RoveWolf

Hello all.

Right well, prepare for an essay because I've been at this for the past few hours and I'm mighty confused. Ok some summary information is as follows:

Computer: Dell Dimension E521
Gateway/Router: Linksys ADSL2 Gateway (AG241)
ISP: AOL

Right well, normally I never touch Dell machines because I hate the amount of crap Dell stick on them and I think that they come preconfigured in the most stupid of ways from Dell themselves, I've never setup or used AOL internet before for various reasons (I personally am with BT) and I've also never touched a Linksys gateway (What is the difference between a router and a gateway?).

Right I have a few questions and problems. Right well, I tried configuring this computer + AOL Internet + Linksys gateway for a friend of mine and I had no luck. Firstly, Do I need the AOL software installed if using a router/gateway to connect to the Internet (as the internet connection/login information is entered into the router/gateway right?), secondly, every time I boot up her machine, when at the point of being on the desktop some sort of "Dell Network Assistant" loads up and attempts to setup the network for me, can't I just do it via My Network Places as I do at home with my router and computer?

There are a few other problems that I have no idea why they are occuring that I was wondering if anyone here could shed some light on. I try to connect to the linksys gateway by typing in the address it prompts me to (http://192.168.1.1) however it doesn't actually log me in, for some reason it never gets around to loading the gateway web interface. I managed to get it to display once before I restarted by playing about with the dell network assistant and my network places, but now I cant recall how to do it.

Summary of questions:
1.) Do I need the AOL software/browser installed to connect to the Internet if doing it via a router/gateway?

2.) Any idea why I can't access the internet properties within IE? I thought it might have been restricted, but what right does Dell have to do that when it's her computer? Or isn't this the case.

3.) Why does dell network assistant appear? Is it worth using?

4.) What is the diff between a router and a gateway? Apart from a few more confusing options. Can you use a gateway component as you would a regular router? Some options felt familiar within the control panel for it yet others were completely alienating.

Any help on this would be greatly appreciated as I'm utterly lost with it.

Best regards,

Breaks.

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Note: Formerly known as Breaks.
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