I am trying to connect a desktop with windows OS to a laptop with windows XP. I am using an 802.11g/2.4GHZ Router in conjunction with Network Magic. The status bar on my laptop says that I am connected but will not open my internet explorer. I sometimes get an error message No. 651. Need help!!

Verify that you haven't manually set the IP address of the desktop machine to an IP address that conflicts with another device on your network.
If this is the case, change the network settings to use Automatic or DHCP IP address assignment.
If this doesn't fix the issue, I suggest trying a different network card than the QHM8100R3D to see if that addresses the issue.

what's the error? if your getting the error Connected with limited connectivity try checking your network key in the router and the wireless settings on your computer if they are correct or just removed your security key, if your getting an error no networks in range or no network available check the router settings if the wireless signal is turned on the router, if you get an error windows could not connect to wireless networks try uninstalling and reinstalling the wireless card driver on your system and set the the router to defaults then try connecting with out changing any settings in the router to see if it will connect, if it connects, then there was/were settings in the router and possibly in the wireless settings in your laptop that was causing the computer and the router to have communication issues, also check for possible applications such as network magic that could cause a wireless signal to degrade or not allow connections at all if such application exists on your system uninstall it Microsoft or windows has its own wireless configuration software built into handle wireless connections in XP it is wireless zero configuration in vista and in win7 WLAN which can be set in network and sharing connection in the control panel window.....

It could be the router which is giving you issue. Press and hold the reset button for 30 second and this makes the configuration to go back to its previous settings. The reconfigure the router with a new SSID and security key. Try connecting to the wireless network, the computers will consider it as a new network and will connect without any issues

Is your desktop wired or wireless.
If it wired then check the wired connection and make sure that you have proper light on the router. Suppose your computer is connected to the port 2 on the router, then you have port 2 light on the router.
If your computer is wireless then try to search for the wireless network and check if you can see the wireless network.
If you have windows XP, then try to use windows XP utility to connect to the network.
Fort windows Vista and 7 , you will find icon in the bottom right hand corner. Use that icon to connect to the network.
Click Here for step by step instructions

uninstall the network magic . that software has lot of issues.
You can uninstall the program and try to connect using the windows utility. that is very easy and that works properly.
Is there any computer connected to the router with the cable. If yes then open the router set up page and check the wireless settings of the router.
Click here for more information about the router and network

May I suggest you get wired to the WRT54G (you will need a ethernet cable for this I guess you know) ... google Network Magic and run the free evaluation version? Network is a Cisco product as is your router. I use the paid pro version for all my network duties. It may help you to solve your trouble.

Let me know what happens

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Try logging into the router with your desktop hard-wired and find the 25-digit passcode and use that to log on to the wireless network with the laptop. If not, then check if connection is good by hard-wiring the router to the laptop. Let me know what happens or if you have solved the problem.

Your wife's laptop is setup to connect to another wireless network. It must be set up now for the wireless network that you are trying to connect to. This means that your wife's laptop is trying to connect to the wireless network somewhere else. You need to let the laptop look for available wireless networks. It should be able to see your wireless network. It will then require you to enter the password that you have set in your Zyxel. If you don't know the password, call Zyxel.

sure..you can put all the computers on the same workgroup, and form a network

we got fresh wireless drivers here too

First I am not connected with the product that I am recomending in any way shape or form.

On a wired PC download Network Magic (the free version is all you will need). Burn a CD with it and install on the laptop. Bring up Network Magic and use it to connect to the network. If it can not find the network, run Network Magic on your wired PC and bring up the Network Map and look to see if you can see your router on the network. Log into the router and start by reseting the wireless.

http://www.networkmagic.com

I use this product on all my laptops and desktops it makes networking simple.