A+ and Network+ are hardly worth anything but are simple to pass for the majority of people. Network+ itself pretty much covers the first of the 4 CCNA semesters, and given that CCNA is a prerequisite for other security related Cisco qualifications it would be a good idea to pursue it. See this for example.
Not really, it's the encapsulation method used for the information transmitted between your ISP and your modem. There ought to be a setting somewhere amongst the router settings relating to DHCP. Did they advise you to choose Static PPPoE or Dynamic? What error message does XP show - Limited Connectivity? Cannot renew IP address? Depending on the revision of your router (A/B/C) you'll find DHCP settings under Settings (at the top), Network Settings (3rd down on the left). Make sure Enable DHCP Server is ticked and there are at least 2 addresses in the IP address range (more preferably). Set lease time to 24 hours. What revision number too? http://www.dlink.com/products/support.asp?pid=474&sec=0#manual
The router should be acting as a DHCP server in place of your modem - that's why it's advised to disable DHCP on the modem itself. Go into the configuration of the router and check it has DHCP enabled, even if you have to manually set up TCP/IP settings to connect to it. You're doing all this with cables, rather than attempting to set it up wirelessly straight away right? Did the router come with a cable to connect it to the modem? It will be different type to the cable you attach between router and PC, so has to be used for that purpose.
Is the drive new? I realise the Win 98 set up does a disk-check, but it might be worth running a manufacturer's diagnostic on it. If you can access the drive after the problems but before you format ready for another go, look for Setuplog.txt in C:/ - it may reveal what went wrong.
If it is selected and you still have the plain-looking Classic appearance - ensure the Themes service is started and set to Automatic. Go to Start menu/run, type Services.msc, press return, scroll down the list to Themes and check the aforementioned settings.
Looks normal, though I'm not a `trained expert` in HJT logs. Why do you assume infection? Have you run a ChkDsk, an HD diagnostic from your HD manufacturer, a memory test ? Admittedly memory problems usually result in blue screens but worth doing anyway. Ensure all your devices are using the latest drivers. Do a System File Check too.
Is linksys1 connected to other devices in addition to the switch? Is it a managed switch with DHCP? Is it feasible to arrange static IPs for the devices connected to Linksys1 and the switch? If not, what happens if you set Linksys2 gateway to Linksys1's IP address (whatever it has assigned via DHCP) and Linksys2 IP address to some other number, 192.168.1.129 for example? That second IP address would be the gateway address for your wireless client(s). The numbers stated are easily subnetted too, if that option exists.
Set the default gateway of the second router to the IP address of the first. If both are using the same subnet and IP range (192.168.1.1-254 255.255.255.0 for example) you might need to change subnet settings too.
"The motherboard got a little burnt cos of the onboard LAN card" - physically burnt?
Note down the STOP error code and any file name mentioned when you get the blue screen(s) , they are most often caused by faulty hardware or driver issues. Faulty processor...not impossible, but not very likely - the processor still works well enough to show you a nice blue screen with an error message on it when things go wrong after all.... Run a long memory test (http://www.memtest.org/), run the machine for a while with all unnecessary hardware unplugged, make sure all your drivers are up to date, make sure your PC is not being affected by voltage spikes from fridges or motors nearby. Wide range of possibilities....
Thanks for the reply - I've already removed the Windows Networking Client and File & Printer Sharing from the PC in question, disabled NetBIOS over TCP/IP - it doesn't need any connection at all to the internal network. I'll probably end up insisting on a separate router and put the machine in its own subnet, no need for expensive equipment that way....
I need to isolate one computer in a small office from the office network - from both NetBIOS networking with other machines and at the IP level. The office is just one of a number of businesses in one building - each office has its own network & internet connection hardware connected to a patchbay in a cupboard - I've already tried some measures to physically isolate the machine in question with some wiring changes, but as soon as the device is plugged into the patchbay, the router that provides the office internet connection appears to connect the whole lot anyway (basic NetGear ADSL router). We have a Netgear Smartswitch on which I've set up a VLAN to encompass all the machines I do want networked and another VLAN that only includes this one machine and the internet port. I can still ping the other office machines from the `isolated` PC and vice versa even though it can't be accessed via NetBIOS. Is a VLAN strictly a Layer 2 thing, or would a Layer 3 managed switch incorporate VLANs that operate at the IP level too? We have some security requirements to fulfil for a planned project, and until there is money available I can't simply move the isolated PC to its own dedicated internet connection (which is the ideal). I know I could use a firewall and block internal private addresses but if the project takes off, a hardware device that deals with unwanted traffic before it can …
As has been suggested previously in various posts, lack of memory (definitely), faltering power supply and/or failing optical drive are all possible factors. Failing hard-drive is a possibilty too, as the CD/DVD image is stored in a temporary area on your hard-disk for burning, and is more critical with your insufficient memory. Have you tried with all possible peripherals disconnected? All possible running programs shut-down before attempting to burn? (Disconnect from the internet first). Use CDRWs until you find the cause, unless you need a lot of coasters at home...
Vista tweaker - some way towards a Vista version of TweakUI - WinBubble; http://www.majorgeeks.com/WinBubbles_d5847.html Sorry, it seems the author's site is down, perhaps due to the latest beta release so the above isn't a direct link.
The title refers to Windows Services and there are quite a few of those. More info required - antivirus software, firewall installed, anti-spyware software, last scans with anti-virus/spyware software? Any software recently downloaded/installed?
