Linksys makes a wide range of routers to allow multiple computers to connect to the Internet at the same time. If you are experiencing connectivity problems, then there are a couple of things you can do at home to fix the problem. In this article, we will discuss three things you can try before throwing out your router and buying a new one.

How Reset the Modem and the Router

Sometimes the modem and the router get stuck. They do not exactly communicate correctly with each other and resetting them will get everything working back like it should. Since it is the easiest thing to do, it should be tried first.

1. Turn off the computers
2. Turn off the router
3. Turn off the modem
4. Wait 10 seconds
5. Turn on the modem
6. Wait for all the lights to stop flashing
7. Turn on the router
8. Turn on the computer

How to Check the Router Password

Sometimes an Internet setting will require a password before it will allow you to connect. This is often true when you are trying to connect wirelessly to a printer, to a game console like Wii or through a router like Linksys.

To check the router settings

1. Log In
2. Connect the router to the computer
3. Open an internet browser (even if it does not connect)
4. Type in “192.168.1.1″ in the address bar without the quotes
5. Press enter
6. Linksys default username is blank with the password as admin
7. Check the Wireless Setting
8. Select Wireless Menu Tab
9. Set Configuration View to “Manual”
10. Note the SSID or the Network Name that is in use
11. Select the Wireless Security Tab
12. Write down the Passphrase being used – this is case sensitive

How to Reset the Linksys to Default Settings

If you cannot log into your Linksys router, then you will need to reset your Linksys back to the factory settings. This is easy enough to do but once you do reset it, the router will have to be reconfigured again. Therefore, try to remember what your password was before you reset the router back to the factory settings.

1. Turn on the router.
2. Remove all the LAN, network, and computer connections to the router.
3. Look at the back of the device for a pinhole. Insert a paperclip and hold the button down for up to 30 seconds while the device reboots.
4. Once the device reboots, which could take 2 or 3 minutes, turn off the device.
5. Turn the Linksys back on and begin reconfiguring the router.
6. To access the reconfiguring screen, open a browser and type in 192.168.1.1.

Update Linksys Drivers

Sometimes, you will get a “Device Driver Not Found” or “Driver Not Recognized” error message. In this case, you will need to reinstall the Linksys driver. When this happens, you can either install the driver yourself or use driver update software.

If you know exactly which driver you need and which operating system you are running, then you can follow these instructions to download the driver from Linksys.

1. Go to Linksys
2. Click Support
3. Click Get Linksys Support
4. Click Your Router
5. Click Downloads
6. Select Hardware Version
7. Click Download
8. Click Save

If you are unsure of exactly which driver you need, then it is much safer and easier to use driver update software. Driver update software automatically finds, downloads and will then update Linksys drivers for you. In just a matter of minutes all the drivers on your computer will be up-to-date and your computer will be running fast and smooth like it should.

As the “computer” person in the family, I often get the phone call when the Netgear stops working and it is very easy to tell because the Internet no longer works or the wireless printer is no longer printing. I often get frantic phone calls from my parents saying, “The Internet’s down.”

Netgear does have a few problems many of which can be fixed very easily and in just a few minutes. We will go over a few of them right here so you can get your computer and your Internet running again.

How to Reset a Router

Sometimes cable modems need to be reset for lots of reason, which are more technical than you really want to know. It has to do with the way the information is routed from your house to the neighborhood to the main router across the city and through the state.

A hard reset will change this and make your connection a bit better. Think of it like one of those toys that keeps running into a wall. You pick it up, turn it over, and then it takes off.

1. Turn off the computers
2. Turn off the router
3. Turn off the modem
4. Wait 10 seconds
5. Turn on the modem
6. Wait for the lights to stop flashing
7. Plug in the router
8. Turn on the computers

Many times, just resetting the router will solve lots of Internet-not-working problems. It is hard to believe but yes the Internet will get “stuck” and a hard reset gets it back to working again.

Is the Wireless Turned On?

It may seem like a little thing but it happens. The wireless can accidentally get turned off fairly easily. Many laptops, desktops and printers have a little blue light to indicate the wireless is turned on. On my computer, the little blue light is on the bottom right hand side. On my parent’s, the light is on the top.

In any case, it is generally depicted as a small antenna with two little lines. It can be a key that you press to turn the wireless on and off or it can be a slider switch. On my laptop it is the F2 key. On my wireless printer, it is a slider key in the front. On my husband’s desktop, there is a slider key along the left hand side. Look for your wireless button or key to make sure it is turned on.

Time to Update Netgear Drivers

When a hard reset does not help, you know the wireless is on and the Netgear is still not working, then it is time to update the drivers. Drivers have to be updated every now and then to keep everything running smoothly. You have two choices when it comes to updating your drivers. You can either attempt to update them yourself by going through the Netgear website or you can use driver update software?

We do not recommend you trying to update the drivers yourself as this can be quite complicated. If you accidentally install the wrong driver, you could damage your computer. However, you can go to the Netgear site and get the driver you need.

It is much safer and easier to use driver update software. It will scan your computer and determine exactly which Netgear drivers you need. Then it will find and install the needed drivers for you. No hassles and no worry. You never have to worry about installing the wrong drivers again.

When you receive a driver error, you put the installation CD/DVD in and reinstall the driver but what do you do when it is the CD/DVD drive that is giving you the error? It can be a very frustrating experience and many people will be at a loss for what to do since their only line of defense for driver errors is the installation disk. In this article, we will discuss a few simple things you can do right now to get your computer running again.

How to Use the Device Manager to Update Drivers

All Windows-based computers have a device manager. This allows any user with administrator privileges to update drivers with relative ease and safety. In order to use the device manager installed on Windows, you must first log in as the administrator.

1. Click Start
2. Control Panel
3. Hardware and Sound
4. Device Manager

Once you are in the device manager, you will see a list of all the devices on your computer. Each one of these devices has their own driver and will need to be updated at some point in the future. At this point, you are looking for your CD/DVD player or any device with a yellow icon to the side. The yellow icon is an indicator the device is not functioning properly and is in need of updating.

1. Click the arrow next to the device to expand the selection
2. Right click the device
3. Click Update Driver Software
4. Click Search Automatically for Updated Driver Software
5. Follow the onscreen instructions

How to Update the Driver Using the Manufacturer Site

If you know who made your CD/DVD drive, then you can download the updated drivers from the manufacturer’s website. We will use Samsung as an example.

1. Go to the Samsung Support Site
2. Click on your product type (monitor, laptop, desktop, etc)
3. Choose product type
4. Choose product subtype
5. Choose a model number
6. Click Select
7. Click Get Downloads
8. Click Driver Tab
9. Click the Zip file next to the Operating System file of the driver you need
10. Agree to the conditions and save the file

Each manufacturer will vary slightly but they all have the same basic format. You will go to the website, find the support page, select your product, and then download the driver.

It is very important that you only download the new driver from the manufacturer’s website though. Typing in a driver name and randomly downloading it from the Internet can be very dangerous and can result in downloading a virus or other malware on your computer.

How to Install CD/DVD Drivers Automatically

To avoid all the hassle of searching for and installing drivers one by one, you can use driver update software. It takes all the guesswork and the time out of driver installation. Once you install the program, you don’t have to give it a second thought.

It scans your computer and the Internet so that you don’t have to update CD/DVD drivers yourself. You do not need to know any technical language. You do not need to know who makes your CD drive or your monitor. All you have to do is click a few buttons and go back to what you think is important.

Soundmax is a type of sound card found in many computers and laptops. While errors could occur with any system, they generally occur when Windows XP is installed on the computer. Errors occur when the drivers do not match up exactly or the drivers did not get installed correctly.

What Do Drivers Do?

For many people, drivers rank right below magic. They seem to be some magical device that makes the computer work. All you really know is that you stick the CD in the computer and the drivers magically appear and work.

You can think of a driver as the oil in your car. You may not know exactly what it does but you know it needs to be changed often to keep everything running smoothly. In fact, drivers do act like a lubricant in your computer. They allow your devices and programs to communicate quickly and efficiently with your computer.

Over time the drivers become outdated and need to be updated to keep your computer running smoothly. Most of the time, the drivers are updated automatically during Windows Updates. However, they do not always get updated as they should. Sometimes, they get partial updates or not updated at all.

Signs Soundmax Drivers Need Updating

There are some tell-tale signs the driver is in need of updating.

• No Sound
• The microphone doesn’t work
• The computer doesn’t detect the speakers
• The computer doesn’t recognize you plugged in earphones
• Your computer freezes when you play music
• Your computer restarts when you play music

How to Reinstall Soundmax Drivers

If you are having problems with your Soundmax drivers, then reinstalling the Soundmax drivers is a good idea. You can do this yourself or use driver update software to do it for you. To do it yourself, follow the instructions below.

• Uninstall the Soundmax driver from Windows XP.
  • Click Start -> Control Panel -> Double Click “Add/Remove Programs”
  • Click Soundmax
  • Click Change/Remove
  • Click Finish
• Download the Soundmax driver
  • Go to Soundmax website
  • Click  the Support tab
  • When this is no longer under construction, you will be able to download the drivers directly from here. Until then, you will have to rely on the installation CD that came with the computer or the speakers.
• Run the installation wizard, which comes with the installation CD, to complete the installation of the sound drivers.
• Restart the computer to complete the installation.

How to Install Soundmax Drivers Automatically

If you have misplaced the installation CD, then you can use driver update software. In fact, you do not need anything special to update the drivers using driver update software. All you need is an internet connection and two minutes.

It does all the work for you. It scans your computer for missing, corrupted and outdated drivers. Then, it scans the internet for the most up-to-date drivers for your computer. All you need to do is click install and your computer will update the Soundmax drivers and everything will be back to running smoothly and functioning properly again.