I could cry with frustration.

My BT broadband system had a series of problems which one by one have been sorted out. It's been running fine for several days without any problems at all since I changed the channel on the router to channel 11.

Today, for no reason, my laptop lost its wireless connection. The other computers connected to the wireless network were all still connected to the broadband and internet, so the problem was only the laptop. It has a built in wireless thing: Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 2200BG Network Connection

SO far I have tried:
1. going to "wireless network connection" where I can see the router and a very good signal. I click on the "connect" button. But it tries and then says "cannot connect"

2. restarting router.

3. turning off, leaving for a while and turning on again. Still no wireless connection. Tried (1) again at this point.

4. reinstalling from BT disk

5. Retried (1), (2) and (3) at this point.

6. Right clicked on the icon and clicked "repair". It said it couldn't connect and aborted the process.

It works fine with the lan cable in - that's how I'm able to post now.

My computer can see the router. It knows it's broadcasting. Why won't it connect? Is there anything at all I can do?

Thanks for any advice at all ...

It sounds like it could be a problem with your laptop. Maybe it's a physical or hardware problem, or the laptop's wireless antenna isn't working?

If you can, see if you can connect to other wireless networks?

If it were the antenna, wouldn't the computer be unable to see the router at all? If I right click on the little red cross in the wireless icon, and click on "show available connections", the computer lists my router with a strong signal. But when I try to connect, it comes up "cannot connect".

I'm mystified, because it was working fine, then it lost the connection. Nothing changed at all - no new software, no configuration changes, nothing.

It isn't something to do with MAC Address filtering on the router is it? Mind you, to my knowledge, routers tend to come with that turned off and you'd surely have realised if you'd been into the dialogs to turn it on. Clearly your laptop is seeing the wireless network OK so I'd rule out hardware problems and start looking at network security issues. Do you have WEP or WPA (better) turned on and if so does your laptop have the right network key?

Sometimes my laptop plays silly b****rs with the wireless network, especially after it has been connected to another network - at work or at the g/f's. Usually a reboot (as opposed to just hibernating-waking) sorts it out. I put that down to 'Windows troubles'!

Hmm - you don't live next door to a fast food place with a microwave oven turned on most of the day do you???

It isn't something to do with MAC Address filtering on the router is it? Mind you, to my knowledge, routers tend to come with that turned off and you'd surely have realised if you'd been into the dialogs to turn it on. Clearly your laptop is seeing the wireless network OK so I'd rule out hardware problems and start looking at network security issues. Do you have WEP or WPA (better) turned on and if so does your laptop have the right network key?

It's unlikely to be a router problem because three other computers are happily connected wirelessly and working fine.

The wep key was set when I got and installed the router and I've made no changes since.

Sometimes my laptop plays silly b****rs with the wireless network, especially after it has been connected to another network - at work or at the g/f's. Usually a reboot (as opposed to just hibernating-waking) sorts it out. I put that down to 'Windows troubles'!

I haven't had any previous probs at all. I've rebooted several times with no improvement.

Hmm - you don't live next door to a fast food place with a microwave oven turned on most of the day do you???

No. And if it were radio interference, all the computers would have problems, I think, and they don't. A few days ago I changed my channel on the router to solve an interference problem from next door, but it worked fine on the laptop as on the other machines for a couple of days before the laptop stopped playing nicely, so I think it's unlikely to be that...

Might try changing the channel again just in case...

<aaaag, I want to cry>

I would suggest that channels 6 & 11 should be kept away from, because most routers seem to be set to one of these channels when brand new. You should get netstumbler (http://www.netstumbler.com) which when run scans for any networks in range, and shows what channel they are on, and how strong a signal you get off them.
Then it's just a case of picking a channel that's not in use near you. ( I have 5 people on channel 11 in my locality, and 3 on channel 6 plus others on their own channels).

Try updating the drivers for your laptop's wireless network device. Mine kept on dropping connection every few minutes until a driver update, since then it's been fine.

Hmmm....

Changing the channel didn't make any difference :-(

Could anyone suggest anything else?

Thanks.

Maybe DHCP is failing (or being blocked by the firewall). Try giving the wireless adapter a static IP address in the same subnet as the router (but not one already used by another computer).

Maybe DHCP is failing (or being blocked by the firewall). Try giving the wireless adapter a static IP address in the same subnet as the router (but not one already used by another computer).

Thanks for this suggestion but..... now you've lost me.

That is, I understand what you're saying, but I don't know how to find or identify the router's subnet, or how to change the IP address on the wireless adaptor, or how to choose an IP address that is in the same subnet, or how to check the IPs already used by other computers.

I'm just a dumb end user :-)

Apologies. I'm going to assume you are using windows XP (you'll have to reply if that's not the case)... To find the IP address of the router go to a computer that works (ie: not the aforementioned laptop) and click start, run and type "command", when the command prompt opens type "ipconfig" (without quotes).

Don't worry about all the information in that screen you just need the numbers after "Default Gateway" which will be something like "192.168.0.1". Write this number down.

Now go to the laptop which won't connect and click start > settings > network connections > RIGHT click the wireless adapter (probably called "wireless network connection") > properties > scroll down to Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) and highlight it > properties.

Change the setting to "Use the following IP address".

Assuming the gateway (router) IP address is 192.168.0.1 you would enter the IP address as 192.168.0.[something], if the gateway address was 10.1.1.1 you would enter the IP address as 10.1.1.[something].. Basically what I'm saying is the first 3 numbers stay the same (as the router).

The [something] in the above examples has to be a unique number (ie: it can't be the same as any other computer on the network or the router) and must be between 1 and 254. I'm going to pick the number 211 which is a random number picked from my head, if this clashes with something already on your network then pick something else.

So in the IP Address box we put (again; assuming the gateway/router IP is 192.168.0.1): 192.168.0.211

Subnet mask is: 255.255.255.0

Default Gateway: 192.168.0.1 (this is, of course, the number you got from the working computer - change to the number you wrote down)

Prefered DNS server: 192.168.0.1 (ditto)

Apply and OK the open windows and try and connect the wireless connection again.

If this doesn't work you should really reverse everything so as not to cause more problems and potentially confuse anyone who may try and fix it. To reverse it do the following:

start > settings > network connections > RIGHT click the wireless adapter (probably called "wireless network connection") > properties > scroll down to Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) and highlight it > properties.

This time reselect "obtain an IP address automatically" and "obtain DNS server address automatically" and apply/ok.

Oh, Punk, this is so kind of you. I did exactly as you said and it made no difference, so I reset to the original settings as you advised.

I hugely appreciate the help - and at least I'm gradually eliminating things that might be wrong but aren't!

What OS are you using? (Ie XP, Vista etc)

In Vista, I've had a couple of people who have had similar problems with being able to wirelessly connect to the router, but the cant access the internet.

The cause was the the wireless netwok connecting had for no apparent reason changed from 'public' to 'private'. Simply changing this back in the Network an Sharing centre in Vista cured the problem.

Hi,

It's XP home, SP2.

I've updated the wireless driver - no change.

I'm starting the think that only prayer is left :-(

If it's using WEP, try setting it to WPA (best) or no encrytion (unsafe) to see if your connection remains constant then.

If it's using WPA at the moment, try it with a slightly shorter key length. Some devices are fussy about the WPA keys.

If it's using WEP, try setting it to WPA (best) or no encrytion (unsafe) to see if your connection remains constant then.

If it's using WPA at the moment, try it with a slightly shorter key length. Some devices are fussy about the WPA keys.

Is this likely, given that the problem is clearly with the laptop not the router? I have other computers connected to the same router wirelssly that are working fine. Indeed, the laptop was OK till a couple of days ago when, without anything changing at all, it just lost its connection to the router and wouldn't reconnect.

I've run a full virus scan - but the system is well protected anyway, and it didn't show anything at all.

Does anyone know of a totally brilliant laptop repair person to whom I could consign this problem? I'm losing sleep over it now.

Have you tried doing a system restore back to a time when all was well to see if it still works - that would rule out a hardware problem.

Is this likely, given that the problem is clearly with the laptop not the router? I have other computers connected to the same router wirelssly that are working fine. Indeed, the laptop was OK till a couple of days ago when, without anything changing at all, it just lost its connection to the router and wouldn't reconnect.

I've run a full virus scan - but the system is well protected anyway, and it didn't show anything at all.

Does anyone know of a totally brilliant laptop repair person to whom I could consign this problem? I'm losing sleep over it now.

It's not a resolution, it's a test to see if it's the encryption that is causing the issue.

i had same problem with Sky. the biggest faf about every, sky knew nothing, the laptop company where more helpful, :huh:.

with sky i had to wait 7-9 days for the internet to be switch on, :huh:

basically it not the internet connection, modem, router. etc etc

it is the laptop, this does not mean the laptop is rubbish or its broken.

but a few things to consider.

1- phone the laptop company support line (find contact details on web or pc world) and explain the problem. for example sony, phone sony.
2- there is usually an ip address that you type on the address bar to change router setting etc, if you find the ip address and type in it may help.
3- setup up a new connection for wireless using your password etc. this could be time consuming and a bit of a mess about. this worked for me.

hope this is helpful. :D

I tired changing the encryption - it made no difference.

So I've eliminated another possible cause....

Have you tried doing a system restore back to a time when all was well to see if it still works - that would rule out a hardware problem.

Ah, yes, tried that.

The computer seems to think it only has one restore point (6th Dec) and it can't, for some reason, roll back to that.

Ho hum.

system restore?

OK, now here's a thing.

In the admin tools-->event viewer--> security, there seems to be the same error every time I try to connect

Failure audit
and
If I click on "properties" I get this:

A load of stuff including "event id 615" and
"IPSec Services: IPSec Services failed to get the complete list of network interfaces on the machine. This can be a potential security hazard to the machine since some of the network interfaces may not get the protection as desired by the applied IPSec filters. Please run IPSec monitor snap-in to further diagnose the problem."

This seems to have been logged every time I have tried to connect to the wireless.

Is this merely noting what I already know, or does it give some clue to the problem?

THanks to everyone here - you have been *so* helpful.

In the admin tools-->event viewer--> security, there seems to be the same error every time I try to connect

I don't suppose there's a log of these that goes back to when it was working? Just to see if the message appeared then too, or not...

From your email, we ruled out the wifi's hardware switch.

You did say you were using BT's own software to manage the connection on the laptop... could you try just using XP's built-in wireless management? See if that'll let you connect?


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I don't suppose there's a log of these that goes back to when it was working? Just to see if the message appeared then too, or not...
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I'll look back through the log.

From your email, we ruled out the wifi's hardware switch.

You did say you were using BT's own software to manage the connection on the laptop... could you try just using XP's built-in wireless management? See if that'll let you connect?
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I'm not sure how to do that :-( Is there a website with instructions somewhere?

Thanks for taking the trouble to reply.

I'll look back through the log

Personally I'd grab a Linux live CD such as Ubuntu - www.ubuntu.com and download and burn a Live CD. This is a functional operating system on a CD, you boot from it and are into Linux without having to install anything or make any changes to your hard drive. Once in there try and connect to your wireless network - the latest version (7.10) supports your wireless interface and is very much point and click just like Windows - look in the top right just to the left of the date once it's booted to the desktop for the wirless network management icon.

Doing this will bypass Windows, it's drivers and any 3rd party software that could be causing a problem. If it still doesn't work after trying a different OS then you're
probably looking at a hardware fault.

Whilst I have a good deal of respect for the Linux community, I'm not sufficiently geeky to abandon the MS stuff that I need to use daily for work as well as pleasure! I'm saving that one up for my retirement project :-)

I'm not suggesting switcing to Linux - just boot from a Linux Live CD straigt into a working operating system to use as a diagnostic tool. It's the quickest way to rule it out being a Windows/drivers/software issue. There's no configuring to do and you'll get a graphical desktop where you can click on a wireless network icon to list the available networks and you can then try and connect. If it connects then go back to tinkering with Windows, if it doesn't then raise a probable hardware fault with the manufacturer/supplier. You don't need to know anything about Linux to do this - all you have to do is click on one icon :)

And once you reboot and take the CD out it will boot back to Windows as before with nothing having been changed on your machine.

Well, bugger me! I decided to uninstall the BT software and try using Windows Z config instead. Uninstalling the BT software did not, for some reason, remove the BT connection interface, but it did clear the glitch...?! It's not flawless, since using the interface to disconnect result sin a blue screen and reboot, and it reboots faster than I can read what it says is wrong - seems to be an irq issue. But I don't ever actually NEED to disconnect that way, and the rest of the time it seem to work fine. I don't know why it works, but if it does, do I care?

If I have more problems fnkysknky, I'll bear your linux diagnostic idea in mind. I never thought of looking at it that way - always nice to find something new.

Thank you to everybody for your advice and help :-)

I spoke too soon....

The glitch was cleared at work on our office network.

I *still* can't connect at home.

Now I want to cry :-(

This is very odd.

It stopped working for no apparent reason.

We know the hardware works then, because you've used it at work now.

And we know it's not the router at fault because you have other computers at home that connect to it OK, and that's whether you have it without encryption, with WEP or with WPA.

That leaves us with Software... which i suspect it is anyway, since it started working at work when you sort-of uninstalled the BT stuff.

Can you get the BT stuff fully uninstalled?

Did you install any new software just before it stopped working, btw?


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This is very odd.

It stopped working for no apparent reason.

We know the hardware works then, because you've used it at work now.

And we know it's not the router at fault because you have other computers at home that connect to it OK, and that's whether you have it without encryption, with WEP or with WPA.

That leaves us with Software... which i suspect it is anyway, since it started working at work when you sort-of uninstalled the BT stuff.

Can you get the BT stuff fully uninstalled?
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That's the next task. In the interim, I have deactivated it by renaming the folders with BT files in them! It makes no difference except that I now get the Windows Network connections interface instead of the BT one.

Did you install any new software just before it stopped working, btw?


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No. As far as I know, there wasn't even a MS auto update then.

One train of thought I have been pursuing:
There are a limited number of differences between what I have at home and what I have at work. One is that at home I have *my* network. SO I wondered if anything else on the network was stopping me connection? I plan to try disabling the wireless on all the other machines and see if I can connect then.

Another option is to dig out an old router and see if I can connect with that.

I'm working on it slowly, but it's dispiriting :-(

Any of this help...?

BT.COM Support & Advice (http://bt.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/bt.cfg/php/enduser/cci/bt_adp.php?p_sid=33jtcbTi&cat_lvl1=346&cat_lvl2=401&cat_lvl3=407&cat_lvl4=751&p_cv=4.751&p_cats=346,401,407,751&p_faqid=9867)

BT.COM Support & Advice (http://bt.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/bt.cfg/php/enduser/cci/bt_adp.php?p_sid=33jtcbTi&cat_lvl1=346&cat_lvl2=401&cat_lvl3=407&cat_lvl4=751&p_cv=4.751&p_cats=346,401,407,751&p_faqid=9869)


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Any of this help...?

BT.COM Support & Advice (http://bt.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/bt.cfg/php/enduser/cci/bt_adp.php?p_sid=33jtcbTi&cat_lvl1=346&cat_lvl2=401&cat_lvl3=407&cat_lvl4=751&p_cv=4.751&p_cats=346,401,407,751&p_faqid=9867)

BT.COM Support & Advice (http://bt.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/bt.cfg/php/enduser/cci/bt_adp.php?p_sid=33jtcbTi&cat_lvl1=346&cat_lvl2=401&cat_lvl3=407&cat_lvl4=751&p_cv=4.751&p_cats=346,401,407,751&p_faqid=9869)


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Well, that wasn't quite what I did, but I'm using WZC since yesterday - and I can't connect using it. I'll need to reactvate the BT stuff to disable the Wireless Adapter - looks like I'll have an exciting Friday evening again :-(

OK, i think this time I have really cracked it.

I got out the old BT home hub - only 6 mths old - and spent all evening exploring hub settings.

Then did some googling and found this:
http://www.beta.bt.com/bta/forums/message.jspa?messageID=3289

Solved the prob by switching between manual and auto channel settings.

Then did the same on the new BT hub, also got a stable connection.

Looks like known problem with BT hubs and intel wireless adaptors in laptops. The connection fails when the HUB updates itself and forcing the hub to reset channels to auto solves it.

I might ask Santa for a new hub - any recommendations? As long as it isn't BT!!

Well done on sorting it yourself - it's always more satisfying that way! :)

As for a router recommendation... you said it yourself, anything but BT!! :D I personally prefer LinkSys kit, but others (i'm sure) will recommend Netgear.

Presumably you're not bothered about losing the "built-in" cordless phone...?


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Well done on sorting it yourself - it's always more satisfying that way! :)

As for a router recommendation... you said it yourself, anything but BT!! :D I personally prefer LinkSys kit, but others (i'm sure) will recommend Netgear.

Presumably you're not bothered about losing the "built-in" cordless phone...?


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Mm, we have a linksys router at work. I'm not much of an expert when it comes to specs - do I need to watch out for any specific features?

No, the phone is neither here nor there. It came free and apart from hooking it up to the landline, it never gets used.

Thanks for your help and encouragement. I really do appreciate it.

do I need to watch out for any specific features?

Well, only if you have some specific requirements i suppose. Is there anything special about your requirements?


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Well, only if you have some specific requirements i suppose. Is there anything special about your requirements?


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Only that it plays nicely with all the computers including the laptop :-) If it could sense stress levels and make coffee and doughnuts when I need them, that would be a plus...

Draytek Vigor 2800VG (http://www.broadbandstuff.co.uk/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=49sku=Draytek_Vi gor_2800VG_ADSL2+_Router_with_VOIP_VPN_&_Printer_Port&products_id=564&osCsid=13111836ef029d0f60149c40b0dbc256) is the ultimate router! 2 VOIP ports as well! You can get free UK telephone numbers here! (https://secure.sipgate.co.uk/user/reg/uk/index.php)

Draytek! I was trying to remember that make... i knew there was an expensive one that got recommended a lot.

LadyAcademic - since nobody else is replying to your request for recommendations, it might be worth taking a look at other threads.


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Draytek! I was trying to remember that make... i knew there was an expensive one that got recommended a lot.

LadyAcademic - since nobody else is replying to your request for recommendations, it might be worth taking a look at other threads.


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Mm, I've been doing that. Whilst the Draytek one looks rather nice, it is w-a-y outside my very limited budget.

Prob time to draw a line under this discussion. Thanks moonlight and everybody else for suggestions, help and encouragement.

No worries.

If you find a router you like the look (and price!) of, find it on a site like ebuyer or amazon where they show customer reviews. It might help reinforce your decision (or put you off completely!) :)


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Ok - at other end of the scale - I recently installed this (https://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/specpage.html?DYN-WADSL) for a friend - cheap and cheerful and simple to set up. :thumbsup:

If it's any consolation, ladyacademic, we have been struggling for 3 days now with a new laptop... with the same problem.
It sees the wireless connection but says limited connectivity and won't connect!
I fear divorce for either me and the hubby or him and the laptop. :mad:

we have been struggling for 3 days now with a new laptop... with the same problem.

Do you have a HomeHub too? Have you tried following the suggestions and advice on this thread?


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Let me know if you have sorted this, I would be prepared to sort this out for you in exchange for a testimanial (merciless plugging) on the forum, Pete (www.networkage.co.uk)

Do you have a HomeHub too? Have you tried following the suggestions and advice on this thread?


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yup. HUbby went back to staples last night as the IT guy in his office couldn't get it to connect to the network printer at work either. It said it was connected but wouldn't print anything. We seem to think it's a problem with IP addresses. Anyway they changed it for another laptop (HP this time) and the same thing has happened again. I now think it's a Vista problem?

Let me know if you have sorted this, I would be prepared to sort this out for you in exchange for a testimanial (merciless plugging) on the forum, Pete (www.networkage.co.uk)

Thank you, I will tell the hubby tonight :)

yup. HUbby went back to staples last night as the IT guy in his office couldn't get it to connect to the network printer at work either. It said it was connected but wouldn't print anything. We seem to think it's a problem with IP addresses. Anyway they changed it for another laptop (HP this time) and the same thing has happened again. I now think it's a Vista problem?

If they've changed the laptop, then it would suggest it is something to do with your setup at home. Mind, you say it didn't work at work either... hmmmm.

When you say it doesn't connect... do you get an error and it doesn't connect at all? or does it tell you it has connected but then you can't get to any websites?


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If they've changed the laptop, then it would suggest it is something to do with your setup at home. Mind, you say it didn't work at work either... hmmmm.

When you say it doesn't connect... do you get an error and it doesn't connect at all? or does it tell you it has connected but then you can't get to any websites?


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It does connect and recognises that it is connected but has "limited connectivity" It is sending packets of data but not receiving any. All my other laptops (and visitors laptops) connect without a problem.

I have pm'd you I'm free tuesday am, Pete