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Would like a message to pop up to say lappy connected to router

Hi

I don't know if this is possible or not. Basically my mum who is in her 80s has just purchased her first laptop (Windows 7). Previous to this she had a desktop PC with a wireless adapter plugged into one of the USB ports. The wireless adapter used to send a pop-up message to say that she was connected to the router and by this happening she knew the internet/email would work.

Now she has the Windows 7 laptop this message is not appearing. I realise there is the "internet access" icon on the bottom right hand corner which has an exclamation mark in yellow triangle that disappears when connected but my mum can't see it and forgets to wait for it to connect which means that emails come in batches and obviously she can't read her own new emails.

Ideally I'd like a message to pop up to tell her she is connected as previously. I can't find a way to do it and wonder if there is anyone that can figure out if this is possible.
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Comments

  • Moto2
    Moto2 Posts: 2,206 Forumite
    Is there any options in the 'Notification' options in the Control Panel?
    Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine.
  • No there's nothing that I can find.
  • forgotmyname
    forgotmyname Posts: 33,090 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Right click an empty space next to the clock/date choose properties. (not the same as the taskbar properties)

    Bottom left it says customize notification icons. Choose the wireless network and you should be able to set notification and icon.

    But if you dont switch the wireless off then its going to be connected withina few seconds of switching the computer on.

    Blocking the network in the firewall or switching the wifi off is the only thing i can think of not being connected.
    Censorship Reigns Supreme in Troll City...

  • securityguy
    securityguy Posts: 2,465 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    forgets to wait for it to connect

    Why isn't it connected all the time, having connected as the machine booted, and prior to the login screen?
  • agrinnall
    agrinnall Posts: 23,344 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Why isn't it connected all the time, having connected as the machine booted, and prior to the login screen?

    Exactly, sounds to me like the OP's mum is in (not untypical) pensioner money saving mode and is switching off the router when not in use - while this might save a few pence it is of course absolutely the worse thing that could be done for connectivity purposes.
  • agrinnall wrote: »
    switching off the router when not in use - while this might save a few pence it is of course absolutely the worse thing that could be done for connectivity purposes.
    I switch off the router when not in use - can you please explain why it is a bad practice?
  • securityguy
    securityguy Posts: 2,465 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    agrinnall wrote: »
    Exactly, sounds to me like the OP's mum is in (not untypical) pensioner money saving mode and is switching off the router when not in use - while this might save a few pence it is of course absolutely the worse thing that could be done for connectivity purposes.

    Particularly as there's no particular reason for the WiFi side of the router to be in sync with the external side: just because the WiFi has come up doesn't mean the Internet connection is active. Indeed, in most cases the wireless will come up quite early in the sequence, but an ADSL 2 connection might take as long as a minute to become active.
  • WTFH
    WTFH Posts: 2,266 Forumite
    edited 22 August 2025 at 4:08PM
    [quote=[Deleted User];64504482]I switch off the router when not in use - can you please explain why it is a bad practice?[/QUOTE]

    Because it means your connection can't stabilise. You end up with a slower Internet speed than you should have.

    Your router should be left on at all times.
    1. Have you tried to Google the answer?
    2. If you were in the other person's shoes, how would you react?
    3. Do you want a quick answer or better understanding?
  • closed
    closed Posts: 10,886 Forumite
    The email client should notify the user if there is no live internet connection when it syncs. If the machine is setup properly this is only likely to be a problem within a few seconds after booting, so not really a big issue. The client can be set to sync every n minutes if she wishes.

    and there is nothing wrong with turning routers off when not in use.
    !!
    > . !!!! ----> .
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