Tech help IT

[COWBOYSURVIVAL]

One of the things I got my little girl for Christmas is Internet. I bought a wireless-N router and a dual band wireless-N USB adapter. I have the wireless router up and running on my newish laptop. She was handed down my old Desktop (no wireless card). It is running Windows XP SP2 and the USB adapter software is needing Windows XP 32bit SP3. The old desktop had crashed on me, the power supply failed. I replaced the power supply and reverted the machine to "new" from the factory to get it working. For starters I have hooked it direct to internet and went to Windows Update and am now downloading 142 updates. My questions are is this going to take care of it? I was able to determine it was running SP2 but not able to determine if it was 32 bits or 64 bits, so I may need some help determining that as well? I am prepared to give her my laptop and I can use the ole' desktop since the laptop has the wireless card built in, if that is what I need to do to save Christmas....but I am determined to try it this way first. Any advice at all is welcome, I am learning but far from knowing exactly what it will take.

[el-amigo]

You can determinate it easily. I don't have windows here but as far as I remember you will see it if you click on the My Computer and watch the Properties.

[COWBOYSURVIVAL]

You can determinate it easily. I don't have windows here but as far as I remember you will see it if you click on the My Computer and watch the Properties.

That is what I thought and recently did that on a machine at work but this older machine didn't show how many bits it is? Or I missed it, I will keep looking. Thanks.

[el-amigo]

On 32 bit system you will not see just a "Windows XP Professional" or similar.
On 64 bit system you should see "Windows XP 64 bit Edition" or "x64".

[COWBOYSURVIVAL]

It has an Athlon 64-processor, does that mean 64 bit? does it matter what bit the machine is? The laptop is 64 bit and it is displayed in properties but no such info on the desktop.

[COWBOYSURVIVAL]

On 32 bit system you will not see just a "Windows XP Professional" or similar.
On 64 bit system you should see "Windows XP 64 bit Edition" or "x64".

Gotcha, then it must be 32 bit....good news I hope.

[el-amigo]

The topic based on two different parts. One is the software part and the other is the hardware. As you said your processor (which is a 64bit processor and this is the hardware) can handle a 64bit operating system (this is the software part). You can install 32bit operating system on a machine with 64bit processor but you cannot install 64bit Windows on a 32bit processor. If I understand well your question is the software part. You can check it as I have written before. Here is the official documentation of the Microsoft about this topic: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-GB/windows7/find-out-32-or-64-bit

I hope I could help.

[COWBOYSURVIVAL]

The topic based on two different parts. One is the software part and the other is the hardware. As you said your processor (which is a 64bit processor and this is the hardware) can handle a 64bit operating system (this is the software part). You can install 32bit operating system on a machine with 64bit processor but you cannot install 64bit Windows on a 32bit processor. If I understand well your question is the software part. You can check it as I have written before. Here is the official documentation of the Microsoft about this topic: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-GB/windows7/find-out-32-or-64-bitI hope I could help.

That most definately did help, I am now sure it is a 32 bit which helps. Now I just need to get service pack 3 installed. Is catching up on all the updates going to do that? I looked for service pack 3 specifically, but couldn't figure out which one it was for sure, as there were so many that listed SP3 on the Windows site. Thanks again!

[el-amigo]

Certainly if you install all of the updates for your Windows system the Windows Update will install the latest patches in several steps like the SP1 -> SP2 -> SP3. It costs a lot of reboot but you will reach the point when your system will be fresh.

[COWBOYSURVIVAL]

Certainly if you install all of the updates for your Windows system the Windows Update will install the latest patches in several steps like the SP1 -> SP2 -> SP3. It costs a lot of reboot but you will reach the point when your system will be fresh.

Sounds like I am on the right track! I have successfully downloaded 90 something updates. It is installing Windows Internet Explorer 8 now, and you can feel the heat coming from the cabinet! Thanks Again, check back and I'll update whether or not the problem is solved!

[el-amigo]

Sounds like I am on the right track! I have successfully downloaded 90 something updates. It is installing Windows Internet Explorer 8 now, and you can feel the heat coming from the cabinet! Thanks Again, check back and I'll update whether or not the problem is solved!

You are welcome!
Good luck my friend!

[COWBOYSURVIVAL]

SP3 is finally loading! Looks like we are fixing to have 60mph winds! Hope the net and power holds up!

[Rick]

If you have the disk space I suggest you download Firefox or Google Chrome to use as your browser. Your desktop will have to connect to the WiFi directly and the laptop can use it remotely. Don't forget to password protect your router and keep track of the login and password. The default login is usually admin but your instructions should tell you that. To access the router you'll need to go to your browser line and type in 192.168.1.1 That's the default address for routers and should allow you to connect to the login page on your router.

I don't know what brand of router you are using but if you are using Linksys when you set up the laptop you will need to configure it for the router password. That's not the same one you use to login to the router. Linksys calls it the Passphrase and it will be something like 28 alphas long.

[COWBOYSURVIVAL]

If you have the disk space I suggest you download Firefox or Google Chrome to use as your browser. Your desktop will have to connect to the WiFi directly and the laptop can use it remotely. Don't forget to password protect your router and keep track of the login and password. The default login is usually admin but your instructions should tell you that. To access the router you'll need to go to your browser line and type in 192.168.1.1 That's the default address for routers and should allow you to connect to the login page on your router.

I don't know what brand of router you are using but if you are using Linksys when you set up the laptop you will need to configure it for the router password. That's not the same one you use to login to the router. Linksys calls it the Passphrase and it will be something like 28 alphas long.

Thanks everyone! I got it working. The laptop is the admin and the desktop is now connected remotely. Watch for (cowboy's daughter) she has an account now.

[crashdive123]

Woo Hoo! Now she can tell us about the time that you sat on an arrow.......wait.....that was Trooper telling us how Beo sat on an arrow.

[cowboy's daughter]

I DON'T think my daddy would sit on a arrow.

[Rick]

Welcome home, little lady. Please keep a close eye on your daddy for us. We don't want him to get into any trouble.

[cowboy's daughter]

Iwill be SURE to keep a close eye on him!

[crashdive123]

Hey there cowboy's daughter. We feel like we know you already.

[COWBOYSURVIVAL]

Hey would you look at this, that is my daughter. How about head on over to the introduction section and introduce yourself.