33 replies to this topic

[vijay.gupta]

I have Dell Laptop with Windows 7. I have a very basic query: When I go to "Control Panel\Network and Internet\Network Connections" , there are different network icons with different labels (below): 1) Bluetooth Network Connection (Bluetooth Device written below it) 2) BSNL (Mobile Connector written below it) 3) Local Area Connection (Realtek PCIe GBE Family Controller written below it) 4) Wireless Network Connection (Broadcom 802.11bg WLAN written below it) 5) Wireless Network Connection 2 (Microsoft Virtual Wi Fi Miniport Access written below it) These icons cannot be deleted as these give validation message on trying to deleting. I just want to know, what are these icons and hat do they signify?

[8210GUY]

They are all of the various connection methods available to you, each entry is in relation to a driver installed for a piece of hardware in you're system, the bluetooth one is usually related to using a mobile phone as a modem for it's connection, the main ones you will use is either:- 3) Local Area Connection (Realtek PCIe GBE Family Controller written below it), which is you're Ethernet connection or 4) Wireless Network Connection (Broadcom 802.11bg WLAN written below it), which is simply you're Wi-Fi, the Microsoft Virtual Wi Fi entry is simple a choice on what you use to control the Wi-Fi connection, so you can choose between M$ or the hardware makers, whatever is simpler to use, that is all, hope it helps.

[vijay.gupta]

Thanks for the explanation. I have further query. I often use different mobile phone to connect to internet having different connections with different service providers. Suppose I am using service providers A and B to connect using bluetooth. Then, when I connect using A and then using B, different network icons are getting created for them naming A and B. At this point of time, I have three network icons for bluetooth: Bluetooth Network Connection (Bluetooth Device written below it) A B My query here is: What is the use of "Bluetooth Network Connection (Bluetooth Device written below it)" entry when different icons are getting created for A and B automatically? Also, I am able to delete A and B but trying to "Bluetooth Network Connection (Bluetooth Device written below it)" is giving validation message.

[8210GUY]

Not sure I fully understand, but will say what I think, but having never used bluetooth to connect my PC to the net I am unaware of icons being produced as you describe but my suspicion is this is happening because each time you hook the phone in, and use it too connect with, the system sees it as creating a new connection, so it is adding the shortcuts as a new device in a way if that makes sense ? But you will not be able to delete the 3rd entry, because it is a part of the actual system, the only way to remove that is too uninstall it, which of course means you would no longer be able to use that element, at least until it's reinstalled again, not a massive help here I'm afraid, but hopefully this helps a bit.

[vijay.gupta]

Thanks 8210 guy, I have resetted the laptop to its factory settings and following icons are showing: 1) Bluetooth Network Connection (Bluetooth Device written below it) - which hardware this entry corresponds to? 2) Local Area Connection (Realtek PCIe GBE Family Controller written below it) - this icon is showing corresponding to LAN Card (NIC) installed in my computer. 3) Wireless Network Connection (Broadcom 802.11bg WLAN written below it) - which hardware this entry corresponds to? 4) Wireless Network Connection 2 (Microsoft Virtual Wi Fi Miniport Access written below it) - Now, this entry is gone. Please let me know whay it was there in first case?

[8210GUY]

NP 1/ This is detecting a bluetooth element, either the PC has it inbuilt, you're using a dongle, or it is remembering you're phones, but whichever the cause it's not a bad thing, without it you would not be able to connect via that method. 2/ As you say, this is you're Ethernet port. 3/ This is the physical hardware for you're Wi-Fi, it allows you to connect wireless to devices that support this. 4/ This is related to 3, with you're Wi-Fi you have 2 ways too control it, you can use the hardware makers own utility (shown in 3). OR, you can use the OS's utility show in 4 to control this, you will probably see this reappear again if you run the wireless connection wizard or something, but again it is not a bad thing, it just aloes you some choice in which utility you want too use to set up you're Wi-Fi and connections. Hope thats a bit clearer for you.

[vijay.gupta]

@8210 guy - so as per you, every entry corresponds to hardware component (to support that connection type) installed in the system. Can you please confirm this? Please pardon my repeated queries.

[8210GUY]

Yes that is correct, whether it be inbuilt to the system directly, or an attached device, each entry relates to a service\hardware etc that you use. NP about the queries, it's how we learn, but if you're queries are related to each other, it may be easier to keep it in a single thread, it makes following the info easier, so if others look in they can see the whole history, and may be able to fill in, or explain better than I can, the issues in question, but hope this helps.

[vijay.gupta]

Thanks 8210 Guy for bearing with me: Can you please confirm below 3 queries: 1) Real Tek is the name of the company that manufactured the NIC card installed in my Laptop since it is mentioned with the adaptor 2) Similar to NIC, there is a card that enables Wi-Fi in my laptop which is installed in my laptop? I don't knowq if that hardware is called card but I am just guessing. 3) That card is manufactured by Broadcom?

[8210GUY]

NP, the answer to all 3 is yes, although I couldn't swear to them being cards, I don't have much experience with the build where laptops are concerned, but there is hardware of some kind that those entries relate too, without them you would not be able to connect to the net.

[vijay.gupta]

Thanks for clearing my doubts!!

[vijay.gupta]

One thing more: Can I connect to internet using two connections at the same time on same computer?

[Doug]

Yes.

but the answer is dependent upon so many specifics of your hardware and subscriptions, that we will not attempt to answer further.

Have a look here:
http://www.google.co...lient=firefox-a

[vijay.gupta]

Thanks doug..in that case would the internet speed on my laptop would be the sum of the speed provided by both the connections assuming that the hardware supports the connection to 2 internet connection at the same time?

[Doug]

No. Two cars going down the highway at 60mph are still only traveling at 60mph, not 120mph. The benefit of having two cars, is that more passengers and cargo can be carried. It is possible that having the extra bandwidth of a second IP connected to a second ISP, "could" in some instances allow for large downloads or large uploads without conflicting with other internet traffic your machine may be handling at the same exact time. This is "not likely" to be an advantage. But I don't know that for sure, because I've never had the opportunity to try it for myself. the reason that I doubt it would help much is that I often have 20 or more tabs open in several instances of browser, some of which may be streaming music or video, while others are being used to reply in Forum settings, connected to online email clients, or just setting idle on some web page I may be researching. I've never run into a situation where my "bandwidth from a single ISP" was not sufficient to handle all of the above without lag. Maybe I've been lucky.