Computer problem ; help needed !!

Subject: Computer problem ; help needed !!
From: bubblyrat
Date: 21 Sep 10 - 10:43 AM

My computer is a laptop ; an Acer Extensa 5620, with Windows "Vista". For some reason,it WILL NOT work with a "dongle" bought from the "Orange" mobile 'phone network,in order to provide internet access away from home . We just CANNOT get the computer to accept the "dongle" -- lots of people have suggested that it's because Windows have yet to issue an "update" to allow "Vista" to permit the installation of the "dongle", and we have even had officials from "Orange" send messages to my computer ORDERING it to accept their product, but it still won't play ball !! Whatever am I / we to do ?? Any ideas ?? And would somebody put this in the non-music section for me ,please ? I don't know how !

Subject: RE: Computer problem ; help needed !!
From: Melissa
Date: 21 Sep 10 - 01:10 PM

My computer with Vista took a dongle but it was tricky enough to set up that I had my sister do it. The phone I have won't work as a modem so I didn't get to do that.

I ran a search to get some information on how the process is supposed to work and came up with some useful tidbits. Did you try that?

Subject: RE: Computer problem ; help needed !!
From: Sooz
Date: 21 Sep 10 - 03:15 PM

My laptop with Vista works with a Virgin dongle. Sorry - that really doesn't help you does it?

Subject: RE: Computer problem ; help needed !!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 Sep 10 - 03:27 PM

Dongle?

Subject: RE: Computer problem ; help needed !!
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 21 Sep 10 - 04:07 PM

Something's wrong - but could it be with the dongle rather than the computer?
...........................

"My laptop works with a Virgin dongle... An intriguing first line - except I can't think of a rhyme for dongle.

Subject: RE: Computer problem ; help needed !!
From: artbrooks
Date: 21 Sep 10 - 05:56 PM

SRS: in UKish, I think, a dongle is a doohickey to connect a laptop to mobile broadband. In the US, it is a hardware interface sometimes (rarely) needed to run some complex software.

Subject: RE: Computer problem ; help needed !!
From: bubblyrat
Date: 21 Sep 10 - 06:52 PM

Dear McGrath .... It works fine on Wild Flying Dove's home computer,but that's too big & heavy to cart around in a caravan ( trailer) at Folk Festivals,and only works on mains electricity !
       For the benefit of our American Cousins ; a "dongle" is a small "gizmo" that you can plug in to a USB socket on a portable computer, in order to access the internet ; most UK mobile 'phone networks have them available. So, if you're going away to a music festival for a week in your caravan (trailer),you can check your e-mails and stuff every day (if you must !!). Maybe we should ask for a refund, and buy a Virgin dongle instead ??

Subject: RE: Computer problem ; help needed !!
From: EBarnacle
Date: 21 Sep 10 - 06:52 PM

Try switching to Windows 7. Alternately, take the bloody thing to the place which sold it to you and make them install it or give you your money back. I will bet you that the packaging said that it wa compatible with both Vista and 7.

Subject: RE: Computer problem ; help needed !!
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 21 Sep 10 - 07:07 PM

Good advice - though if you bought it online it's so simple. But legally if you buy something and it's not fit for purpose they are obliged to take it back amd refund you.

Subject: RE: Computer problem ; help needed !!
From: olddude
Date: 21 Sep 10 - 07:31 PM

It should work fine for you ... try this uninstall the software, then reinstall it ... you may first want to try a different USB port. It would not be the first time that one of the ports went bad and began to act up .. my desktop same thing .. used a different port and bam it worked.

Dan

Subject: RE: Computer problem ; help needed !!
From: olddude
Date: 21 Sep 10 - 07:31 PM

when I mean work fine I mean under vista ...no need to switch os even though I hate vista.

Subject: RE: Computer problem ; help needed !!
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 21 Sep 10 - 09:32 PM

Historically, a dongle has been a hardware device that must be plugged into a computer for an associated program to run. Prior to USB, the dongle usually plugged into a serial port, and usually included a "pass through" so that a normal serial device could also still be plugged in.

In that context, dongles that didn't fail to work with the intended program did, almost universally, fail to work with any device connected in pass through mode.

A dongle of that kind has generally and universally, ALWAYS been considered the hallmark of INCOMPETENT PROGRAM DESIGN.

Now we call such things "DRM CRAP."

In all likelihood, your device isn't really a dongle in the original sense, but is just a "plug in modem" intended to communicate at the specific frequencies and with the protocols used by the phone service.

A problem with Vista and USB is that as soon as a device is plugged into a USB port, the OS attempts to identify the device and install a suitable driver for it. If the device is plugged in before the associated program is installed, an inappropriate driver may be installed. It can be difficult to remove a "wrong driver."

Cleverly, some USB devices that require a specific program still incorporate the donglish feature of requiring the dongle to be present before the program can be installed correctly/completely. This means that attempting to install the program first results in a defective software installation, but installing the device first results in a defective USB driver installation. Once either program or driver is incorrectly installed, removal may be difficult and subsequent reinstallations (even in correct order) may repeatedly fail.

I can't say that this is a problem with the installation at hand; but stupidity is abundently evident in the ranks of designers (esp those who would call anything a dongle).

Your first steps might be to read the installation instructions carefully, and try to remember exactly the order in which each step was performed to assure that it was all done "by the book."

If anything was out of step, you might need to:

1. Uninstall the program.
2. Disconnect (remove) the dongle.
3. Use Device Manager to disable all the USB ports.
4. Shut down the computer.¹
5. Disconnect ALL USB DEVICES.
6. Reboot.²
7. Connect each of the other USB devices one at a time, allowing the OS to find and install drivers for each one in turn.
8. Reinstall the program and dongle/modem exactly according to the instructions.

This should work in about 26% (?) of all cases. I've never seen instructions for what to do with the other 87%.

¹ Since Vista (like most other OS versions) doesn't identify what devices are connected to which USB port, if you use a USB mouse or keyboard, you may find shutting down something of a puzzle.

² If you did a BRS shutdown (Big Red Switch = disconnect power) you might want to reboot, connect only the appropriate USB mouse/keyboard, and then REBOOT to assure everything is stable before proceeding with connection of other USB devices.

As my comments are based on "general principles related to USB devices" any specific advice from those familiar with your hardware/program should take precedence.

John

Subject: RE: Computer problem ; help needed !!
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 22 Sep 10 - 04:42 AM

I think this would be of real help Bubblyrat (or anybody who wants to understand what it is all about).

http://www.broadbandanalyst.co.uk/broadband-help/usb-dongle-faq/

Subject: RE: Computer problem ; help needed !!
From: bubblyrat
Date: 22 Sep 10 - 09:46 AM

Thankyou SO much, John & Arthur ; I have learned much from both of you. Armed with what you have told me, I feel confident that Wild Flying Dove (who is unwell at present) will soon be re-trying the installation procedure with renewed enthusiasm, despite having inserted the dongle and followed the prompts a dozen times to no effect !!

Subject: RE: Computer problem ; help needed !!
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 22 Sep 10 - 10:40 AM

The link provided by Arthur confirms that the device in question actually is a "USB mobile modem." Calling it a "dongle" perverts the traditional meaning of the term, which has customarily meant a "hardware device with the exclusive purpose of preventing use (of software or associated hardware) on more than one computer at a time."

The proprietary features of this device, locking a particular modem to a single wireless service, vaguely support calling it a "copy protection" (DRM) device, so "dongle" is perhaps only a mild corruption of tradition. I haven't seen the term used in the US, although that's possibly a result of less universal availability of wireless (cell) connectivity here, and more careful avoidance by our wireless/cell phone providers of terms traditionally in disrepute.

To old-timers (here) with experience with a traditional "dongle," "here's your dongle" may evoke a reaction similar to "here's a nice gob of phlegm," or "here's a nice hairball the cat just spit up."

John