We (the whole family) gave Ashley a laptop for graduation, and she's very excited. I agreed to set up the wireless internet connection for her, and went over last night to do so.
I had set up wireless in that house before, when I gave Andrew my old computer. He complained that it didn't work properly (funny, it worked every time I went over to check it- I think he just wanted to be on the computer downstairs) and Dad came over and removed the router setup. Fine. Now they wanted me to put it back, but Dad didn't keep everything together. First I was missing the ethernet cable, then I discovered that the software was missing (what I thought was the disk turned out to be the disk for an earlier router by the same brand). To make matters worse, their computer started acting up, refusing to acknowledge its connection to the internet despite the fact that I had restored the computer/modem connection to its pre-router state. I wound up having to run to Staples quickly before they closed to buy a new router. Fine. Got a better one for less money. Back to the house. I uninstalled everything having to do with the old router and began setting up the new. Tried to reconnect to the internet. Tried several times. Went back to an earlier restore point. Still wouldn't acknowledge. One screen mentioned something about unchecking the "Work Offline" tab under "Tools." Now, I never checked it in the first place, but when I looked I saw that the computer had, mysteriously, checked the box on its own. I unchecked it, and the internet was restored.
Hurray.
I began to set up the router and, though there were a couple of false starts due to me (literally) having some wires crossed, it went well. Until the last stage, when it asked me for the PPPoE password so the router could automatically connect to the internet. I asked Mom for the password, but she didn't know what it was; Dad had set it up all those years ago. So I called Dad. He irritably informed me that he couldn't remember what it was, and that he had written everything down and given it to Mom at the time. Mom and I searched, but couldn't find it. Mom was so upset, feeling stupid for not paying attention. Dad has that effect on all of us when he takes a certain tone of voice, and I became angry on her behalf. Should she have paid more attention? Yes. Should she feel like an idiot because she can't remember where she placed something years ago and which she hasn't needed since? I don't think so. I told her not to worry about it, that it's a simple fix. We can just call the ISP and get the password, no big deal. But when I left last night- after 11- she was still tearing apart the home office looking for that stupid thing instead of enjoying the program she had been watching. She felt so badly, too, because she wants to get Ashley's laptop hooked up to the internet so Ashes can enjoy it as she was meant to do. I felt badly for putting Mom in this state, one which I couldn't undo. At least now I know where I get that touch of OCD from. And here I was blaming it on having bipolar!
I got home sometime after 11, where Randy was patiently waiting for me. "Mission unaccomplished" I had to report, sadly.
I'll go back today, and try again.
Erg.
I had set up wireless in that house before, when I gave Andrew my old computer. He complained that it didn't work properly (funny, it worked every time I went over to check it- I think he just wanted to be on the computer downstairs) and Dad came over and removed the router setup. Fine. Now they wanted me to put it back, but Dad didn't keep everything together. First I was missing the ethernet cable, then I discovered that the software was missing (what I thought was the disk turned out to be the disk for an earlier router by the same brand). To make matters worse, their computer started acting up, refusing to acknowledge its connection to the internet despite the fact that I had restored the computer/modem connection to its pre-router state. I wound up having to run to Staples quickly before they closed to buy a new router. Fine. Got a better one for less money. Back to the house. I uninstalled everything having to do with the old router and began setting up the new. Tried to reconnect to the internet. Tried several times. Went back to an earlier restore point. Still wouldn't acknowledge. One screen mentioned something about unchecking the "Work Offline" tab under "Tools." Now, I never checked it in the first place, but when I looked I saw that the computer had, mysteriously, checked the box on its own. I unchecked it, and the internet was restored.
Hurray.
I began to set up the router and, though there were a couple of false starts due to me (literally) having some wires crossed, it went well. Until the last stage, when it asked me for the PPPoE password so the router could automatically connect to the internet. I asked Mom for the password, but she didn't know what it was; Dad had set it up all those years ago. So I called Dad. He irritably informed me that he couldn't remember what it was, and that he had written everything down and given it to Mom at the time. Mom and I searched, but couldn't find it. Mom was so upset, feeling stupid for not paying attention. Dad has that effect on all of us when he takes a certain tone of voice, and I became angry on her behalf. Should she have paid more attention? Yes. Should she feel like an idiot because she can't remember where she placed something years ago and which she hasn't needed since? I don't think so. I told her not to worry about it, that it's a simple fix. We can just call the ISP and get the password, no big deal. But when I left last night- after 11- she was still tearing apart the home office looking for that stupid thing instead of enjoying the program she had been watching. She felt so badly, too, because she wants to get Ashley's laptop hooked up to the internet so Ashes can enjoy it as she was meant to do. I felt badly for putting Mom in this state, one which I couldn't undo. At least now I know where I get that touch of OCD from. And here I was blaming it on having bipolar!
I got home sometime after 11, where Randy was patiently waiting for me. "Mission unaccomplished" I had to report, sadly.
I'll go back today, and try again.
Erg.
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