Those of you who know me also know that I am a pretty
low-tech person when it comes to computers.
The router on my computer from which both my husband and
I get internet access for our wireless computers has been slowly failing. It would cut us off the internet at least
once a day, and this week it was three to four times a day. So, it was time to buy a new router.
Whenever we buy any new computer-related equipment, it
becomes a major ordeal for us to get everything up and running. Today was definitely no exception.
The salesman at the office supply store advised us to
purchase a mid-priced router that we just had to plug in and it would
automatically set itself up. Yeah,
right!
We brought it home, and I loaded the software. It was no surprise to us when we discovered
it did not connect us to the internet. We
did everything we could figure out, disconnecting, reconnecting our modem and
router and re-booting our computers. It
still did not work. We called the store
where we bought it, and the salesman advised us to call our internet
provider. Apparently our internet
provider had to reset something on their end, and voila! It worked!
We thought we were good to go until I tried to print
something. Of course, I’d forgotten that
the new network would be unable to connect to my wireless printer. I searched the printer’s support site, and it
gave step-by-step instructions on how to connect it to the new network, but
when it reached the step to push a button on the router that did not exist, we
were stuck again.
I called the support line for the router, and I was told
that since the printer was from a third party, it was out of their “scope” of
training. He said he would be glad to
connect me to their partner support company that could help me if I signed up
for their contract. No thanks!
We searched the printer’s support website and “Googled”
for help. After hours of struggling, we
finally found a way to set up the printer using a cable. Whoopee!
It worked!
We now have a new router that is connecting us to the
internet just fine AND my printer is communicating with my computer!
So, other than this blog, I have gotten no work done
today. Oh well, tomorrow is another day.
Those of you who know how to work with all these
electronic gadgets easily likely are laughing right now. I have come a very long way with my technological
knowledge over the past few years, but I still have a very long way to go! You can stop laughing now!
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