I need help. I'll try to make this as short as possible.

I'm trying to setup my Dell C600 to use a wireless connection to the Internet. The Dell wireless card is inserted, the WLAN utility says the network named 2wire315 status is Associated, Security is TKIP-WEP-key absent;Speed is 54.0Mbps; using Channel 11. the client IP address is given, and the network connection type is Infrastructure.  Packets are being sent and received (to where and from where I have no clue). Under wireless networks, the 'let this tool manage your wireless settings' is checked, as is 'enable radio'. Under Preferred Networks, there are two shown: 2WIRE315 and LAPTOP WIRELESS NET. I'm using the 2WIRE315---it has the little ball on top of the antenna icon. Under Site Monitor, all 4 vertical bars are solid green, using the STandard 802.11b & 802.11g. I've run Diagnostics a gazillion times, all 6 items check out OK. and finally, under Information, the Dell Wireless Lan Utility is version 3.40.74.0, dated July 9, 2004. The driver date is old---6-25-2004.

Bottom line so far is, everything seems to be working. Backround, I just reformatted the hard drive and installed Win 2K Pro and IE 6. Prior to the reformat the Internet connection (hard wired connection using the 10/100 Dell card) worked fine. Now, it doesn't work, either. The whole point of this is to setup the laptop so we can use it in other places besides home.

My wife and I have adjoining home offices. She accesses the Internet via a wireless LinkSys card installed in her desktop. It works fine. I think what I'm trying to do is piggyback my Internet connection on her connection. Not sure that's what's happening.

But when I send IE 6  out to find the I-net it says the page cannot be found (error message) When I try to get email via OE6, the error message is always the same: Host pop.att.xxx.xxx cannot be found. Protocol pop3, port 110, Secure SSL,No, Socket Error 11001 Error # 0x800CCC0D.

When I installed the AVG anti virus program, nothing changed. Firewall or no firewall. It may have provided a clue. When it tried to access the Internet, the error message was: 'The server cannot be converted to the IP address'. So I went in, using the WLAN utility and Windows, and changed the IP setting to manual, and entered the same IP address as this computer is using (my desktop). No difference.

I'm completely baffled. I've been messing around computers for 25 years. This is one problem I've never come up against before. Will appreciate any suggestions.

Wes