Why is it that my pc that is closest to the modem/router has to have its ethernet cable connected to the modem/router in order for my pc that gets its signal wirelessly to acceess the Internet? Yesterday I had my main pc setup dismantled and wanted to get on the Internet and also check my email at the computer that gets the wireless signal. I could see that the signal was there, the status was connected and the strength was good, but I could not access the web or receive emails. Once the main pc had it's ethernet cable re-connected then all was back to normal. It just seems weird to me that just having that cable connected, no matter if the main pc is turned on or not, determines whether or not I can get on to the Internet at the other pc. Especially since the signal was availble. These are both XP SP2 computers. Modem/router is a Westell Versalink that was made to be used with Verizon but that I tweaked to use with Bellsouth Fastaccess.

I'm confused

Is the other PC using a wireless connection or a LAN?

If it is using wireless, you must have your Router working to receive the wireless signal. To have the Router working, it must be connected to the LAN on the PC it was configured for so it is initialized correctly.

Your solution is to connect the "other" PC via LAN. You may have to do the Router Setup all over again for the "other" PC, then redo it when you reconnect to the original PC.

Lets see - there are two computers in my house, one is what I call the main one, it's here in the living room and is connected to the modem/router with the ethernet cable. Then I have another computer set up as part of my TV viewing arrangement and that one works wirelessly. What you say makes sense now that I think of it. When I set up the modem/router there was a computer connected via ethernet (not this one I have now but its predecessor) so the router "expects" to have one computer attached via cable and the rest via wireless signal. Is that correct? But still, the actual wireless signal was there at the TV computer, it had the signal but it just would not get on to the Internet. Very weird. But anyway, thank you for explaining it. So if I ever want to have a totally wireless house with no computers attached using the ethernet cable, all I need do it reset my modem/router and then program it with that totally wireless configuration. Right? I think that's right. I must admit I know nothing about LAN. All I know is that when I mouse over the LAN icon in my system tray on my TV computer is says something about a cable being disconnected. I need to go learn about LAN. Thanks again.

sounds like you may NOT be getting an ip address.
click start
click run
type cmd
hit return
type ipconfig
hit enter
look for your wifi card, might have your ethernet also
what is the ip address, probably should be 192.168.xxx.xxx , depends on manufacturer. If it is 169.xxx.xxx.xxx it is the default out of the box ip
try doing ipconfig/release
wait for results
then ipconfig/renew

LA1 - thank you very much. I will do this.