[fireside]

i have a really bad problem. my brother has a windows computer, and it doesnt work with our router (NetGear RT314). if we plug his computer directly into the modem, it works. but once we plug it into the router, it works, but its really slow. any help, since this is really pissing me off cause i have to get offline so he can go online and stuff. help...?

[ghporter]

It must have something to do with how the XP computer's networking is configured. First off, is your broadband DSL? Do you need to log on using something like MacPOET or Enternet? Here in the States, most DSL providers use PPPoE authentication, which requires some extra bells and whistles to handle through software. On the other hand, your router should handle PPPoE for you without any problem. What I think may be happening is that the XP computer is trying to use PPPoE through the router-which will NOT work.

Look at the Network Properties of the XP computer and let me know what it is set up for. If you find a "dial-up" connection for your ISP that isn't an actual dial-up connection, that's probably what the computer's trying to use. You can disable this connection pretty easily without losing settings, in case you accidentally chose the wrong connection.

[fireside]

we have cable. but the strange thing is that it worked fine at our old house but at our new house it doesnt work. but my computer and my mom's computer (both macs) work perfectly fine through the router.

[ghporter]

That's bloody wierd. No changes to anything, anything at all? Hmmm. Without being able to sit down and explore all of your computers, I'm stumpped.