laptop internet access

Baz · Feb 06, 2009, 12:32:45

any ideas on this one. over the past few days my sons laptop has not been able to connect to internet when he turns it on.It seems either that its not picking up a sidnal or the router is not giving out the signal. All settings are for the router to broadcast the key etc. his laptop is named in the security settings,he is not that far away from router just upstairs. even when the laptop is downstairs in same room as router it wont pick it up. All I have done to get it working is log into router and check the settings, click apply on the wireless page and it seems to correct the fault.is it best to turn off the wireless switch on laptop each time you shut down and then wait until its booted up fully before turning it on or not. Never had to do this before.Will the laptop, if the switch is on at boot up, continually try to find a connection or not.The wireless LED on router does not show any signs of activity when the laptop is within range until I go into the settings page.

Rik · Feb 06, 2009, 12:43:25

Sounds wrong, Baz, I just switch on and go. Are you using Vista's wireless setup, or the laptop manufacturers?

Baz · Feb 06, 2009, 12:48:32

not sure about the set up Rik. I would guess Vista as I just turned the switch on and it searched for connections.

Rik · Feb 06, 2009, 12:58:29

OK, you need a Vista person at this point, Baz. Hang on...

Simon · Feb 06, 2009, 12:59:26

Don't look at me!

Baz · Feb 06, 2009, 13:01:20

ok........... if it helps, netgear DG834PN with latest firmware. Once it gets the signal it is ok until the next turn on.

Baz · Feb 06, 2009, 13:01:50

dont look at me either, thats why I'm here

Rik · Feb 06, 2009, 13:03:31

It should just work, Baz, but not having Vista running anywhere, I can't offer any advice.

Baz · Feb 06, 2009, 13:12:57

no problem Rik. its just one of those annoying things you come across now and then

Glenn · Feb 06, 2009, 13:13:35

Are there any other wireless signals being broadcast in your area, so can the laptop see other wireless routers, when you ask it to find a wireless network?

Glenn · Feb 06, 2009, 13:14:34

I never turn off the wireless on my laptop with either Vista or now Win 7

Ray · Feb 06, 2009, 13:32:04

Deleted by Sheltieuk

Steve · Feb 06, 2009, 13:57:13

My only suggestion is to go to network and sharing center> manage wireless connections, clear all the entries and start from scratch, It may work if you've got several different entries for access to your home router

Sebby · Feb 06, 2009, 14:03:27

Yep, what Steve said, or perhaps update the wireless adaptor driver?

sobranie · Feb 06, 2009, 16:50:07

192.168.0.1
Wireless settings.
Is SSID broadcast enabled.
Reason I ask is that I was asked to check an identical prob last night and someone had switched off the ssid broadcast.

Glenn · Feb 06, 2009, 16:55:30

Or along that line there is a tick box to "connect even if not broadcasting"

Baz · Feb 06, 2009, 19:46:48

Quote from: Glenn on Feb 06, 2009, 13:13:35
Are there any other wireless signals being broadcast in your area, so can the laptop see other wireless routers, when you ask it to find a wireless network?

does see other networks but it is set up to auto use the one on my network.

Quote from: stevethegas on Feb 06, 2009, 13:57:13
My only suggestion is to go to network and sharing center> manage wireless connections, clear all the entries and start from scratch, It may work if you've got several different entries for access to your home router

have had to do that before Steve and start from scratch but it settled down and was finding network ok until about a week ago

SSID is broadcast Sobranie.did have this off but was getting probs with another wireless lappy so leave it on now.But is it possible to not broadcast and have the MAC addresses in the 'set up' list of router to just allow certain machines to gain access.I'm not sure about this broadcast thing especially when you see other networks, unsecured too.

sobranie · Feb 06, 2009, 22:17:53

Quote from: stevethegas on Feb 06, 2009, 13:57:13
My only suggestion is to go to network and sharing center> manage wireless connections, clear all the entries and start from scratch, It may work if you've got several different entries for access to your home router

Agreed! I would also prefer windows to set up the remote computer rather than any netgear software supplied. jftr I found a 10-15% increase in performance over the netgear software.
btw, can you connect to any of the non secured routers showing on your remote computer? If so then your router settings are at fault somewhere.

Baz · Feb 07, 2009, 08:04:06

havent tried any of the other networks it sees.will keep an eye on it and thanks for the tips

Baz · Feb 07, 2009, 08:09:09

Quote from: Sebby on Feb 06, 2009, 14:03:27
Yep, what Steve said, or perhaps update the wireless adaptor driver?

where do i find the info about which driver i have in now and where do i get an update from

Steve · Feb 07, 2009, 08:28:35

In Vista>start>control panel (classic view)>system device manager >network adaptors click on wireless adaptor

Perhaps post which adaptor make and driver version it comes up with

Baz · Feb 08, 2009, 11:29:08

oh dear. its not picking up on the other laptop we have now. Steve.....network adapter make on this laptop,not the one I first posted about(sorry its getting a tad confusing now) is Realtek RTL8102E Family PCI-E Fast Ethernet NIC (NDIS 6.0) driver version 6.205.403.2008 AND Realtek RTL8187B Wireless 802.11b/g 54Mbps USB 2.0 Network Adapter, driver version 6.1116.1226.2007

it did pick up another un secured network. before I tried this the details for my network were showing as limited strength even though I was right next to the router. The box was ticked for connect to this network automatically.

will it make any difference if windows firewall is enabled on the laptop. Just had a look and it is although I have turned it off before something seems to keep enabling it.

Baz · Feb 08, 2009, 11:36:44

ive just updated the driver for the wireless adapter so see if that helps. up to version 6.1158.113.2009.

if this doesnt work can you go back to the old one.

Rik · Feb 08, 2009, 11:36:57

The firewall shouldn't be an issue, Baz. If the strength is low, it could be a fault with the lappy. Does rotating it, or moving it a small distance help?

Baz · Feb 08, 2009, 11:38:31

just on a re boot Rik.......two minutes.

it has worked ok in different locations before its just recently that both have started playing up.

Sebby · Feb 08, 2009, 11:38:42

Could also be the wireless channel. It's worth trying some others. 1, 6 and 11 are usually the best.

Baz · Feb 08, 2009, 11:43:57

set at channel 11 Sebby, always been ok on that.its booted up and found the connection ok but it seems to rake a long time to do so. I am right next to the router at the minute though. will move away and try it. there seems to be lots of HD activity when I boot up until it finds the connection, this is from a boot up with the wireless switch already on.

Sebby · Feb 08, 2009, 11:45:15

I'd still try changing channel, Baz.

Baz · Feb 08, 2009, 11:45:59

I think i need to have a look through it and sort out whats running and checking. someone mentioned before about sys restore and other stuff running more than needed, just seen that windows defender was out of date so it may have been checking that

Baz · Feb 08, 2009, 11:47:23

whys that Sebby. could the other channels be better and maybe unused. Why was the default set at 11. Is the change just in router settings or needed in laptops too.

Sebby · Feb 08, 2009, 11:48:49

There could be something interferring with that channel... A phone, a neighbour's wireless, etc.

Baz · Feb 08, 2009, 11:57:27

ah right. will try that as my next option then. thanks

Simon · Feb 08, 2009, 12:24:37

Quotethere seems to be lots of HD activity when I boot up until it finds the connection

Have you tried running a virus / spyware scan? It's a long shot, but I just wondered if something was trying to 'interfere' with your network settings.

Baz · Feb 08, 2009, 12:26:37

I havent actually Simon.should have done that first really

well its the wifes laptop and she wont have let me install any software to do that yet any way, apart from AV which is on. will do that now thanks for the reminder

Steve · Feb 08, 2009, 12:32:37

http://www.fixya.com/support/t1434322-wifi_unable_connect_maintain_connection

Perhaps re checking the router firmware is up to date it's worth a shot as well although you did say it was earlier

This may be the latest version if I recall your router correctly http://kb.netgear.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/934

Baz · Feb 08, 2009, 12:38:40

Thanks Steve. the router firmware is current and I have just installed the latest driver for the laptop so will see how it goes.Just looking at that first link from you, is it best to let windows find the driver updates or go to the manufactures site

Steve · Feb 08, 2009, 12:42:56

I would suggest probably best to use the latest version where ever that is. One would presume that the version on the laptop manufacturers website has been tested with their product or is that too much to ask.