I just switched from a linksys wired router to a Netgear wireless setup. For the most part the system is working but there are a couple annoying problems I can't iron out. My System is:
Netgear router: MR814v2
TrendNet wireless adapters (2): TEW 228PI

I have 5 computers, all running XP Pro. Here are my problems:
(keep in mind that all 5 computers are sharing their C drives and all 5 computers can see each other on the network. They can all connect to the internet but the wireless ones are slow.)

(1) The two wireless computers show to have "excellent" connections but they are very slow on the internet. So slow that it locks up IE. Also, when I try to access them from another computer the connection is very slow. Basically when i try to transfer a song from one of the wireless computers to another it locks the transfer up. I can access the wireless computers, i just cant do any type of work on them or it locks me up.

(2) another problem i have is on one of my wired computers i can access the c drive but it wont let me access the "program files" or "windows" folder. I can access everything else on the c drive. I tried to share just the "program files" folder but it doesnt give me the option.

(3) last problem.. on my main system the c drive is also shared. when i try to access it from another computer on the network it prompts me for a login and password.

Sorry for the length but i just cant get these bugs ironed out and it is annoying to have a new system and not be able to use it to its potential.

1) When you say it locks up, do you mean the whole computer locks up or just the transfer process?

2) Are you trying to access this locally or from the network? What happens when you try to access those folders? You might have to turn off simple file sharing to see the option to share the folder.

3) You probably have a different username on the computers and you're running a workgroup. You have to configure the same username and password on every computer if you don't want to get prompte to login.

"It's about the journey and not the destination" - The quote of those who never make it

(1) Not the whole computer, just the transfer process.

(2)This happens when i try to access it through the network from any of the other computers. It tells me that "program files is not accessable, you might not have permission...".

(3)"You have to configure the same username and password..." do you mean i need to have a same log on name for all computers? And as far as this computer, i know of no password that i use on it.

For number 3, as an example every computer should have the username Joe with a password of "blow". Then when you log on as that user at one computer you can access the other computers without logging onto them.

"It's about the journey and not the destination" - The quote of those who never make it

I dont' know about the first problem. Sounds like a hardware issue. Maybe the card doesn't work good with your computer.

As for the second problem, check to see that the Program Files folder is inheriting permissions from the parent.

"It's about the journey and not the destination" - The quote of those who never make it

Wireless is slow.

Take the protocol, A, B, or G, times how many Access points, divided by how many wireless users, divided by 2, and you will get your ACTUAL throughput. For example, 802.11b, 1 Access Point, 2 wireless clients. Actual throughput will be 11Mbps x 1 / 2 / 2 = 2.75 Mbps per computer, IF you are lucky, the stars are on your side, etc.

If your wireless computers are REAL slow, then it sounds like something is interfering with the signal, like a cordless phone, microwave, whiteboards, steel file cabinets, walls, floors, etc.

Optimum wireless reception requires line-of-site from NIC to Access Point. But do not put the computer directly under an access point, as you may not get a signal at all there, or at least a weak one. The wireless signal eminates out from the antenna, not up or down.

Thanks Mike and Az for all the input into my problems.

Problem 1 - A lot of my problems must be due to what Mike is talking about. My router is in my basement and the two wireless computers are upstairs on the opposite end of the house. but what about the signal strength? when they are connected they say the signal is excellent and are running at 80% signal strength. Is this not good? Or is this a false reading?

Problem 3 -Also, i still dont understand the reasoning behind having the same login name on all computers. I did try it though and it still doesnt work. Of all the computers on my network (5 of them) only one of them is asking for a log in name and pass when trying to access the "shared" C drive.

Problem 2 - how/where do i check to see if permissions are set correctly. All other 4 computers are able to be browsed and I didnt set up anything different on this one.

Thanks for being patient with me. I'm new to networking and ahve learned a ton from reading past posts here.

Oh yea, i noticed something strange today. Everytime i reboot the two wireless systems upstairs they are picking up 2 wireless connections. One is my NETGEAR connection and one is a LINKSYS connection. Its annoying because they keep defaulting to the LINKSYS connection and i have to manually switch them back to the NETGEAR. Are my computers trying to connect to a neighbors system? Could this LINKSYS system be interrupting the signal to my NETGEAR system therefore maiking my connection so slow? If so, how do I resolve this?

Thanks again in advance for everyone's help.

Joe