Wireless Network Question

[Westat1]

I have a home network with a laptop and desktop. As long as they are both on, it works fine, but if the desktop is off (even alseep) the laptop doesn't see it. The same is true with the laptop.

The laptop runs Win 98, desktop runs XP.

Do I have to keep both on all the time? I didn't think this was needed. THanks for the help

[StanBo]

There should be a "Wake-up on LAN" option available somewhere (was it in BIOS settings I wonder?). All you need is to locate it and turn it on for your desktop.

[Jenstar]

With my wireless network, my main PC needs to be running due to the security programming. When I use my laptop with the wireless card, it can confirm it really is my laptop, and not just someone who managed to wander within 300 feet of my office with a wireless card and wants to use my internet access or access my files.

When I access my networking info right now, it doesn't show my laptop in the available networking devices because it is not connected. There doesn't seem to be an option where it would know it was there, even if I couldn't access it.

I also remember when I originally installed that it said if one of the networking computers was a laptop that was either off or in sleep mode, that it would not be accessible.

[Westat1]

Thanks,

Is the wake-up on lan a program I need to download or is it native to XP. Do both computers need it?

[wruk999]

Westat1,

Wake-on-LAN comes with your network card. It has to be WOL compliant for it to work.
You should be able to check the manufacturers website for details on how to turn it on, if it has the Wake-onLAN feature.

wruk999

[Westat1]

Thanks, I read that there are programs that do the same thing as having it native to the card.

I was under the assumption that it is not wise to leave a pc on all the time. Do you shut the monitor but prevent it from hibernating?

[StanBo]

Normally that's exactly what I do... but recently my monitor (being old and such) started to deteriorate - it now takes 10-15 minutes to warm it up. So for the last 7 month I've never turned either computer or monitor off at all :)