This morning I had a notice of updates ready. Also, there was a large window that said "This computer is connected to a Network." "Select a location for Network 5 network."
My computer is not - or should not be - connected to any network. I only have one computer. And (having read the choices) I never take a huge desk top to a public place.
Please explain. Can I ignore this? Thank you.
Hazel go to the Network and Sharing centre and open it up and see what is says in there.
In my pic it tells me I am just on the one connection it might be slightly different in your machine as this laptop is on 8 but you should get a readout of what is connected where.
Yes it is ridiculous to have this showing on a desktop so let us know what you have.
All right. I did go there. First I did Status and Tasks. It showed Network 5 Public Network; Access Type: Internet; Connections: Local Area Connection.
I then went to View your active network connections and got a long list. Most had a number and "wire" and a number. A couple had "Net Gear. Then something else.
Of all those, I remember always having "Local Area Connections" on previous computers. That came from whatever ISP I was using.
Should I call my ISP? Or, Dell? The people who took care of my computer have gone out of business and I'm "up a creek without a paddle".
Please tell me this. Can this be just a natural way of setting things up? Or, can it be more shenanigans by that online IT company that changed my virus scanner program. Can they have set up some kind of access to my computer? Or am I just being unduly suspicious?
Thank you for some answers.
Local Area Connection normally refers to a category cable (Ethernet Cable) locally connected to the machine. Do you have any network cables in the back? Do you have any bluetooth connectivity at all? Are you using any mobile broadband based connectivity?
Unless you physically connect a NIC (Network Interface Card) into the machine it should not be connected to anything as it physically can't.
Josh
I agree with Josh and what would be good is to see what the network and sharing in control panel is showing.
If you haven't used it before try this.
Screenshots and Files - Upload and Post in Seven Forums
If you are using a wireless connection you may be picking up some new people in your area, just choose to connect to your own WiFi router.
What all did the "IT Company" put on your laptop?
Josh, there is an Ethernet cable attached to my modem. My ISP would have done that. I made a card about them so I'd know what they were talking about if I was on the phone with them. My modem has three cables: Power cable, Ethernet cable and the cable to the outside of the building. I think those are normal, aren't they?Local Area Connection normally refers to a category cable (Ethernet Cable) locally connected to the machine. Do you have any network cables in the back? Do you have any bluetooth connectivity at all? Are you using any mobile broadband based connectivity?
Unless you physically connect a NIC (Network Interface Card) into the machine it should not be connected to anything as it physically can't.
Josh
As for your other questions, I've not put any kind of card in here. It does have to be physically doen, doesn't it? You can do a "virtual" card, can you? This is all "greek" to me. Sorry.
I wish I knew what all they did. I have no idea. As for WiFi, I have no way to even use WiFi so far as I know. I just use a plain, old-fashioned cable hookup.
I have a feeling - tell me what you think - that I should call Dell and let them do a complete cleanup for a fresh start. That is if they'd even do it. My warrenty has apparently run out - if I ever had one. .
More and more, I thoroughly dislike computers! So many things can go wrong. Then I have someone work on one and can't be sure of what they did! I'm whining?
Can you post a snip of the network window you mentioned?
This is the preferred, best way to upload an image or a file to a post.
Screenshots and Files - Upload and Post in Seven Forums
Press the ALT and PrntScrn keys at the same time, this will capture only the active window to use in Paint or your preferred graphics editor.
You may also upload a photo or image you already have on your PC,as you would a file, without using the Snipping tool.
If you'd like to do a full fresh install we can help with that, or anything else, no need to go to some fly-by-night pseudo-techs.
Yep as Britton asks hazel a bit like my bit on snipping it would be good to see that view.
Now just an alternative and only if you are up for it you could do a clean install using the activation code on the machine's sticker that would give you a real clean start and get rid of the Dell bloatware.
See this Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7
However you must back up all the data you want to keep first or even image it using this
Imaging with free Macrium
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