Help with wireless modem router pls

[diplodocus]

Hi
I have been using wired broadband and have just hauled myself into the 21st century by buying a wireless router modem (Netgear Wireless N300). I have managed to set it up so the laptop and other wireless devices connect, but not the desktop (which is a Dell about 4-5 years old and runs windows vista), which I tried to connect though an ethernet cable. I keep getting the message "IP conflict detected." It won't bring up the browser for the Netgear set up wizard (it's now setup on my laptop) or in any way recognise the connection to the new modem.Can anyone suggest what I need to do? Thanks very much.

Have you tried turning everything off and on again? An IP is like an address. You can specify your address (less likely) or be given a new one by your internet provider everytime everything turns on (more likely). Turn everything off then on, hopefully everything will get its own address. HTH!

I agree. Turn everything off then turn the desktop back on first. It's possible that it has a fixed IP address... Your router should dynamically assign ip addresses as each device tries to connect.

thanks very much for this - I've just tried that as suggested and while I now no longer get the IP conflict message, it still won't connect and says it does not recognise the modem. Do I have to do anything with drivers, or change settings. Is an etheret cable enough to connect the modem to the desktop? Do I need some sort of adapter as well?
Thanks again

Are you sure the desktop has a wireless card?Unless its a top end model,they dont come as standard in a desktop like they do in a laptop.
Just connect with the ethernet cable or buy a wireless adapter

Hi I've already connected with an ethernet cable (I don't think it would have a wireless card).

Sorry I got the wrong end of the stick,it could well be the drivers,have you checked in Control Panel if there any red or yellow circles,indicating errors.
Might be worth checking Windows updates to see if there are any updates for Network Adapters,

Unlikely to be a problem with the drivers or hardware on the Vista PC (sorry 1sassylassy). There are a few ways there can be a conflict of IP addresses...

1. router has same IP as PC (unlikely but not impossible)

Some routers have IP of 192.168.1.254 others use 192.168.1.1, others may have a 10.0.0.x IP (I generally set up clients with 10.0.0.100, but that's because if I ever have to sort out problems "blind" using the phone, then I remember the numbers... though have now become a bit more used to the 192.168... combinations)

2. PC was fixed with an address that has just been used by one of the wireless devices...

The router doesn't know (or care) what address the PC is, and simply allocates addresses within a pre-defined range (so may dish out 192.168.1.10, .11, .12, etc and PC might have been set up as .10 too)

I used to be able to talk someone through the settings on Windows XP without looking at a PC screen, but cannot do the same for Vista or Win 7. I would happily "talk you through" the settings on the Dell if you want.

In essence, you'd need to go in the control panel, networking area, find the network adaptors, choose the ethernet card, and select TCP/IP configuration/ properties.

You may be able to get there from the network icon near the system clock - there's usually 'status' available, which can be used to determine the computer's IP address and some other settings, and may be a 'properties' button (which allows access to the TCP/IP settings).

If you see the settings, there may be a 'radio button' (only one can be enabled) which allows toggling between a manual IP and 'allocated by DHCP' (or 'automatic' or whatever). If using 'manual' the ethernet port's IP address can be defined as 192.168.x.x netmask as 255.255.255.0 and there should be gateway and DNS addresses too.

Switching from manual to automatic should be enough to cure the problem.