I may have to say some bad words soon

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 31 Aug 2005, 21:12

New laptop. Aaargh, how do I cope without a mouse, no numberpad etc? It's not connecting to the wireless network and I've got a whole load of stuff I need to do and I don't need this hassle. Why can't things just work?

Poppy · Post by **Poppy** » 31 Aug 2005, 21:14

Calm down, Bobsie, and think of the love-ly trees!!!

Post by **wangi** » 31 Aug 2005, 21:15

PS, look for a daft "on/off" switch for the wireless on the side of the laptop. I kid you not.

I was configuring a new laptop for my mum last week and was about to start pulling my hair out because the wireless network wasn't being picked up...

Dadaist · Post by **Dadaist** » 31 Aug 2005, 21:20

wangi wrote:PS, look for a daft "on/off" switch for the wireless on the side of the laptop. I kid you not.

I was configuring a new laptop for my mum last week and was about to start pulling my hair out because the wireless network wasn't being picked up...

Been there, done/not done that. Had WZC service turned off in services.msc. Oh brother.

Robin! · Post by **Robin!** » 31 Aug 2005, 21:25

Doh, computers bug me man, specially when they refuse to do what you want them to do!

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 31 Aug 2005, 21:57

I should be more specific. It is connecting to the wireless network and the signal quality is excellent, but the network isn't assigning it an IP address. I'm currently connected via a network cable, but that rather defeats the purpose of having a laptop. Can anyone help?

Dadaist · Post by **Dadaist** » 31 Aug 2005, 22:51

Aha interesting. Are you using windows Wireless Zero Configuration service?

If you're doing it manually :

1. how did you know that the IP isn't being assigned? what happens when you run ipconfig?

2. is your router set up right, and are there existing wireless nodes running on the network? if so, do their settings differ from the new laptop's?

3. is the channel the same on both router and laptop?

4. have you got your WEP encyption right? have you tried turning it off on both machines and running an unencrypted network?

5. have you tried turning off windows firewall on both machines?

wang, any clues?

xxxx · Post by **xxxx** » 01 Sep 2005, 08:37

had the same problem with my dell, nothing would work. Fixed it by updating the router software. Go to the router site and check if more up to date drivers are available. If so, install these, reboot the router and go through the connect to the wireless network dance again.

Novastar · Post by **Novastar** » 01 Sep 2005, 10:57

Use a static IP instead of DHCP.

Much better idea....

Dadaist · Post by **Dadaist** » 01 Sep 2005, 11:42

Novastar wrote:Use a static IP instead of DHCP.

Much better idea....

If I have a wireless router but also ICS, who is handing out the IPs to my remote machines?

Do you mean it's better to force the (say) laptop to be a specific address?
Why? How?

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 01 Sep 2005, 18:50

Haven't a clue what any of you are talking about but I got it working eventually. Thanks for the words of advice anyway.