1. You are viewing our forum as a guest. For full access please Register. WindowsBBS.com is completely free, paid for by advertisers and donations.

Can't get wireless laptop on-line

Discussion in 'Networking (Hardware & Software)' started by PAULDEP, 2007/08/15.

  1. 2007/08/15
    PAULDEP

    PAULDEP Well-Known Member Thread Starter

    Joined:
    2002/01/07
    Messages:
    562
    Likes Received:
    1
    hello, I did a clean install of my desktop (XP PRO sp2) after I did that I then hooked up my Linksys WRK54G Wireless router to my desktop. I'm on-line in desktop okay enough.Now my Laptop will not let me get on-line. My laptop is a Dell Inspiron E1505 with (XP Home sp2) I know NOTHING really about this stuff but from what I'm finding where my clock is on laptop it says "Limited or no connectivity" I went in the Control Panel/Network connections, right clicked and tried to "repair connection" of my wireless network connection. It seems that i did someting wrong at the router hookup because my laptop says under "Choose a wireless network" WINDOWS CANNOT CONFIGURE THIS WIRELESS CONNECTION I'm also getting from both laptop & desktop (even though i'm on-line on desktop it "Problem occoures because network did not assign a network address to the laptop. Dell has a network helper program and it keeps saying its my router causing my troubles. SORRY for this rambling but my daughter will kill me today if i don't fix :confused: and she scares me :eek:
    Thanks,,
    Paul
     
    PAULDEP,
    #1
  2. 2007/08/15
    Scott Smith

    Scott Smith Inactive Alumni

    Joined:
    2002/01/12
    Messages:
    1,950
    Likes Received:
    4
    You may find this hard to believe but it's true.
    It's a known problem that the chipset in the linksys routers doesn't play nice with the Intel internal wireless cards in Dell Laptops.

    If I connect to any WRT54G with my Dell 700M it goes crazy. It will sit there and say connecting even though it's connected because you can surf. Then when the connection attempt times out you cant surf anymore. It's crazy.

    I promise you change to a different router and the problem will go away.
    Been there done that and have a box full of T shirts. ;)
     
    Scott Smith,
    #2


  3. to hide this advert.

  4. 2007/08/15
    sevi

    sevi Inactive

    Joined:
    2007/08/08
    Messages:
    5
    Likes Received:
    0
    Don't know if I am missing something here, but you say you get the message "windows cannot configure this wireless connection ". I think you recieve this message when some third party software is installed on your system (Dell Network Helper)? Try this and see if you can configure it with the correct SSID and any encryption you are using (WEP, WPA, etc)
     
    sevi,
    #3
  5. 2007/08/15
    PAULDEP

    PAULDEP Well-Known Member Thread Starter

    Joined:
    2002/01/07
    Messages:
    562
    Likes Received:
    1
    Hello & thanks, I don't understand what you want me to do Sevi, I want to uninstall the Dell Network Helper because its only good for 90 days anyway and thats 6 months gone..I use to be able to Refresh a Network list and see like 8 of them in my neighborhood. It only shows Windows cannot configure this wireless connection. If you have enabled another program to manage this wireless connection use that software . ????
    Scott, the Linksys is only a few months old and has worked PERFECT until I did my Clean install of my Desktop XP PRO sp2. Now my laptop won't get online. I did use the CD that came with my new Router but it seems thats when things went bad. I have done nothing to the laptop.In the Laptops "Network Connections" the wireless connection icon now says connected and i'm on-line . I did just reset the router in back of it. just restarted the modem, router and PC (Desktop) thats the pc with router. now i'm on, but it seems to have a problem staying on..Maybe Scott your right :(
     
    Last edited: 2007/08/15
    PAULDEP,
    #4
  6. 2007/08/15
    PAULDEP

    PAULDEP Well-Known Member Thread Starter

    Joined:
    2002/01/07
    Messages:
    562
    Likes Received:
    1
    Sevi, I uninstalled the Dell Network Assistant and it freed up the Network stuff in Network Connections. It shows the networks in my area now to connect too. Seems GOOD for now. Laptop. Now if I can get my E-mail on desktop to not Time out...Thanks for help
    ~Paul :)
     
    PAULDEP,
    #5
  7. 2007/08/15
    ephemarial

    ephemarial Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    2002/02/26
    Messages:
    426
    Likes Received:
    27
    Paul,
    It may help with consistency if you assign static local IP addresses to your computers.
    That way they won’t be dependent on router for them.

    In either case when go to Wireless Connection "“ properties "“ Wireless Network Tab "“
    Is - Use Windows to Configure Network Connections "“ checked?

    May want to try opposite n see what happens. Restart computer.
    Preferred way is to have windows set up connection, May have to uninstall some Linksys software if it’s trying to do it. But long as works "“ who cares.
     
    ephemarial,
    #6
  8. 2007/08/15
    PAULDEP

    PAULDEP Well-Known Member Thread Starter

    Joined:
    2002/01/07
    Messages:
    562
    Likes Received:
    1
    Great ephemarial, I will look at your post and try to do it..Thanks for the reply..
    God Bless
    ~Paul
     
    PAULDEP,
    #7
  9. 2007/08/15
    PAULDEP

    PAULDEP Well-Known Member Thread Starter

    Joined:
    2002/01/07
    Messages:
    562
    Likes Received:
    1
    Scott, sorry for not getting back to you. I hope your wrong but it does sound a little like mine at times. I have had my linksys for about 5 months and never a problem. I think my trouble is zone alarm because when i just uninstalled it everything is working fine....who knows, i just can't go out and buy another router now though :eek: :(
     
    PAULDEP,
    #8
  10. 2007/08/15
    Arie

    Arie Administrator Administrator Staff

    Joined:
    2001/12/27
    Messages:
    15,174
    Likes Received:
    412
    Which reminds me of a similar experience I had back in April when staying at a hotel in Klamath Falls (OR). My new Dell laptop wouldn't connect to the wireless, while my old one (which my wife was using at the time) connected fine.

    When I spoke to the IT person next day, he told me there was a problem with the latest Intel wireless chip-set & certain Linksys routers.
     
    Arie,
    #9
  11. 2007/08/16
    TonyT

    TonyT SuperGeek Staff

    Joined:
    2002/01/18
    Messages:
    9,072
    Likes Received:
    400
    The issues with these Dell chipsets and wifi routers is usually caused by the Dell Connection software that is preloaded on the laptops. The message:
    WINDOWS CANNOT CONFIGURE THIS WIRELESS CONNECTION indicates that the Dell software is managing the wifi connections.

    The dell 1505 has a Broadcom chipset and plays well with any router.

    It is best and most stable to use Windows Wireless Zero Config to manage the wifi, never use the Dell connection software. To do this you must disable the Dell software from loading at boot and setup Wireless Zero to manage the connection.

    1. Go to Control Panel > Admin Tools > Services > set Wireless Zero to Automatic & Started.
    2. rt click My Network Places on Desktop > select Properties.
    3. rt click wireless icon > select Properties.
    4. click middle tab (or third tab) and put a check in "let windows manage my wifi... "
    5. click first tab and put checks at bottom of window (display notification icons)

    If the "let windows manage my wifi..." is grayed out then you must first kill the Dell software processes that are running using Task Manager.
     
    TonyT,
    #10
  12. 2007/08/16
    PAULDEP

    PAULDEP Well-Known Member Thread Starter

    Joined:
    2002/01/07
    Messages:
    562
    Likes Received:
    1
    Finally the answer i was looking for. Tony, I new that a company as large as Linksys and is in the Router game would not just let their product be incompatible with all Dell PC's. That Dell network helper anyway is only good for 90 days or some set time. Thanks for the instructions, I love it when people that are knowledgeable and kind enough to reply to a post give the instructions like you did..Tony, as for my desktop which the cable modem and wireless router (WRK54G) is attached is just that. Hooked up ? Any config or does it do it by itself. My desktop is fine as far as getting on-line and e-mail. I'm just having trouble booting my PC (not laptop)
    Thanks
    ~Paul
     
    PAULDEP,
    #11
  13. 2007/08/16
    TonyT

    TonyT SuperGeek Staff

    Joined:
    2002/01/18
    Messages:
    9,072
    Likes Received:
    400
    Pls elaborate on that point (boot trouble is not a networking issue). Probably best to start a new thread in the XP forum w/ subject like "trouble booting desktop pc ".
     
    TonyT,
    #12
  14. 2007/08/16
    Scott Smith

    Scott Smith Inactive Alumni

    Joined:
    2002/01/12
    Messages:
    1,950
    Likes Received:
    4
    The problem Arie and I are refering to has nothing to do with the utility and I use the Windows utility. Windows will say connecting while you can surf the net.
    It gets an IP, it connects but the router never confirms with Windows so it times out.
    Replace the Linksys and problem goes away.
    I have had this experience myself atleast a dozen times.
    I'll find some documentation on this. I promise I didn't pull it out of thin air. :)
     
    Scott Smith,
    #13
  15. 2007/08/16
    PAULDEP

    PAULDEP Well-Known Member Thread Starter

    Joined:
    2002/01/07
    Messages:
    562
    Likes Received:
    1
    Hi Scott, I believe you but as soon as I removed that Dell Network Helper the laptop changed 100% and seems fine since yesterday. Maybe the Linksys Router is the problem behind my desktop not booting :confused: , It could be a hardware problem but my desktop was perfect last 4 months, until I did my clean install.
     
    PAULDEP,
    #14
  16. 2007/08/16
    Arie

    Arie Administrator Administrator Staff

    Joined:
    2001/12/27
    Messages:
    15,174
    Likes Received:
    412
    Arie,
    #15
  17. 2007/08/16
    TonyT

    TonyT SuperGeek Staff

    Joined:
    2002/01/18
    Messages:
    9,072
    Likes Received:
    400
    OK, per the google results the issue is between the linksys router & intel chipset wifi. The poster has a dell 1505 laptop w/ a broadcom chipset which should work dandy with any linksys ap. The linksys router has a broadcom chipset as well (most all linksys access points in last 4 years have broadcom chipsets).
     
    TonyT,
    #16
  18. 2007/08/17
    Arie

    Arie Administrator Administrator Staff

    Joined:
    2001/12/27
    Messages:
    15,174
    Likes Received:
    412
    I didn't see any evidence which wireless card he has. Dell also offers Intel cards (the one I took). I just posted the info for others that may stumble across this thread.
     
    Arie,
    #17
  19. 2007/08/17
    TonyT

    TonyT SuperGeek Staff

    Joined:
    2002/01/18
    Messages:
    9,072
    Likes Received:
    400
    In his first post he says "Dell Inspiron E1505" which has a broadcom chipset mini pci card. All "Dell wireless" are broadcom chipsets. That model also is available with an Intel chipset wireless that supports the "n" specification as well as the Intel 3945 chipset (a-b-g).

    Wireles "n" is relatively new and not supported by the majority of routers. The "n" spec is still quite buggy as many chipset drivers have not yet been coded so that the cards function well with non-n access points.

    One possible solution is to lock the device and the access point (force them) to use b or g mode only. Unfortunately this is not possible when roaming nor can Windows Wireless Zero do this. One may be forced to use a 3rd party wifi manager that is capable of setting the device's modes. (easily done in linux, not so easy in Windows)
     
    TonyT,
    #18
  20. 2007/08/17
    PAULDEP

    PAULDEP Well-Known Member Thread Starter

    Joined:
    2002/01/07
    Messages:
    562
    Likes Received:
    1
    Correct, it is a Dell Inspiron 1505 and I'm not using "N" with my router. My Linksys is a Wireless WRK54G. Intel 3945 chipset (a-b-g) is in it. Hope this helps, you were right all along Tony
     
    PAULDEP,
    #19

Share This Page

  1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
    By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
    Accept Learn More...