Wireless internet access problem

Simon · Sep 21, 2010, 20:03:54

A friend has just bought a Windows 7 laptop. She managed to get it connected wirelessly to her Netgear DG834G router, and all was working fine, but she's now called to say she's lost the internet connection on the laptop, although it remains connected to the router. The main desktop PC in the house is connected wired, and no problems with internet access, so it's not the ISP (IDNet, incidentally), or BT. Nothing has been installed, uninstalled, or otherwise changed on the laptop, as far as she knows. She has removed, and reinstated the network connection, but the problem remains. I believe McAfee is installed, and this is what I'm thinking might be causing the problem, but has anyone any other ideas? Not being familiar with Windows 7, I'm not sure if there are any other security tools onboard, which might suddenly block internet access.

zappaDPJ · Sep 21, 2010, 20:18:38

I think this has come up a number of times before Simon. I've certainly had the same issue with the same router (all three of them, all with different firmware). What usually solves it for me is to hit the 'Apply' button in the router WiFi settings. That seems to take the connection down and restart things.

Simon · Sep 21, 2010, 21:02:12

Thanks Zap, I'll suggest that.

JohnH · Sep 22, 2010, 06:43:15

I've had this happen. The laptop seems to lose the IP address. My fix is to reboot the router and then the laptop picks it up.
Not ideal, but it works

zappaDPJ · Sep 22, 2010, 06:47:58

Is that the same router (Netgear DG834G) John? That's usually plan B if my first fix fails which it occasional does.

JohnH · Sep 22, 2010, 07:11:08

It's a Netgear DG834PN, Zap

zappaDPJ · Sep 22, 2010, 07:33:34

It sounds like this is a 'feature' of Netgear router in general. I know a few others here have had the same issue in the past.

Simon · Sep 22, 2010, 07:51:57

A router reboot worked, but only for about 15 minutes, then they lost the Internet again.

Steve · Sep 22, 2010, 08:01:00

Wifi drivers up to date?

Gary · Sep 22, 2010, 08:26:23

That router had issues, I had problems with it when I had one, I would say as Steve said check the firmware but that router is a bit long in the tooth and know to play up, a simple DG834G should suffice and may cure the problem, failing that try another power supply, if you need one I have one spare.

Steve · Sep 22, 2010, 09:13:13

That is the router from the OP Gary. My other thought was is the wifi card going into power save mode and the router not recognising this and therefore not releasing the IP address so both think are connected when in fact they are not.

Gary · Sep 22, 2010, 09:22:41

Quote from: Steve on Sep 22, 2010, 09:13:13
That is the router from the OP Gary. My other thought was is the wifi card going into power save mode and the router not recognising this and therefore not releasing the IP address so both think are connected when in fact they are not.

Thats possible, Windows 7 has had issues with some routers, would setting a static IP for the pc help? Maybe drop things like Mac filtering to start with also. What security is being used? Sometimes things hiccup with WPA2 and long keys.

Rik · Sep 22, 2010, 10:08:59

Might be worth trying an ipconfig /renew and ipconfig /flushdns.

Gary · Sep 22, 2010, 10:18:38

Quote from: Rik on Sep 22, 2010, 10:08:59
Might be worth trying an ipconfig /renew and ipconfig /flushdns.

Or a flushrouter/toilet command

Rik · Sep 22, 2010, 10:22:35

Gary · Sep 22, 2010, 10:23:20

Quote from: Rik on Sep 22, 2010, 10:22:35

Steve · Sep 22, 2010, 10:26:06

What is the wifi chipset?

Having posted it elsewhere probably in haste but it's odd since the extensive power cut we had in Peterborough Monday pm there are some very strange anamolies on some of the works machines

Gary · Sep 22, 2010, 10:35:03

If its anything before a v4 it will be a TR7 Chipset (awful cars as well) after that V4 Broadcom and then V5 Conexant.

Steve · Sep 22, 2010, 10:37:34

Sorry Gary I was thinking about the laptop, whether it's one we may need to look for a better driver in the depths of Realtek.

Gary · Sep 22, 2010, 10:43:08

Quote from: Steve on Sep 22, 2010, 10:37:34
Sorry Gary I was thinking about the laptop, whether it's one we may need to look for a better driver in the depths of Realtek.

Most are Intel or Atheros but yes that would help

Simon · Sep 22, 2010, 12:51:49

Trouble is, I don't want to get too involved, and they wouldn't know about WiFi drivers, flushing ips, etc. It seems it's definitely losing the IP. Is there an easy way to switch off power saving for the WiFi?

Rik · Sep 22, 2010, 12:55:30

Don't know about 7, Simon, but it's always been easy before, so should be now.

Hey Johnnie Cope, are ye waukin'yet,
Or are yer drums a beatin' yet?
If ye were waukin' I wad wait
Tae gang tae the coals in the mornin'.

Steve · Sep 22, 2010, 14:42:43

Power settings should be in device manager, might be worth changing the wireless channel as interference may be dropping the connection and also look at updating the router firmware.

JohnH · Sep 22, 2010, 17:31:54

Steve, as I said earlier in this thread I have the same occasional problem, using a Netgear DG834PN. However, it only affects one laptop, whereas three other wireless PCs on my network never have this issue.

This doesn't really point to the router being the problem I feel - more the laptop. Simon hasn't said, but I wouldn't mind betting that his friend's laptop is a Dell, same as mine and a few other people I know who have also run across this annoyance.

Baz · Sep 22, 2010, 18:16:45

I have this occasionally too with the same router.cant say for sure and Simon has probably suggested this but mine got better when I put the laptop in the 'Wireless settings' -----> 'Set Up access list' section.