Text 42642, 103 rader
Skriven 2008-02-04 17:51:25 av Jeff Guerdat (1:123/789.0)
  Kommentar till text 42629 av James Bradley (1:134/77.0)
Ärende: W98 CD update.
======================
James Bradley -> Jeff Guerdat wrote:

 JG>> I'm not following.  I haven't seen any WiFi connection that requires
 JG>> ActiveX  nor any router that requires it to configure the router.
 JG>> What is it that requires the login?  What requires the
 JG>> ActiveX?  Are you sure anything other than the MS updates
 JG>> site requires ActiveX?

 JB> I thought I read Alan explain, that ActiveX was required to run the
 JB> Windows updates from the MS site. I guess the answer to your question
 JB> would be, "No, I know of nothing else that requires ActiveX." I don't
 JB> even know *what* ActiveX *is.*

First off, here's a snippet from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Activex:

Prior to ActiveX technology, two standards were becoming prevalent in Microsoft
Windows. One was OLE (Object Linking and Embedding), and the other was COM
(Component Object Model). Both schemes were designed for software
interoperability, the former focusing on communicating and the latter focusing
on implementation. In 1996, Microsoft combined the technologies and refitted
them into ActiveX.

That said, IE is the only web browser (that I know of) to support ActiveX. 
That means only IE can be used for sites such as the Windows Updates site that
insist on using it.  It can be useful for collecting information, as with the
WU site, but I suspect they could also have done it with Java or similar, just
maybe not as easily.

So, I'm going to ass-u-me that you don't need IE/ActiveX for anything other
than Windows Updates.

 JB> As near as I can ascertain, the server I am trying to tap into redirects
 JB> my first attempt to access any page, to *their* login page. (IE: My
 JB> request to bring up http://www.google.ca or any numbered address,
 JB> instead goes to http://www.calgarypubliclibrary.com/login.html, or
 JB> thereabouts.) I did find a Windows version of Firefox to *Run the script
 JB> required to do a Site Survey*, and carted off to the library yesterday,
 JB> but I'm still of the opinion I need to know their DNS spoof. Something
 JB> is preventing me from looking like an XP default setting, and I think
 JB> because I have to go with a static address for my access point, might
 JB> not be helping my cause either.

So, this is a machine at the public library, not at home?  That could make all
the difference in the world.  It sounds to me that they're using a proxy
server, which is used partly to enforce a validated login (that's why you get
redirected to the login screen before you can do anything else).  I recently
had to do the same sort of thing at a couple of motels we stayed at - log in or
no access.  That helps keep others from parking outside and using the free
wireless without resorting to WEP/WPA or other secure connections (helps keep
their trouble calls to a minimum, too, what with many folks not having a clue
about how to setup or even connect to a secured access point).

Wow!  I just had a big chunk of reply that I had to delete once I realized what
you were doing (you had to hit me between the eyes with the "D-Link DWL-G810"
2x4).  I now understand that you have an access point for the purpose of giving
a non-WiFi-enabled laptop a connection.  I would submit that a USB or PC Card
adapter would be easier to work with but you got what ya got.  On the DLink
site, however, I can't find a DWL-G810 - there IS an 820.

However, to get any settings you need, you might just need to ask. Failing
that, is there a library-supplied computer that you can use? Can you open a cmd
prompt from the Start menu or Start, Run?  If not, can you use CTRL-ALT-DEL to
open the Task Manager?  If so, click on File, New Task and type in "cmd" and
hit Return.  Now, try an "ipconfig /all" in that DOS window and note the
settings, especially for DNS. Those settings, minus the IP address, are what
would be needed to put into your network settings.  That doesn't guarantee
it'll work but it's an attempt.

You also say that you're stuck with a static IP address.  That would be a
problem unless the network accepts an address that you picked out of the air
that's on the same subnet (you'd have to be very careful to not use an address
that's already, or potentially, in use).  The documentation for the 820 shows
that you can set it for DHCP, which is what you'd want to do fer sure.  Using
the web interface (it sez you need a Java-enabled browser - Firefox would be
fine but it's not clear to me that you need the Java run-time package
installed), you'd use the "Home" tab and the "LAN" button on the left to set
this to DHCP.  My suspicion is that it's the lack of DHCP that's the root of
your problem.

 JB> You're missing the joy of making a small tweak, and carting off to the
 JB> library with it. <G+D>

Shoot, I do enough of that at home.  And then I have to go over to my
daughter's place to set up her WiFi for that XO laptop we gave to her fiance's
daughter...

 JB> (Being... Site survey accomplished, but nothing after the "negotiation."
 JB> If that's what it is called? Traffic does seem go in both directions,
 JB> but nothing seems to leave my box past the negotiation.)

The site survey is what's used to determine what networks are out there so you
can choose one to connect to.  (Yes, I know I shouldn't end a sentence with a
preposition - thought I'd beat you to it. ;) )  Once you  choose the network,
the negotiation takes place, which is where the DHCP comes in...

-- 
Jeff Guerdat

"I feel so miserable without you, it's almost like having you here."
                                                      Stephen Bishop

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