Wireless laptop connection problem

I have my Dell Desktop PC connected to a Belkin F5D7630-4A modem-router by network cable. I have 2 laptops connected wirelessly. The Desktop PC has the IP address assigned manually (following your advice on a previous problem - see below). The laptops aquire the IP address automatically.

The laptops connect to the router and the internet without problem EXCEPT in the following scenario. Once I have accessed the internet on the Desktop PC and then turned the Desktop PC off, the laptops connect to the router but CANNOT access the internet until I have unplugged and plugged the router in again to reset it. The laptops connect to the internet without problem before I use the Desktop PC to connect to the internet and also work fine when both the Desktop PC and the laptops are simultaneously connected to the internet. The problem only occurs once the Desktop PC has been turned off.

I have updated the router's firmware, but this makes no difference.

Please can you help? Should I try automatically assigning the IP address to the Desktop PC (but in the past I had problems acquiring the IP address - see below), or should I manually assign the IP address to the laptops or perhaps some other solution? Should I connect the Desktop PC wirelessly rather than by network cable (but then the data transmission is slower)?

Many thanks

David


Please see my initial query:

This is an automated email sent from the Belkin CIM Channel Server. The following information is a log of your session. Please save the log for your records.
Your session ID for this incident is 17615.
Time Details
08/12/2008 02:27:44PM System: "Please accept our apologies for the delay in connecting you."
08/12/2008 02:27:46PM Session Started with Agent (Sachin)
08/12/2008 02:27:46PM David: "freq. get message 'acquiring IP address' which persists. Have to unplug router, restart and restart PC to connect to internet."
08/12/2008 02:28:05PM Agent (Sachin): "Belkin technical support. My name is Sachin, how can I help you ?"
08/12/2008 02:29:21PM David: "rptdly having trouble connecting to internet. Get message 'acquiring IP address' which persists until I restart router and PC. How can I resolve this?"
08/12/2008 02:33:12PM Agent (Sachin): "Ok,"
08/12/2008 02:33:49PM Agent (Sachin): "Are you using windows XP ?"
08/12/2008 02:34:49PM David: "yes have installed SP3"
08/12/2008 02:36:37PM Agent (Sachin): "Are you using any Anti virus or Firewall"
08/12/2008 02:38:15PM David: "McAfee on my desktop PC and AVG on laptop. Get same problem with both. Did not use to - only a new problem. ? since getting the laptop. Can it be due to 2 different PCs accessing the router?"
08/12/2008 02:39:22PM Agent (Sachin): "You need disable Firewall and check"
08/12/2008 02:40:51PM David: "how will this help? why would it be a new problem? don't I need the firewall on for security?"
08/12/2008 02:43:17PM Agent (Sachin): "Firewall will stop to communicate with router"
08/12/2008 02:43:42PM David: "never used to and i have not altered it"
08/12/2008 02:44:54PM Agent (Sachin): "Or we can assign the IP address manually"
08/12/2008 02:47:39PM David: "how do I do that for each of the 2 PCs? Will that setting be retained for each time I turn the computers on?"
08/12/2008 02:48:45PM Agent (Sachin): "Yes"
08/12/2008 02:50:30PM Agent (Sachin): "Once we assign the IP on both computers it should connect each time when you restart your computer"
08/12/2008 02:51:15PM David: "how do I manually set the IP address?"
08/12/2008 02:51:44PM Agent (Sachin): "Ok, are you using Windows XP ?"
08/12/2008 02:51:55PM David: "yes"
08/12/2008 02:52:16PM Agent (Sachin): "Ok, click on Start>>>> Control Panel>>>> Network Connection"
08/12/2008 02:53:08PM David: "ok then what?"
08/12/2008 02:53:35PM Agent (Sachin): "Right click on Local Area Connection"
08/12/2008 02:53:44PM Agent (Sachin): "Select Properties"
08/12/2008 02:53:49PM David: "yes"
08/12/2008 02:55:33PM Agent (Sachin): "Select Internet Protocol TCP/IP and select use the following IP and type IP: 192.168.2.10 Subnet mask : 255.255.255.0 Defaults gateway : 192.168.2.1"
08/12/2008 02:56:26PM Agent (Sachin): "Preferred DNS : 4.2.2.2 Alternate DNS: 4.2.2.1"
08/12/2008 02:58:20PM Agent (Sachin): "Follow the same steps on the second computer but the IP address should be different like : 192.168.2.15 rest all the same"
08/12/2008 03:00:00PM David: "if I connect to the desktop wirelessly rather than LAN do I enter the same settings?"
08/12/2008 03:00:40PM Agent (Sachin): "Wireless Network Connection"
08/12/2008 03:01:14PM Agent (Sachin): "Enter the IP WLAN"
08/12/2008 03:02:48PM David: "What do you mean IP WLAN?"
08/12/2008 03:03:57PM Agent (Sachin): "If you are connecting the Wireless Computer you need to enter the IP in Wireless Network Connection"
08/12/2008 03:05:02PM David: "same settings as you said before? can I enter the same for wireless and LAN for when I use the router wirelessly?"
08/12/2008 03:06:20PM Agent (Sachin): "Yes but make sure that you enter the different IP address for both"
08/12/2008 03:06:58PM David: "laptop is vista how do i enter the settings?"
08/12/2008 03:08:30PM Agent (Sachin): "Start>>> Control Panel>>> Network & Sharing Centre"
08/12/2008 03:10:08PM Agent (Sachin): "Left side you will find Manage Network Connection select and you will find the Local Area Connection & Wireless Network Connection you can assign the IP address here"
08/12/2008 03:12:32PM Agent (Sachin): "Is there anything else apart from this that i may assist you with"
08/12/2008 03:14:02PM David: "do i need to change settings on the belkin router?"
08/12/2008 03:15:23PM Agent (Sachin): "No it is not required"
08/12/2008 03:15:54PM David: "many thanks for your help - hope it works."
08/12/2008 03:16:02PM Agent (Sachin): "Thank you for your time today David

Should you require any further assistance please feel free to contact us again.

Sachin

Belkin Technical Support - UK"
08/12/2008 03:17:20PM Session Ended