu of the CD that came packed in the box. So, the first point of my confusion. I assume that I use the downloaded CD with my new Windows 7 computer, and the CD that came packed in the box with my Windows XP computer. But trouble is, I'm not even sure if, once I get the router installed on the Windows 7 system, whether I even NEED to also install it on the Windows XP system.
4. Part of my confusion on this matter, is that since my Windows 7 computer is the only one that has a wired internet connection, how I both run the router setup from there, when there is (at least at the beginning) no connection between the Win 7 computer and the router--the connection is computer network adapter to Cable modem.
5. A complicating factor is that my Win 7 computer has a wireless network adapter installed (though not currently in use). Am I correct in assuming that if I want the router connected directly to my wired network adapter (rather than to my wireless adapter), it would be wise to disable the wireless adapter to prevent both a wired and wireless connection to the cable modem from the same computer? This occurred to me since when I initially was setting up the cable modem, my computer was showing a possible but weak connection through the wireless adapter, which I later determined was my neighbor's router.
It may be that once I actually insert the CD that it will guide me unambiguously through the entire procedure. However the ambiguity of the written instructions are not reassuring on this point. And I hate to start the process, and have to abort it halfway through, perhaps leaving a mess behind and complicating the follow-on process.
As I said at the outset, I'm displaying my ignorance. Though I've been using computer for many years, and feel I'm reasonably capable at configuring and managing them, this is my first experience in the networking arena, and I could use a little hand holding to tell me the steps I should take, in what order, and clear up some of the confusing (to me, anyway) aspects of the instructions. To any one who has some experience in this arena who is willing to share it, I would be most grateful. I'll be glad to provide any additional information that might be helpful.