Windows 7 Killed My Network

I have an old tower with XP SP3, my family has three laptops--one with XP SP3, one with Vista, and a Windows 7 laptop--and an ipad2.

The local cable company rents us a modem, and we network through our "old faithful" Belkin Wireless G Router. It's going on 4 years. Our previous router was a solid machine as well, but we "upgraded" to the Belkin in 2008.

I'm a desktop/tower guy, unlike the rest of my family (obviously), who are all into laptops and macintosh silliness. We also have two Netflix-receiving DVD/BluRay players, which connect without problems through our Belkin, and an i-Touch, which I believe is my son's way of chatting with his girlfriend during dinner. Of course, through the Belkin, and again, without problems.

The point is this: we have all shared the same network for years, and have never had any problems with it.

THEN we got a new tower with Windows 7. W7 is New to me. Oh sure, my son's laptop has Windows 7, but I'm completely unfamiliar with it.

I'm not exactly a computer genius, but I'm also not exactly a complete dummy on setting these things up. After all, I've been fairly successful for over a decade with our various family computers, video games (I forgot to mention the PS3), and network needs.

But this WIndows 7 thing has me completely baffled.

I tried to plug the new tower into the old tower's spot. Simple swap out. I.e., make it the hardwired point for the modem/router exchange, and keep everything else as it's been--nice and smooth--for years. Easy enough, yeah?

No. That's not happening. I'm not sure how, but Windows 7 killed our internet connection.

The W7 tower's control panel's network interface keeps telling me we have three, no... four, no... two networks. Or none. And "merging" or "deleting" some of these only works for awhile; they're all like zombies, and keep coming back to life. The worst part--with the WIndows machine in the old tower's spot, our Belkin is COMPLETELY unresponsive.

Our solution? Shut down the W7 computer, bring back the old, trusty (XP SP3) tower, and set things back up like they were two days ago. You know, before I made the mistake of buying a W7 machine.

And yes, the internet it back up and running fine. The Belkin is again happily chuggin along, still allowing us internet access from all laptops, macintosh gadgets, and Netlfix-receiving gear.

NOW, can anyone tell me how to turn that Windows 7 machine back on without it AGAIN killing my internet? Please?

Continue reading...