BT ASDL Broadband

[Satch]

Yes, yes, I know. However, lady in my office has just ordered said item and I think she will have a problem as our IT gurus have disabled the USB sockets on all our work laptops because of "inappropriate" use.

So she needs to connect USB-free laptop via the Ethernet socket and also link up her home computer.

So it sounds to me like she should chuck away the USB only ASDL modem that comes with the BT package and get a decent ASDL Modem/Router.

Any suggestions?

 

[mayoga]

Hi Satch,

Just looking at www.scan.co.uk and they have the following on special for £35

Dynamode ADSL Router+ADSL Modem+4Port Switch+VPN

Never used it but it seems good value for money.

Gav.

 

[GrahamC230K]

Tut tut. I feel for your IT staff. Undeterred by the preventative action they have taken so far, you colleague is going to connect by a relativley high speed connection to the big bad internet and probably still expect it to be supported by work if things don't go to plan!!!

Back on the other side of the fence - how hard is it to re-enable the USB ports? Know any of the passwords IT might use for the BIOS passwords? Comapny Name or initials maybe?? LOL

I would leave the work laptop well alone if I was the level that I was having to ask - no insult intended, just practical thinking.

Even with a router the laptop will probably be setup for your company LAN, and IE will have Proxy server settings etc. Screw with that (if you have the privileges) to get your Broadband working and you had better know how to put back for work.

 

[Satch]

Even with a router the laptop will probably be setup for your company LAN, and IE will have Proxy server settings etc. Screw with that (if you have the privileges) to get your Broadband working and you had better know how to put back for work.

Well, oddly enough sole reason for connecting work laptop to internet is to get remote access to said company LAN, email etc via secure (so we are told) internet link. I do it all the time from home via my cable modem or at snails pace on a dialup elsewhere. Everything goes through the company servers so any questionalble activities are right out.

So what help do you think we get in actually sorting out how we get to connect via the internet to company servers for the pleasure of doing work at home? Yes, none.

All too difficult. Our outsorced IT support function (in Bangalore!) do not want to hear endless queries about BT, NTL or answer stupid user questions about ASDL or cable modems, it appears.

 

[Tan]

Well, oddly enough sole reason for connecting work laptop to internet is to get remote access to said company LAN, email etc via secure (so we are told) internet link. I do it all the time from home via my cable modem or at snails pace on a dialup elsewhere. Everything goes through the company servers so any questionalble activities are right out.

If the intention is to connect for work purposes then surely they could justify re-enableing the USB ports

 

[Satch]

If the intention is to connect for work purposes then surely they could justify re-enableing the USB ports

Been through that and the answer was a big no as we would then have a "non standard build". No matter of course that what currently passes for a "standard build" is (i) a monument to baseless corporate paranoia and (ii) held to be terrible even by the IT people.

In truth it is because we are going on to XP in 6 months and they cannot be ****d to do anything with the existing setup.

 

[GrahamC230K]

You really need some cooperation from the IT department on this.

No point in getting your router etc if your IE is locked down to a proxy server etc that you cant change.

Enabling USB ports in the BIOS or in a Windows hardware profile is no big job and is your easiest option.

Good luck, sounds like you will need it. I do favours for chocolate, so maybe your IT people are the same.

 

[pammy]

I do favours for chocolate,

Wish I'd known that mental note - must have store of Choc for Graham - you never know

 

[Satch]

and is your easiest option.

Good luck, sounds like you will need it. I do favours for chocolate, so maybe your IT people are the same.

95% of them are in Bangalore!