New Mac users forum: Safari suddenly near death

Thanks for the advice.
I will first try to rule out the hardware issue by taking the balky computer to another location where I have internet access and seeing what happens.
If it works there but not back at home, I'll follow up on the WIFI security. I don't know much about that, do it'll be a good learning experience. I do not that the current security is WEP.

Bob

I can't know what I don't know. Sorry but I wrote laptop as a sly way to pry more details.

All I can tell now is this is some desktop Mac and can't well what the security is.

Try this. Research SMAC for Apple and change that machine's MAC address to see if this is that security issue I know about.
Bob

Turn off that machine in question, reboot the router to clear it's connections list then keep the cranky machine off. Check the router's connection list and see if an unknown MAC address connects.
Bob

That sounds like something I can do!
One concern may be the router is the one that was supplied by Verizon as part of the FIOS package. I don't know if that makes it a strange animal that works differently than an off-the-shelf router. But thanks again.
I should find the time to do that this week and I'll post re my results.

Bob

Today, I rebooted the router. I turned it back on and went into the administrative section. I looked under "My Network". I was able to account for as ours all of the devices (all 13 of them!) that were being shown as being connected to the router. I tested the connectivity (the ping test on the router) on all 13 of the devices (2 desktops, 4 laptops, 2 iPhones, 2 iPads, an HP printer and 2 TIVO boxes) all passed the test immediately and consistently except the one desktop that has been the problem. Sometimes it would not pass the ping test at all and sometimes it would pass but only very slowly. The signal strength on the desktop icon shows maximum strength of signal.
Tomorrow, I plan to take that desktop to where I can safely connect it wirelessly to another router in another location.
If it doesn't work well there, should I assume it has a hardware problem? If it has the same problem there, I'm not sure what to do next.

thanks,
Bob

If it fails we have choices to make. For me I can use another client adapter since that can be very cheap.
Bob

I took the desktop to work and connected it to the internet. It worked perfectly, downloading sites and pages effortlessly. In a way, that was discouraging because I assumed it meant there was not a hardware problem but a problem with my home internet. If it was a hardware problem, I imagined that a quick trip to the Apple store would be the next step, but if it was an internet connection problem, I would be at a loss.
I brought the desktop home, connected it to the internet and it worked perfectly and has done so for 4 days now! So, I have no idea what was going on, but as long as it keeps working I won't question it.
I guess the useful part of the experience is that I figured out how to get into the administrative part of the router and see what's connected. I'm not sure what practical use that knowledge will ever get me, but it might be good to know.
Anyway, thanks for your help.

While on a call I would bring out my ethernet client (it's similar to http://www.amazon.com/Neewer-Pocket-Wireless-Router-802-11b/dp/B005IJPZXK/ in bridge mode) this unit helps me figure such things out.

However I wonder if by having to connect to another hotspot you did the same thing as another procedure I use which is to rename the hotspot and then configure all the machines to the new spot.
Bob

Bob,

I have a verizon fios router and use a windows machine. How do I view the router's connection list. I was confused by your saying the "sdmistration section of my network"

Cliff

I don't remember where I got the info, but I went on the internet and went to 192.168.1.1
That is, I entered those numbers as the web address.
It connected me to the router. I logged on with the default user name (admin) and then I entered the password that was set up for me by Verizon when I had the router installed.
It then took me to a Verizon page that offered a number of options. Under Main you can see all the connections and other info. If you go to My Network you can get more info about each connection.
I don't pretend to understand what I am seeing there at this point.
Hope that helps,
Bob

web pages that are built into the Router.

You are not on the internet, you are actually on your own, internal, network.

P

I see what you mean. Thanks for the clarification.

Bob