Mac laptop fried, now DSL WiFi not functioning for other computers in the house.
June 6, 2010 5:47 AM Subscribe
Mac laptop fried, now DSL WiFi not functioning for other computers in the house.
The battery in my Mac Powerbook G4 was very hot and smoking yesterday. At the same time, we noticed our DSL WiFi was not functioning for other mobile devices in the house, including another Mac Powerbook, and two windows netbooks.
My question: how can I restore WiFi service to the functioning computers in my house (without fixing the broken laptop - I am currently traveling and not actually in the house, but others are), and why is functioning WiFi dependent on whether one particular laptop is working?
The battery in my Mac Powerbook G4 was very hot and smoking yesterday. At the same time, we noticed our DSL WiFi was not functioning for other mobile devices in the house, including another Mac Powerbook, and two windows netbooks.
My question: how can I restore WiFi service to the functioning computers in my house (without fixing the broken laptop - I am currently traveling and not actually in the house, but others are), and why is functioning WiFi dependent on whether one particular laptop is working?
(assuming your Powerbook was plugged in at the time, of course)
posted by jon1270 at 6:00 AM on June 6, 2010
posted by jon1270 at 6:00 AM on June 6, 2010
Two possible answers that I can think of.
1) A power surge knocked out both laptop and wireless router
2) Your malfunctioning laptop sent some weird packets to your router that caused it to crash
You can test to see if your router is still working by bringing it down, then back up. The order for troubleshooting is usually to power all devices down, then bring them back up, in order of which is closest to the source.
In this case, reboot your DSL modem, wait, reboot your router, then wait, and reboot the other computers.
If that doesn't fix things you should check to see if the DSL itself is working by checking the output lights or plugging a computer directly in.
posted by onalark at 6:15 AM on June 6, 2010
1) A power surge knocked out both laptop and wireless router
2) Your malfunctioning laptop sent some weird packets to your router that caused it to crash
You can test to see if your router is still working by bringing it down, then back up. The order for troubleshooting is usually to power all devices down, then bring them back up, in order of which is closest to the source.
In this case, reboot your DSL modem, wait, reboot your router, then wait, and reboot the other computers.
If that doesn't fix things you should check to see if the DSL itself is working by checking the output lights or plugging a computer directly in.
posted by onalark at 6:15 AM on June 6, 2010
Response by poster: I believe the DSL is working. Both router/modem (single device) and computers have been rebooted, without effect.
It has happened before that if the computer that is now broken was not online (when it was working), that all WiFi access was lost, so I I have a feeling that that computer is somehow a "gatekeeper" of the WiFi for the rest of the house. Trying to access the internet from another device results in a number of options to be presented to the user, including downloading new software to the connect. That software (a .dmg file, disk image, Mac version of a compressed file) was sucessfully downloaded, another indication that the internet is working. But i have never before needed software to connect, with Macs I don't think it's necessary.
So any other ideas are welcome.
posted by cahlers at 6:36 AM on June 6, 2010
It has happened before that if the computer that is now broken was not online (when it was working), that all WiFi access was lost, so I I have a feeling that that computer is somehow a "gatekeeper" of the WiFi for the rest of the house. Trying to access the internet from another device results in a number of options to be presented to the user, including downloading new software to the connect. That software (a .dmg file, disk image, Mac version of a compressed file) was sucessfully downloaded, another indication that the internet is working. But i have never before needed software to connect, with Macs I don't think it's necessary.
So any other ideas are welcome.
posted by cahlers at 6:36 AM on June 6, 2010
It is possible to have one computer set up as a gateway and the others connecting through it, although it's not trivial and I can't see you having done it accidentally.
You could try wiring one of the other computers to the router (do you have an ethernet cable lying around?); they should just work if you plug them in. Alternatively, you might try hard-resetting the router.
posted by katrielalex at 6:40 AM on June 6, 2010
You could try wiring one of the other computers to the router (do you have an ethernet cable lying around?); they should just work if you plug them in. Alternatively, you might try hard-resetting the router.
posted by katrielalex at 6:40 AM on June 6, 2010
A couple of things-
You said your PB battery was "hot and smoking"? Please be very careful. I can't remember at the moment the battery chemistry in the G4 PowerBooks, but whatever it is, a punctured/hot/flaming battery is a Very Bad Thing that can do some serious damage. Put it outside, if it's not already.
Re: the router- I think the most plausible explanation, as suggested above, is that a surge or other electrical issue broke some part of your router. As katrielalex said, it would be very difficult to make that PB a "gatekeeper" unless you knew exactly what you were doing. Are you sure that the other machines in the household are connecting to the same wireless network as before? Did somebody else configure this setup for you?
Hard-resetting the DSL modem/router unit isn't a bad idea. If it's supplied by your ISP, you may just want to call them and have them walk you through it- if none of the computers in the house can get online, it's almost certainly an issue with the router, and if they can't fix it on the phone, chances are they'll send you a new one.
posted by aaronbeekay at 11:31 AM on June 6, 2010
You said your PB battery was "hot and smoking"? Please be very careful. I can't remember at the moment the battery chemistry in the G4 PowerBooks, but whatever it is, a punctured/hot/flaming battery is a Very Bad Thing that can do some serious damage. Put it outside, if it's not already.
Re: the router- I think the most plausible explanation, as suggested above, is that a surge or other electrical issue broke some part of your router. As katrielalex said, it would be very difficult to make that PB a "gatekeeper" unless you knew exactly what you were doing. Are you sure that the other machines in the household are connecting to the same wireless network as before? Did somebody else configure this setup for you?
Hard-resetting the DSL modem/router unit isn't a bad idea. If it's supplied by your ISP, you may just want to call them and have them walk you through it- if none of the computers in the house can get online, it's almost certainly an issue with the router, and if they can't fix it on the phone, chances are they'll send you a new one.
posted by aaronbeekay at 11:31 AM on June 6, 2010
Response by poster: aaronbeekay, thanks. What is the difference between a router "hard reset" and simply turning the router off and back on? Is a hard reset the same as resetting to factory default settings?
Also, can the damaged battery still be dangerous to the household even if the computer is unplugged?
posted by cahlers at 12:50 PM on June 6, 2010
Also, can the damaged battery still be dangerous to the household even if the computer is unplugged?
posted by cahlers at 12:50 PM on June 6, 2010
Response by poster: I turns out it was not the battery that was smoking (I am not at home), rather the power adapter.
posted by cahlers at 2:43 PM on June 6, 2010
posted by cahlers at 2:43 PM on June 6, 2010
A hard reset clears all user data and settings and restores the router to as-shipped settings. It usually accessed by recessed button, reachable with a paper-clip.
posted by TruncatedTiller at 4:46 PM on June 6, 2010
posted by TruncatedTiller at 4:46 PM on June 6, 2010
Best answer: From mr. desjardins:
Sounds like a problem with your PPOE authentication. There was probably software on the laptop that was sending the username and password. I suggest calling your DSL provider to have them help you set up another computer or your router to do that.
posted by desjardins at 5:08 PM on June 6, 2010
Sounds like a problem with your PPOE authentication. There was probably software on the laptop that was sending the username and password. I suggest calling your DSL provider to have them help you set up another computer or your router to do that.
posted by desjardins at 5:08 PM on June 6, 2010
Oh, PPPoE is a "duh" solution. That would make sense. If you care to check the router's settings, it may say something like "PPPoE is on the computer", with an option like "PPPoE is on the modem" or "PPPoE is on the device" that is disabled. If this is your issue, your ISP will probably have you enable PPPoE on the device.
The smoking power adapter, however, leaves power fluctuations in the picture (the power adapter is often the thing that gets fried when there's a surge). I think the wisest thing to do, in either case, is talk to your service provider.
posted by aaronbeekay at 5:23 PM on June 6, 2010
The smoking power adapter, however, leaves power fluctuations in the picture (the power adapter is often the thing that gets fried when there's a surge). I think the wisest thing to do, in either case, is talk to your service provider.
posted by aaronbeekay at 5:23 PM on June 6, 2010
Response by poster: desjardins, thanks, that sounds right, I'll give that a try when I get home!
posted by cahlers at 5:04 AM on June 7, 2010
posted by cahlers at 5:04 AM on June 7, 2010
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posted by jon1270 at 5:59 AM on June 6, 2010