How do I connect via a LAN instead of Wifi. LAN is connected to Internet.
The Wifi of my laptop is not strong enough to reach the Bell Canada router which is supposed to broad cast 300 feet but can barely do 100 feet. I have attached a bridge/access point to the Ethernet port of the laptop and it reaches the Bell router and the network connections shows an Internet connection. The problem, Firefox (IE too) keeps trying to use the Wifi connection, which I disabled, to connect to the Internet. I can't find any place where to tell Firefox to use the other connection.
Thanks Doug
All Replies (7)
Hi
This is not so much as issue with Firefox but more of something that your internet service provider should be able to help you with.
I recommend you contact their support team and they should be able to help you.
Usually all you need to do when changing from WiFi to a LAN connection is to restart Firefox. But if that didn't work you may need to restart Windows (reboot your laptop) - then make sure WiFi is disabled and WIndows is actually connected to the LAN - then start Firefox.
Try this:
- right-click the network icon on the Taskbar (in the notification area, it may look like an icon of a monitor with a cable and plug on the left side, or it might be a wifi icon), and choose Open Network and Sharing Center
- in the left column, click Manage wireless networks
- find your home network, right-click it, choose Properties
- uncheck the box for "Connect automatically when this network is in range" and click OK to save the change
With this setting, your wireless adapter won't leapfrog your wired connection when you're at home. It will quietly wait for you to connect manually.
Now disconnect from the wireless connection the usual way: click the network icon on the Taskbar, click the wireless network on the list, and click Disconnect.
Success?
Thanks for the help. I forgot to mention the laptop is still on XP. It's rather old and not able to handle a higher OS. I plan to use it mainly as a terminal to my main desktop running Windows 7.
Had to search to find the same places in XP. Thought I had, however, it still wants to use the Wifi. When I try to access Google, I keep getting "server not found". Checked and the Internet connection is still there in "Network Connections". Why does Microsoft always make everything so difficult?
Thanks Doug
Hi Doug, could you also check Firefox's connection settings here:
"3-bar" menu button (or Tools menu) > Options
In the left column, click Advanced. On the right side, with the "Network" mini-tab active, click the "Settings" button.
The default of "Use system proxy settings" should follow the "LAN" settings used by IE. However, you could try "No proxy" to see whether that makes any difference.
Still not working. Keep getting "page cannot be displayed" which I assume meant there isn't a connection to the Internet. Is there any way to see what connection IE/Firefox is using to connect to the Internet.
Thanks Doug
This is not a Firefox support issue. It's either a hardware familiarity issue or a Windows Operating System support issue.
1. RTFM! Do you have the manual for that laptop?
2. There is a key on the keyboard to disable / enable WiFi - the F2 key on my old Asus EeePC netbook and iirc that was the same key used on my Acer laptop (stolen in 2008) - that should disable WiFi in the BIOS firmware. Does that work for you?
3. Or see this - http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch001410.htm - for other keys or methods of disabling WiFi. or this - http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-disable-wireless-access-on-your-windows-lap.html