Author Topic: Wireless Laptop/Vista problem (Read 197 times)

Gunslinger · « **on:** April 14, 2007, 07:57:33 PM »

My wife got a new laptop from Dell and it has a wireless card in it. It is also running VISTA (she bought it without telling me)

This all so better OS will not connect to my wireless network even with:

No security enabled
No encryption enabled
and No Mac filtering enabled

When I go to the connection screen it thinks about it for a second and then just gives up saying it cannot connect to the network.

Anyone familure enough with vista to let me in on the secret here?

GRRRRRRR

Irwink! · « **Reply #1 on:** April 14, 2007, 08:34:41 PM »

This may or may not be your problem. Its worth a shot though. On the new laptop go to control panel, select network and sharing center and in the left pane select "manage network connections". Right click your wireless network connection and then select properties. Once the properties page pops up look for "internet protocols version 4 (TCP/IPV4). Select that and hit the properties button at the bottom of the page. A new little page will pop up where your ip address is configured. Select the button beside "obtain ip address automatically". At the bottom of the same little page select the button that says "obtain DNS server address automatically". "OK" everything and close it.

After all that then try to connect. The notebook should have already been configured that way out of the box but you never know. On the Vista installs I've seen they all automatically detected the wireless network that was present and then connected.

Good luck!

Irwink! · « **Reply #2 on:** April 14, 2007, 09:11:46 PM »

Oh yeah - in the network and sharing center - make sure network discovery is turned on before doing the other stuff. That's in the main window pane. In the left pane there's also a command to "connect to a network" too. You may want to try the different options available in the left pane before doing what I posted above. You may find the solution in the other options first.

Vulcan · « **Reply #3 on:** April 15, 2007, 08:05:06 PM »

What channel is your AP set too?

Is it set to Autochannel? Set it to a manual channel, 11 or below.

Some APs will do a broader range of channels. Outside the US you can get more than 11 channels. But many laptops with built-in wireless on allow you to use the 11. So often I see APs autoselecting high channels laptops cannot see.

Sting138 · « **Reply #4 on:** April 16, 2007, 01:01:53 PM »

Thats a common problem with the Dells as of late. I wouldnt buy one for this and many other reasons. If the sales person she spoke to sold her a system that has 2 yes two wireless cards (1 intel and 1 dell) youll need to disable or physically remove one of the cards and depending on which one (considering it does have 2 of them) youll need to choose which one will connect. Either the Dell card or the Intel. If intel youll need to click on the intel icon in the system tray and have it manage your wireless setup on this computer. I would actually prefer the intel since the dell cards are junk and are nothing but problems. While your at it you may want to check your invoice to see if they did this to you (Their sales people are morons and jerks who use the bait and switch tactics then the technical support and resolution center staff have to clean up the mess after the fact hence the sale of 2 wireless cards mentioned above.). If they did I would call customer care 1 800 524 9896 and asked to be transferred to a resolution expert and scream and yell untill you get a better computer. Just threaten to send it back (if its within 21 days). They will give you flack but stick to your guns untill you get to a resolution expert and they will give you all kind of freebies or an upgraded system! (inside tip from someone who used to work in that dept.)