I have an apple usb ethernet adapter that i want to know if it will work on a dell laptop computer for cable connectivity

Okay,..........

1) You can download a wireless Ethernet adapter driver all day, but if you Do Not have a wireless adapter card installed in your computer, the drivers do you no good.

Or if you do not have a wireless USB adapter plugged into a USB port.

Example of a wireless adapter card,

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4695358&CatId=2692

Example of a wireless USB device,

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=6367137&CatId=2692

Example of an Ethernet adapter card,

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=686143&CatId=200

If you are just going to hardwire the computer, just buy an Ethernet adapter card, (PCI version), and install it in your computer, (On the motherboard), in any available white PCI slot.

IF it is the Mini Tower model.

The Desktop, Small Form Factor (SFF), and Ultra Small Form Factor (SFF) computers, are too small in width for a regular size Ethernet adapter card.

They need a Low-Profile Ethernet adapter card,

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833114034

This is for a Dell Optiplex GX620 Mini-Tower computer,

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/opgx620/en/ug/A02/mtabout0.htm#wp1051997

Scroll the page down until you come to the bold blue heading - System Board Components
This is an illustration of a Top view of the Mini-Tower's motherboard.

16 and 17 point to two PCI slots.
This is where an Ethernet adapter card that is the PCI version, will plug into.

PCI slots are White in color.
An example of a basic PCI slot, ( 3 are shown),

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:PCI_Slots_Digon3.JPG

If you do decide to go wireless;

1) Wireless networking operates at half of the speed of wired networking.

A computer that is wired directly to an Ethernet adapter card, is twice as fast on the internet, as a computer that is connected wireless.

2) Make sure your Router is capable of wireless.
Make sure the wireless router has a built-in Modem, or that you have a separate Modem.

[ For DSL.
Phone line connects to Filter. Filter has a place for a telephone cable, and an Ethernet cable.
Ethernet cable connects to Filter, and other end connects to Modem.
Ethernet cable goes from Modem to Wireless router that does not have a built-in Modem.

OR,
Phone line connects to Filter. Ethernet cable from Filter goes directly to wireless router, that has a built-in Modem.

Computer has to have a USB wireless device, or a wireless adapter card, installed.

For additional questions, or to clarify anything I have stated, please post in a Comment.
(Believe upper right of your page, blue Comment)

Regards,
joecoolvette

I've run into a similar problem myself. The problem could be that there is another device in the area using the same frequency and is causing interference. Try changing the frequency on your adapter. If you've recently added a wireless device and you can't change the frequency on your adapter try changing the frequency on the new device or turning it off to test if it's the problem.
It's possible someone else in the area has added a device that's causing the problem look around for new wireless devices or antenna in the area.

Try turning off Airport. Your computer may be finding a wireless network and automatically switching to it, and getting an intermittent signal. Just a guess, but for a good ethernet connection you want to disable the Airport searching feature anyway.
Open the System Preferences application, select "Network" and right on the top left of the resulting window there's a pretty big button that will either say "Turn Airport On" or "Turn Airport Off" - just turn it off if it's not already ...

Hope this helps!

For help with Public Address Systems see my new How To Video, available as a DVD at www.whamuniversal.com

Hello.

I'd suggest testing with another computer and the same Ethernet cable to your modem to see if the results are the same and to narrow down which component is the problem.

Was it always slow with this setup or did something change.

Is the Linksys adapter connected via USB ? That would be slower than an internal adapter.

Try updating the Linksys adapter software - Device Manager - rightclick - update driver.

Hope these suggestions help.

One port on the router is an "Ethernet" port -- look closely to see the 8 wires in the socket.

You'll need a similar 8-wire connector on your computer,
and an "Ethernet-cable" that has 8 strands of wire.

Adding-in the PCI Ethernet card will add an 8-wire connector,
so that the Ethernet-cable can be connected.

Be sure to buy a 'PCI' Ethernet adapter, not 'PCI-E', and not 'ISA'.
It may come with a CD-ROM containing software to be installed.

Don't pay more than $20. Or, find a "computer-geek" -- he/she probably will have one or more "spare" PCI Ethernet cards to give to you.

There are many USB to ethernet adapters available, for example - Belkin USB to Ethernet Adapter with 2m Patch Cable from Amazon. Your laptop may only be USB version 1.0 so it would be best to make sur the adapter supports USB 1.0 and 2.0.

Here are some things to check.

1. In the system setup, ensure that the network adapter is enabled.
2. Check device manager and see if the driver is properly installed.
3. If the integrated NIC doesn't work, you can disable it in the BIOS and install a PCI NIC (Less than $20) and the system will work that way.

Things to try:

1. Plug in the ethernet cable then restart the laptop.

2. Right click on your local area connection and make sure its enabled

3. Make sure your wireless adapter is disabled.

4. Check if you need a static ip address on your work network. and if so have them assign you an ip address for your laptop.

5 Test your computers ethernet port on another wired network to make sure that it is good.

6. Get a usb to ethernet adapter for your laptop if your ethernet port is bad on your laptop.

While operating in the windows mode, insert your mac os leopard disc and it should auto launch the program that will allow you to install all needed drivers and settings.
The mac os disc will completely set up your computer in window... but let it run fully.. don't interrupt it.. this should set up for your wifi screen res etc...
If you need help with printer drivers... download a copy of Bonjour from apple...it's free and it will find your printers and set it up for you!
Way to go Mac... way to make windows work!

Let me know if this gets you operational
k

It could be. Check your Device Manager and make sure the device isn't disabled. Also each adapter has its own TCP/IP settings so make sure yours on your ethernet adapter are set the same as your USB adapter that is working. If it does turn out to be bad you can always add a new ethernet card for cheap.