Hi, I'm new here. I am having a MAJOR issue! I normally use SBC Yahoo DSL at my home, with a normal DSL modem connected to my Dell laptop. My laptop came with a wireless card already installed, however, so that I may use it away from home in hotels.
Now here is where I am having the problem.
I have been staying with my inlaws for the last 2 weeks while taking care of one just out of surgery. They have Cox cable internet. Friends have advised me not to connect my laptop to their cable modem for the risk that it will mess up their internet connection. So I have been accessing the internet via my wireless internet card.
My computer has always detected an open-access wireless network near their house somewhere, and as far as I can tell, it is from the McDonald's down the street (they have wireless network access at their stores now). And up until today, I have had no problems using the internet. But today, it suddenly quit working. I try to sign in to both Yahoo and MSN, and neither one will connect. It says there is a problem with my connection settings or internet service. Normally it connects the minute I turn on the computer.
Now here's the weirdest part: it is still connected to the detected wireless network. It shows I AM connected to the wireless network, but it isn't letting me connect to any internet service providers/browsers.
Is there something I have missed about my connection that I need to change? Or would I be able to connect using my inlaws' cable modem? We want to be able to both be online together, but it seems impossible without the wireless access or without a router.
How can I solve the wireless problem? I need my internet access working, especially at night, so that my husband can still contact me(he is in Iraq in the Army). Please help me...