Guest network on Linksys E1000 router

If you’re using a Cisco Linksys E1000 router, you may have noticed that it creates a guest network – but there is no sign of how to control it or change it through the web interface!

Strangely, that is how it is – Linksys seem to have omitted any kind of control over it from the web interface. The only way you can modify it is to run the Cisco Connect software on your computer.

Launching this will bring up a control panel, of which the bottom left option will be “guest network” and from here, you can make changes.

It also appears, from the list of available wifi networks, that the guest network is not password protected. This isn’t the case if you have set a password, but it does not use the standard WPA or WEP encryption. Instead, it allows clients to connect, but them prompts them for a password before allowing them internet access.

Netgear N150 WNA1100 on Windows Server 2003

If you’ve bought the Netgear N150 WNA1100 wireless dongle on the false promise that it is compatible with Windows Server 2003 and then tried to run it, you will probably get an error like the one below.

Not compatible with your OS

Luckily, there is a way around this. Once you’ve downloaded the driver, right click on it, go to the compatibility tab and select the run in compatibility mode check box and select “Windows XP” from the drop down.

Once done, re-run the setup and it should install.

Installing a SATA hard drive

SATA or Serial ATA is what most hard drives are moving towards these days. While the technical details differ them from the traditional IDE drives the main thing you need to know is that they have smaller cables and so are a lot less fiddly.

Other than the cable going to a different point though it’s much like installing an IDE hard drive. Once you’ve grounded yourself you want to slot the hard drive into a drive bay and screw it in place.

Secondly find a spare power cable running from the power unit and connect that to the back of the hard drive.

Finally you need to connect your SATA cable. SATA cables are small and thin with little flat connectors at the end. Connect one end to the bottom of your hard drive and the other end goes directly onto your motherboard. These vary in location depending on your motherboard so have a check around.

Once it’s in, put everything back together and boot your computer up. If the computer doesn’t recognise it you may need to get software from your hardware manufacturer to pick it up (though it should pick it up automatically).

Installing new memory

Unpack the RAM (random access memory) and check with the motherboard’s manual to work out which is the first slot (slot 0). When you insert the memory you want to fill it up numerically: 0, 1, 2, and so on.

To insert the memory push the white clips at the end outwards then simply slot in the memory sticks into the slots. The clips will automatically lock back into place when you have pushed the memory stick far enough into the slot.

Installing a PCI card

PCI cards are easy to install. The first thing you obviously need to do is turn everything off, unscrew your case and remove it so you can get in. Your PCI slots will be near the pack of the unit, and will be brown ports (usually). You will have anywhere from three to six.

Next you want to push out the panel on the back of your computer. They put these metal strips on so that you don’t have a hole in the back of your computer when you don’t have a PCI card in there. Keep this safe somewhere as you will need it again if you ever take the PCI card out.

Now get your PCI card and insert it into the spot. Push it firmly until it lines up, you will notice the metal strip end will replace the area where the old metal strip you pushed out used to be.

Once it’s in place and fits nicely lining up with the edge of the case you want to screw the metal strip into place so that it can’t move. Now close your case and switch your PCI back on. Chances are it will be picked up automatically but if not go to install new hardware or use whatever software you were supplied with.