Laptop can't connect to Internet.

S

Slorafossen

New Member
Hello.

My sister's laptop lost it's connection to the Internet a couple of days ago and I'm not able to connect it back now. The computer finds our network and the signal strength is almost at max.

Does anyone know what could be wrong? If you need more info, just ask.


Thanks in advance

PS: I have very little experience with this subject
 
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Are you getting an IP address on the WiFi interface? Do you have any MAC address filtering enabled on your WiFi router?
 
Ok, so the computer went to sleep and my sister is working out so I can't log in atm. She is using Windows Vista. That's all I can tell until she comes back (in a couple of minutes).
 
Zatharus said:
Are you getting an IP address on the WiFi interface? Do you have any MAC address filtering enabled on your WiFi router?
Click to expand...

When I open "Wi-Fi Catcher Network Locator Available Networks", I see full signal strength plus a MAC-adress. This might not be what you're talking about, though. I didn't even understand your last question, sorry.

codeman0013 said:
Can you open a comand prompt and ping www.google.com? If you can then it leads to a settings issue.. What os are you running?
Click to expand...

I can't ping Google. Windows Vista
 
OK, go to the Network Connections control panel. Right-click your wirless connection interface and select Status. Then click the Details button in the status popup. You should see the IP(v4) address listed. What is that number?

Also, has the computer been rebooted recently or at all since this issue began? Is the WiFi network your are trying to connect to a private network, such as at your house, or a public network, such as a club or library.
 
Zatharus said:
OK, go to the Network Connections control panel. Right-click your wirless connection interface and select Status. Then click the Details button in the status popup. You should see the IP(v4) address listed. What is that number?

Also, has the computer been rebooted recently or at all since this issue began? Is the WiFi network your are trying to connect to a private network, such as at your house, or a public network, such as a club or library.
Click to expand...

It says "Automatic IPv4-address... 169.254.52.132".

The computer has been rebooted several times and it is a private network.
 
Slorafossen said:
It says "Automatic IPv4-address... 169.254.52.132".

The computer has been rebooted several times and it is a private network.
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Hmm... Then you are not getting an IP address from the router. That is a self assigned address. Try re-acquiring your WiFi network by logging in again. Delete the existing connection profile and re-enter your access key.

Have you tried plugging in an Ethernet cable to the laptop to make sure it can get on that way? On that note, are there any other computers on the network (wired or wireless) that are getting access?
 
Zatharus said:
Hmm... Then you are not getting an IP address from the router. That is a self assigned address. Try re-acquiring your WiFi network by logging in again. Delete the existing connection profile and re-enter your access key.

Have you tried plugging in an Ethernet cable to the laptop to make sure it can get on that way? On that note, are there any other computers on the network (wired or wireless) that are getting access?
Click to expand...

I did the stuff you did first (I think), but I still can't get a connection.

I have tried with an Ethernet-cable and it worked. There are several computers on the network.
 
uninstall your third party wireless software, or just disable it.

What ISP do you have?

Do you have a dhcp server set up?

Plug in the laptop directly to the into the router, i bet that will work. Many times there can be conflicts with third party software
 
Slorafossen said:
I did the stuff you did first (I think), but I still can't get a connection.

I have tried with an Ethernet-cable and it worked. There are several computers on the network.
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OK. That's good to know. Then you shouldn't have anything strange happening with the general networking on the laptop. It's starting to sound like an issue with the WiFi router. Do you have any other computers connected via WiFi on the same router?

Also, what make/model router do you have?
 
Zatharus said:
OK. That's good to know. Then you shouldn't have anything strange happening with the general networking on the laptop. It's starting to sound like an issue with the WiFi router. Do you have any other computers connected via WiFi on the same router?

Also, what make/model router do you have?
Click to expand...

There is one laptop and one desktop connected to the network via wireless.
The router is called OfficeConnect Wireless 11g Cable/DSL Gateway, but I noticed that I'm (desktop /w cable) connected directly to the modem, which is called ZyKEL Prestige 660HWT.
 
Slorafossen said:
The router is called OfficeConnect Wireless 11g Cable/DSL Gateway, but I noticed that I'm (desktop /w cable) connected directly to the modem, which is called ZyKEL Prestige 660HWT.
Click to expand...

OK - wait a second. So, you have a wireless router/DSL modem (the ZyKEL unit) and a second wirless gateway/router (the 3Com OfficeConnect unit)? That is most likely the issue.

- Do you have the OfficeConnect unit plugged into the ZyKEL modem?

- Do you have BOTH units set up as WiFi access points?? If so, do you know if they are configured with identical SSIDs and access credentials?

I suspect that if you have both WiFi units set up, your sister's laptop is connecting to the wrong unit. I strongly recommend using only one WiFi router (the ZyKEL) unless you are using both as part of a WDS (Wireless Distribution System). Try turning off the OfficeConnect unit. Can the laptop connect fine now?
 
Zatharus said:
OK - wait a second. So, you have a wireless router/DSL modem (the ZyKEL unit) and a second wirless gateway/router (the 3Com OfficeConnect unit)? That is most likely the issue.
Click to expand...

Correct. It's been working for almost a year now, though.

Zatharus said:
- Do you have the OfficeConnect unit plugged into the ZyKEL modem?
Click to expand...

I think so, but I'll have to check when I get home.

Zatharus said:
- Do you have BOTH units set up as WiFi access points?? If so, do you know if they are configured with identical SSIDs and access credentials?
Click to expand...

You sir, ask a lot of difficult questions.

Zatharus said:
I suspect that if you have both WiFi units set up, your sister's laptop is connecting to the wrong unit. I strongly recommend using only one WiFi router (the ZyKEL) unless you are using both as part of a WDS (Wireless Distribution System). Try turning off the OfficeConnect unit. Can the laptop connect fine now?
Click to expand...

I'll try that. Just unplug the whole thing?
 
Slorafossen said:
You sir, ask a lot of difficult questions.
Click to expand...

Ha ha! Well said. :o

My apologies, Slorafossen. If anything I ask or say does not make sense, please say so. I will do my best to explain it in a manner that does make sense. I would much rather inform and educate than leave you in the dark.

For reference: the SSID I was referring to is the network name. This is the name that shows up when you browse for a wireless network to connect to.



I'll try that. Just unplug the whole thing?
Click to expand...

Yes, what happens when you try to connect the laptop to the wireless network now?
 
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