Results 1 to 13 of 13

Thread: Is there a way to tell my PC to only use the wi-fi connection for internet

  1. #1
    Gold Member Marcos's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2004
    Location
    England
    Posts
    4,119
    Thanks
    54
    Thanked
    26 times in 17 posts

    Is there a way to tell my PC to only use the wi-fi connection for internet

    My wi-fi router provides all the internet access in the house.

    when i connect my laptop to anything ethernet my PC tries to use that connection for internet, which is really annoying! Theres no internet at the end of the ethernet cable, i'm connecting it to a standalone device.

    So basically, do you know if theres a way i can set my PC so it knows to check for internet connection through wi-fi first, before trying Ethernet?

  2. #2
    mush-mushroom b0redom's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    Middlesex
    Posts
    3,494
    Thanks
    195
    Thanked
    383 times in 292 posts
    • b0redom's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Some iMac thingy
      • CPU:
      • 3.4Ghz Quad Core i7
      • Memory:
      • 24GB
      • Storage:
      • 3TB Fusion Drive
      • Graphics card(s):
      • nViidia GTX 680MX
      • PSU:
      • Some iMac thingy
      • Case:
      • Late 2012 pointlessly thin iMac enclosure
      • Operating System:
      • OSX 10.8 / Win 7 Pro
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell 2713H
      • Internet:
      • Be+

    Re: Is there a way to tell my PC to only use the wi-fi connection for internet

    Yes, you can set up static routing.

    Route add 0.0.0.0 mask 0.0.0.0 gateway x.x.x.x (where your router is IP is x.x.x.x)

    -p makes it persistant across reboots

    More info here:

    http://www.microsoft.com/resources/d....mspx?mfr=true

  3. Received thanks from:

    EvilMunky (06-09-2007)

  4. #3
    Gold Member Marcos's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2004
    Location
    England
    Posts
    4,119
    Thanks
    54
    Thanked
    26 times in 17 posts

    Re: Is there a way to tell my PC to only use the wi-fi connection for internet

    ummm, hate to sound a bit dim but where do i begin with that?

  5. #4
    Network|Geek kidzer's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Location
    Aberdeenshire
    Posts
    1,732
    Thanks
    91
    Thanked
    47 times in 42 posts
    • kidzer's system
      • Motherboard:
      • $motherboard
      • CPU:
      • Intel Q6600
      • Memory:
      • 4GB
      • Storage:
      • 1TiB Samsung
      • Graphics card(s):
      • BFG 8800GTS OC
      • PSU:
      • Antec Truepower
      • Case:
      • Antec P160
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 7
      • Monitor(s):
      • 20" Viewsonic
      • Internet:
      • ~3Mbps ADSL (TalkTalk Business)

    Re: Is there a way to tell my PC to only use the wi-fi connection for internet

    open a command prompt and type it;
    Code:
    Route -p add 0.0.0.0 mask 0.0.0.0 gateway x.x.x.x [interface]
    The interface you want to apply it to can be found by typing 'route print' and using the Hexidecimal value for it, in my case it would be 0x2 for my Ethernet port

    hope it helps

    Reading that article, and what you want to do - you would apply the above to your Wifi Connection.

    And thats a cool command, I need to read up on Command prompt stuff, I hardly use it at all.
    "If you're not on the edge, you're taking up too much room!"
    - me, 2005

  6. #5
    Gold Member Marcos's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2004
    Location
    England
    Posts
    4,119
    Thanks
    54
    Thanked
    26 times in 17 posts

    Re: Is there a way to tell my PC to only use the wi-fi connection for internet

    Quote Originally Posted by kidzer View Post
    open a command prompt and type it;
    Code:
    Route -p add 0.0.0.0 mask 0.0.0.0 gateway x.x.x.x [interface]
    The interface you want to apply it to can be found by typing 'route print' and using the Hexidecimal value for it, in my case it would be 0x2 for my Ethernet port

    hope it helps

    Reading that article, and what you want to do - you would apply the above to your Wifi Connection.

    And thats a cool command, I need to read up on Command prompt stuff, I hardly use it at all.
    so what do i put in the x.x.x.x section?

  7. #6
    Network|Geek kidzer's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Location
    Aberdeenshire
    Posts
    1,732
    Thanks
    91
    Thanked
    47 times in 42 posts
    • kidzer's system
      • Motherboard:
      • $motherboard
      • CPU:
      • Intel Q6600
      • Memory:
      • 4GB
      • Storage:
      • 1TiB Samsung
      • Graphics card(s):
      • BFG 8800GTS OC
      • PSU:
      • Antec Truepower
      • Case:
      • Antec P160
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 7
      • Monitor(s):
      • 20" Viewsonic
      • Internet:
      • ~3Mbps ADSL (TalkTalk Business)

    Re: Is there a way to tell my PC to only use the wi-fi connection for internet

    Ah, sorry - that's your Default Gateway - the device through which inter-network traffic will pass. Basically, it'll be your Router/Switch you are connected to most likely.

    To find the address of it, open a command prompt and type 'ipconfig /all' and under your Wireless adapter, there will be an entry for Default Gateway, put that IP Address in place of x.x.x.x and you should be sorted
    "If you're not on the edge, you're taking up too much room!"
    - me, 2005

  8. #7
    Gold Member Marcos's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2004
    Location
    England
    Posts
    4,119
    Thanks
    54
    Thanked
    26 times in 17 posts

    Re: Is there a way to tell my PC to only use the wi-fi connection for internet

    thanks

    is there any chance i type this in and then i'm screwed and lose internet access?

    how would i undo it if it goes wrong?

  9. #8
    mush-mushroom b0redom's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    Middlesex
    Posts
    3,494
    Thanks
    195
    Thanked
    383 times in 292 posts
    • b0redom's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Some iMac thingy
      • CPU:
      • 3.4Ghz Quad Core i7
      • Memory:
      • 24GB
      • Storage:
      • 3TB Fusion Drive
      • Graphics card(s):
      • nViidia GTX 680MX
      • PSU:
      • Some iMac thingy
      • Case:
      • Late 2012 pointlessly thin iMac enclosure
      • Operating System:
      • OSX 10.8 / Win 7 Pro
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell 2713H
      • Internet:
      • Be+

    Re: Is there a way to tell my PC to only use the wi-fi connection for internet

    Leave out the -p bit the first time you run it. If it all goes horribly wrong, you can just reboot.

  10. #9
    Registered+
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    Christchurch
    Posts
    69
    Thanks
    1
    Thanked
    2 times in 1 post

    Re: Is there a way to tell my PC to only use the wi-fi connection for internet

    You could aslo choose to ignore this approach altogether and instead make your wired LAN network connection manual (assuming you can assign a manual IP address) rather than the default automatic (using DHCP which assigns the new default gateway) and then just remove the default gateway settings from the wired LAN settings in the configuration. This will leave the Wireless gateway defenition as the one and only option for the computer to find the Internet.

    If your in XP or Vista take a look in Control Panel -> Network Connections at the Local Area Network connection -> right mouse click->status->support->details:

    will look something like this:

    Physical Address: XX-XX-XX-XX-XX-XX
    IP Address: 192.168.0.2
    Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0
    Default Gateway: 192.168.0.1 <- here is where your problem will be.
    DHCP Server: 192.168.0.1
    Lease Obtained: 01/09/2007 16:33:23
    Lease Expires: 19/01/2038 04:14:07
    DNS Server: 192.168.0.1
    WINS Server:

    Use these same details minus the gateway to configure the TCP/IP settings maunally.

    If you want more help on this just ask or ring me on 07876025797.

  11. #10
    Gold Member Marcos's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2004
    Location
    England
    Posts
    4,119
    Thanks
    54
    Thanked
    26 times in 17 posts

    Re: Is there a way to tell my PC to only use the wi-fi connection for internet

    Thats sounds like a better option, i'll try it when i get home, thanks!

  12. #11
    Network|Geek kidzer's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Location
    Aberdeenshire
    Posts
    1,732
    Thanks
    91
    Thanked
    47 times in 42 posts
    • kidzer's system
      • Motherboard:
      • $motherboard
      • CPU:
      • Intel Q6600
      • Memory:
      • 4GB
      • Storage:
      • 1TiB Samsung
      • Graphics card(s):
      • BFG 8800GTS OC
      • PSU:
      • Antec Truepower
      • Case:
      • Antec P160
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 7
      • Monitor(s):
      • 20" Viewsonic
      • Internet:
      • ~3Mbps ADSL (TalkTalk Business)

    Re: Is there a way to tell my PC to only use the wi-fi connection for internet

    Doesn't XP require a default gateway to be entered though?
    "If you're not on the edge, you're taking up too much room!"
    - me, 2005

  13. #12
    Registered+
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    Christchurch
    Posts
    69
    Thanks
    1
    Thanked
    2 times in 1 post

    Re: Is there a way to tell my PC to only use the wi-fi connection for internet

    I said... "This will leave the Wireless gateway defenition as the one and only option for the computer to find the Internet".

    The idea is to have only one network connection with a default gateway that way Windows has not alternative but to attempt Internet access through that path. If you have 2 connections using DHCP (auto assignment) then you may end up with 2 default gateways. What im saying is to make the one you don't want to use for Internet access NOT automatic.

    He may still use the local physical network connection to access a subnet (thats what the "subnet mask" does and is used to define a range of local IP addresses to look for on that connection) of local computers. Which I gather is why he has the physical connection at all.

    To directly answer your Q? Yes all TCP/IP systems regardless of operating system (you said XP in this case) require at least one connection with a default gateway defined (manually or automatically) if they are going to find the rest of the IP world (the internet).

    The "default gateway" being the IP address of your nearest router in 99&#37; of situations (this may be a local one if your using a local router/modem combination or your Internet service providers one if your just using a simple adsl/cable modem).

    I hope that helps

  14. #13
    Registered+
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    Christchurch
    Posts
    69
    Thanks
    1
    Thanked
    2 times in 1 post

    Re: Is there a way to tell my PC to only use the wi-fi connection for internet

    further clarification...What I mean by "Wireless gateway" is the default gateway on the wireless network.

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads

  1. Sharing a mac's internet connection with windows PCs
    By Mike Fishcake in forum Networking and Broadband
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 17-11-2006, 07:22 PM
  2. Argh! Internet connection not working
    By subucni in forum Help! Quick Relief From Tech Headaches
    Replies: 7
    Last Post: 30-11-2005, 08:13 AM
  3. 3 free orange sims per address
    By daveham in forum Retail Therapy and Bargains
    Replies: 73
    Last Post: 16-02-2005, 01:26 AM
  4. AOL platinum connection and wireless connection sharing.
    By Fatboy in forum Networking and Broadband
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 20-12-2004, 05:10 PM
  5. Connection Speed with Router
    By ajbrun in forum Networking and Broadband
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 26-09-2004, 09:49 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •