Router advice for wireless network

Q: I am considering installing a wireless network in my home. My question is in regard to the placement of the router. It would be in my basement, surrounded by concrete walls and some sheet-metal heating ducts with only a very small window that has a sheet-metal window well. There is another window at ground level, but placing the router near that window would involve running cables.

Where would you suggest I place the router? I would want to keep the wired configuration for my desktop computer with only my laptop being wireless. The laptop would be used both on the main floor and in the basement.

N. Summers

A: The range of most wireless routers — ones that use the 802.11b or 802.11g protocol — is about 150 feet. But that range, as you suspect, can be greatly reduced by walls, floors and metal. I'm skeptical that you'll get decent signal when using the laptop upstairs.

That said, why not go ahead and try your wireless router in the most convenient location? Then, if you're not getting a strong enough signal, consider alternatives for improving the signal.

The first option is to relocate the wireless router. But there are others.

Most wireless routers come with antennas that broadcast in all directions. And most routers don't allow you to increase the power of the broadcast signal. But you can achieve the same effect by switching to a high-gain antenna that broadcasts only in a single direction.

You can also buy and install a wireless repeater, a device that relays the signal between your router and client adapters.

Finally, you're likely to get better connectivity if your wireless router and your client adapters are made by the same vendor.

Q: When I first start my computer I get an alert window when the desktop appears. This alert window states, "Windows Defender: Application failed to initialize: 0x800106ba. A problem caused Windows Defender to stop. To start the service restart your computer or search help and support on how to start a service manually." Neither solves the problem.

Any ideas what I can do to restart the service, or at least get rid of the alert window? (I have no idea what Windows Defender is doing for me). I am running Windows XP.

Bob Kilian

A: First, I'd try reinstalling Windows Defender, which is a free anti-spyware program from Microsoft. If that doesn't work, you could also try uninstalling Windows Defender, though I'd suggest you then try another anti-spyware program.

The Windows Defender program was really designed for, and is an integrated part of, the newer Windows Vista operating system.

If you eventually upgrade to Vista you should find that the problem you're encountering will disappear.

Q: I can't seem to find a solution to this problem.

When I open a specific Web site and click on one of the columns on the site I get the following message: "Iexplore has caused an error in JSCRIPT.DLL. Iexplore will now close.

If you continue to experience problems, try restarting your computer."

I've restarted the computer a number of times and tried everything else I can think of.

I've reloaded Windows Me two or three times and the problem won't go away. Do you know of anything I can do to correct my problem?

Robert E. Thomas,

Port Townsend

A: The first thing I'd do is report the problem to the webmaster of the site. Most browser scripting errors originate with the Web site in question.

I'd also recommend upgrading to the current version of Internet Explorer, or else trying another browser, such as Mozilla Firefox.

Questions for Patrick Marshall may be sent by e-mail to pmarshall@seattletimes.com or pgmarshall@pgmarshall.net, or by mail at Q&A/Technology, The Seattle Times, P.O. Box 70, Seattle, WA 98111. More columns at www.seattletimes.com/columnists.