IBM ThinkPad. Not connecting to internet.

B

bmigga

Member
So my brother just bought an old IBM ThinkPad running Windows XP. He wanted me to try and set it up for him, so he dropped it off at my place. Everything was going fine until I tried to connect to the internet. The wireless radio is ON, however it can't find any wireless networks in the area. I plugged it in via ethernet cable and got access right away. Once I unplugged it, nothing. On my laptop I can see at least 3 wireless networks in the area. However on the thinkpad, nothing. Any suggestions?
 
Since the original post, I can find the network. However, when I connect and type in the passkey, the laptop won't acquire an address. When I typed in IPconfig, I got a message stating that "Windows IP Configuration. An internal error occurred: A device attached to the system is not functioning. Please contact Microsoft Product Support Services for further help. Additional information: Unknown media status code."

I typed in services.msc, and started the Routing and Remote access. The ipconfig now returns: 0.0.0.0 for my IP and Subnet mask. Nothing shows for default gateway or specific DNS Suffix.

Computer is still stuck acquiring network address. Help!
 
well i noticed something wrong when it said ip 0.0.0.0. So I performed a release renew, and after the release, "it has already been release" is what I got back. So I tried to renew it, but it wouldn't renew. Then I changed my router momentarily from WPA-PSK [TKIP] + WPA2-PSK [AES] to "none." Basically taking off the password.

After doing that, boom. The laptop immediately connected. Any idea?
 
Next, I set the router with WPA-PSK [TKIP] settings. Disconnected from the Laptop. Tried connecting again- same problem. I'm typing in the right password, but for some reason if the router requires a password, then the laptop can't connect.
 
You are certain you are using the correct password? Make characters visible and verify...

Make sure you are mistaking l for I or | and O for 0, etc.
 
Yep! I'm sure. Positive actually. It's not the "connection" thats messing up. The laptop just freezes at the "requiring IP address" phase. (If there is a password involved.)
 
Go to Start>Run. Type in services.msc into the text box.
Now, check the DHCP Client service. It should be in the "Started" Status, and in the "Automatic" for Startup Type.

Next, go to Wireless Zero Configuration in Services, and the same should apply.

Just an issue I've had before.
 
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