:confused: Attaching external HD disconnects internet

[Arthur]

Sounds like IRQ or DMA conflict.
What does the event viewer say?

 

[auriga1000]

XP with SP1?

Why not install/upgrade to SP2, or SP3?

yes . had a problem with dongle with sp2. sp3 sorted it out chop chop.

 

[auriga1000]

are you connecting the dongle via it's own software or letting the native windows wifi manager do the job? the latter would be better if running xp sp3. just install the driver of the dongle and not anything else.

 

[The_Mowgs]

are you connecting the dongle via it's own software or letting the native windows wifi manager do the job? the latter would be better if running xp sp3. just install the driver of the dongle and not anything else.

Using the software that came with the dongle. Will un-install it and give it a try. Thank you

 

[The_Mowgs]

Ok, did the un-install and only installing the driver, still not working like its supposed to... I tried different ports and everything.

 

[Rudimental]

This is a stretch but it could be that the HDD for some reason identifies itself, or is identified by windows, as a network device, and creates an ip conflict or something similar.

I would do something like check your ip, etc before and after inserting the device with 'ipconfig /all' at the command prompt.

 

[Ivork]

Do what ^^ said but do a route print before and after you plug your HDD in and see if anything changes.
If so post here.

And you can still configure & talk to this wifi device when your ext HDD is on from what i gather, right?

Move that thing as far away from your pc as you can, including it's PSU.
Or get a USB extension and put the wifi dongle as far away from your pc as you can.