Wireless internet help

[GIXser]

Yo.... got a wee problem...... ill keep it short...

moved into a new house about 2 months ago, hooked up me wirless internet , got it going no worries :)
managed to go everywhere int he house with me lappie, and bingo she was on..
so was my wife with hers..
i come back from a weekend away, turn on me laptop, and it cant find a signal,, so i try my wifes laptop , nope nothing, i keep trying and trying,, with both laptops, i do the usual, turn the router/modem on and off several times
reset laptops etc, still nothing, so i go plug the laptop in manually, and yes it works, unplug it stops working, so i change my router with another, same thing it works when i plug it in , but not on the wireless,,, so i plug in a third router, same as before, i even get a external antenna for my laptop in case something is interfering , nothing,
anyone have any knowledge on what to do next ??

Cheers
021994963

[Blossom]

So I am assuming you have checked that you have enabled your router on your laptops? Its a bit of an obvious thing but worth checking? Mine on occasion will disable. What OS are you running on the laptops? Vista or xp? What firewall do you use?

[GIXser]

im running xp on both , mmm how do i check if the router is enabled on my laptop,? (im not computer savy) :) oh also i forgot to mention, my laptop picks up the signal ok at times and it says its good, but wont connect to it,

[Blossom]

ok ..
If you laptop can 'see' the router then thats good.
First thing to check is your connection settings. do you have a password or anything so noone else can connect to your internet connection? If so just check on your laptops that it has not be cleared or reset. On xp you can find that in your network settings, just have a wee look about, you should be able to find it. But depending which isp you are with xtra etc... if you ring the help desk they will walk you through a reset of your modem and router and setup.
That might be the easiest way to sort this out.
I'm no expert but sometimes just resetting everything can do wonders.

[GIXser]

hmmm will do, thanks:)

[xgnr]

Hi

I am no expert but have a look at some of these and let us know where you are at in terms of status. Try to isolate where the problem actually lies if at all possible.

1. The connection to the internet works if you hard-wire into the Wireless Modem/Router?
2. You can see the Wireless Network (all the time or only sometimes?)
3. You have re started all hardware (modem, then router (if seperate))
4. You have "repaired" the Wireless connection (right click on the icon in the tray at the bottom of your screen)
5. you have reset using ipconfig/release and
ipconfig/renew?
6. You have tried to connect to another wireless network?
7. Both Laptops have the same problem right?


Cheers

Stu

[GIXser]

Hi

I am no expert but have a look at some of these and let us know where you are at in terms of status. Try to isolate where the problem actually lies if at all possible.

1. The connection to the internet works if you hard-wire into the Wireless Modem/Router?
2. You can see the Wireless Network (all the time or only sometimes?)
3. You have re started all hardware (modem, then router (if seperate))
4. You have "repaired" the Wireless connection (right click on the icon in the tray at the bottom of your screen)
5. you have reset using ipconfig/release and
ipconfig/renew?
6. You have tried to connect to another wireless network?
7. Both Laptops have the same problem right
Stu

1 yes
2sometimes
3yes several times
4yes several times
5 not sure where to find that one ill have a look (thanks)
6tried to connect to another wireless network, and can see them but cant connect , even tough i have passwords for them
7 both have the same problem.

im wondering could this be a virus ??
thanks for your help stu

[Quasievil]

Unplug the hairdryer and plug the modem back in, that should fix it

[awayatc]

the default setting on the router is ususaly wireless not enabled..
So have you tried when you are hooked up to your modem by cable to get into the router/modem's settings?
(check your manual... i.e http 10.1.1.1 en enable wireless when you get there..)

[Luckylegs]

Yo.... got a wee problem...... ill keep it short...


I know your running xp but are you using xp to connect to the wireless connection or proprietry software from the laptops maker (IE on my IBM it was originally set up to connect using IBM's Thinkvantage software).

I was using the proprietry software (which was default) but this stopped working (similar symptoms to you). I changed to connect with XP and it works OK.

[mooks]

the default setting on the router is ususaly wireless not enabled..
So have you tried when you are hooked up to your modem by cable to get into the router/modem's settings?
(check your manual... i.e http 10.1.1.1 en enable wireless when you get there..)

Or 192.168.1.1 - depending on the router manufacturer.
Set up your security once you get into the router settings - password protect it or your neighbours will be using your bandwidth .... good luck

[GIXser]

Thanks Team, help is mucho appreciatted, unless ya quasi ofcourse !!:)

[Clockwork]

Just a shot in the dark (and I really don't know much about networks but...) is it possible that your router has a (DHCP server?) and it's expired the leases on the IP addresses assigned to your lap tops? I had a similar problem myself and paid a network techie to fix it.... that's where he appeared to be heading from what I could observe.

[brendonjw]

what type of router do you have? (make and model)

Now since it is happening to both laptops, what firewall/antivirus program are you running? Im assuming it is the same program on both? Sounds like it could possibly be a security setting in there since it is doing it on 3 seperate routers (or it has done a auto update which is now blocking it (this would happen all the time with Nortons when i was working for a ISP, just tell them to disable Nortons and hey presto it works again, then give them Symantecs number to go bitch at)

To do the ipconfig /release as mentioned earlier, Start -> Run -> type in cmd
In the black box type in ipconfig /release enter
then type in ipconfig /renew

[Sanx]

Too much hair-gel in the router, dude. That'll be your problem.

Actually, Ed, I'd suggest there might be a simpler answer than those that have been suggested so far. If I remember rightly, you weren't running any security on your wireless network. Fine when you were in the old place, as unless someone was in your garden, they weren't going to be picking up a signal.

However, as you're now in surburbia, it's possible someone may have seen an open wireless conection, connected, and fucked about with the wireless access point itself - possibly turning on a password or something like that.

If my little theory is correct, you wouldn't have had a password on the wireless access point previously. If so, when you look at the list of available wireless networks in Windows XP now, is there something to indicate your connection's locked or secured? There are also possibilities that include things such as MAC address filtering, but they're less likely.

[brendonjw]

I did think about that but he said he has used 3 different routers and cant connect to any of them wirelessly, which makes me think its something on the laptops instead of the routers, (unless all 3 werent set up properly :rolleyes:

[Timati]

Sounds like a familiar issue. Anyhoo, I assume that you are able to access the router and browse the web when using a network cable from your laptop to the router. Assuming that's true, have you checked the wireless settings on the router e.g. WEP/WPA settings. The issue I came across was when the WPA/WEP hash key had been been changed and had to have it re-generated. What's brand/model router do you have?

[GIXser]

Sounds like a familiar issue. Anyhoo, I assume that you are able to access the router and browse the web when using a network cable from your laptop to the router. Assuming that's true, have you checked the wireless settings on the router e.g. WEP/WPA settings. The issue I came across was when the WPA/WEP hash key had been been changed and had to have it re-generated. What's brand/model router do you have?

chaps tried all that ipconfig etc, it comes up with a prompt 'another program is using this file'

this really sucks so far i spend an hour on th ephone to broadband, me thinks to get another modem (again):girlfight:

so far thanks for all your help chappies:)

[Timati]

chaps tried all that ipconfig etc, it comes up with a prompt 'another program is using this file'

this really sucks so far i spend an hour on th ephone to broadband, me thinks to get another modem (again):girlfight:

so far thanks for all your help chappies:)

That doesn't make sense 'another program is using this file'? When does that happen? Also did you check the WPA/WEP settings?

[GIXser]

there is some serious wierd shit going on, just tried my mates router/modem, my laptop worked at his place, but wont connect to it at my place,, go figure

righto this has gone far enough, anyone wanna make any money.. cos im lostor reccomend anyone??

cheers
021994963 im based in dannemora auckland

[Timati]

there is some serious wierd shit going on, just tried my mates router/modem, my laptop worked at his place, but wont connect to it at my place,, go figure

righto this has gone far enough, anyone wanna make any money.. cos im lostor reccomend anyone??

cheers
021994963 im based in dannemora auckland

Mate am not far off though I can only come by on Thursday if that's cool.

Also could you post some details on the type of router is it e.g. make & model

[xgnr]

Hi there

Based on our chat yesterday I think that the PC is the problem not the modem/router

Now just to clarify, the laptop (Toshiba) sees this and another wireless network.

The laptop wont connect even tho' verified passwords with both.

Can connect to the internet via the modem/router hardwired. (It is not a problem that telecom can help you with as you have an internet connection.)

So, it seems to me that the laptop is the problem.

Have you tried to use the Toshiba diagnostic tool? I had a nightmare once with the Toshiba Wifi utility and eventually used the windows wireless network utility to connect.

I cant recall how to turn it off at the moment, will have a look at the old Toshiba and work it through.

We will sort it

Cheers

Stu

[Timati]

Hi there

Based on our chat yesterday I think that the PC is the problem not the modem/router

Now just to clarify, the laptop (Toshiba) sees this and another wireless network.

The laptop wont connect even tho' verified passwords with both.

Can connect to the internet via the modem/router hardwired. (It is not a problem that telecom can help you with as you have an internet connection.)

So, it seems to me that the laptop is the problem.

Have you tried to use the Toshiba diagnostic tool? I had a nightmare once with the Toshiba Wifi utility and eventually used the windows wireless network utility to connect.

I cant recall how to turn it off at the moment, will have a look at the old Toshiba and work it through.

We will sort it

Cheers

Stu

Wasn't privy to the chat you guys had but that doesn't make sense that the laptop would be the problem since he was able to successfully connect to his mate's wireless router.

[xgnr]

OK just posted in between yours and now noted the post that your laptop DOES work at your mates place?

Its your modem router then.

Should be an easy fix eh. probably just defaulted back to its factory setting in some way.

Start by connecting to it via cable and check all the settings. Reset the login passkey.

Almost there

[Timati]

OK just posted in between yours and now noted the post that your laptop DOES work at your mates place?

Its your modem router then.

Should be an easy fix eh. probably just defaulted back to its factory setting in some way.

Start by connecting to it via cable and check all the settings. Reset the login passkey.

Almost there

Approaching this logically ...

1) Have you checked your router settings via the default gateway e.g. 192.168.1.1 or 10.1.1.1?

2) Have you checked the WEP/WPA settings?

3) Sorry to keep repeating this, but it would really help if you could post details about the make and model of your router since every router is configured differently.

[xgnr]

Wasn't privy to the chat you guys had but that doesn't make sense that the laptop would be the problem since he was able to successfully connect to his mate's wireless router.

Seems that the testing has helped isolate the problem. he was gonna try it again last night and it appears that it does work at his mates whereas it apparently didnt (password prolly lol)

Sounds like you are on the way to sorting Timati :niceone:

[Timati]

Seems that the testing has helped isolate the problem. he was gonna try it again last night and it appears that it does work at his mates whereas it apparently didnt (password prolly lol)

Sounds like you are on the way to sorting Timati :niceone:

Possibly. I think it's the hashing i.e. WPA/WEP. One step at a time :-)

[xgnr]

yeah you can always try turning it off then see if you can connect. Then harden it up from there.

Have found WPA better that WEP in terms of reliability (drop outs etc).

Its a Belkin I think, not sure of the model

Cheers

Stu

[Timati]

yeah you can always try turning it off then see if you can connect. Then harden it up from there.

Have found WPA better that WEP in terms of reliability (drop outs etc).

Its a Belkin I think, not sure of the model

Cheers

Stu

Considering that WEP is deprecated and can be easily spoofed, I would suggest sticking with WPA. As in terms of reliability never had issues with WPA.

Will wait for more info on the model.

Thanks mate.

[xgnr]

Considering that WEP is deprecated and can be easily spoofed, I would suggest sticking with WPA. As in terms of reliability never had issues with WPA.

Will wait for more info on the model.

Thanks mate.

Ah yep WPA is the way to go (thought I said that) omg geeks central here :woohoo:

[Timati]

Ah yep WPA is the way to go (thought I said that) omg geeks central here :woohoo:

Sorry thought you were asking which is better.

[GIXser]

ok guys i may (keep fingers crossed) have found the problem, i strated googling and found that a virus scvhost (no not the operating one) attacks ya cpu ,router, etc my virus checker didnt pick it up, i removed it with spybot and voila , so far so good im connecting wireless... i will keep ya posted next 24 hours..

ps i really appraciatte everyones feedback:)

[scracha]

Oh ffs. 3 whole pages on how to hook up a wifi modem.

[Timati]

ok guys i may (keep fingers crossed) have found the problem, i strated googling and found that a virus scvhost (no not the operating one) attacks ya cpu ,router, etc my virus checker didnt pick it up, i removed it with spybot and voila , so far so good im connecting wireless... i will keep ya posted next 24 hours..

ps i really appraciatte everyones feedback:)

Sweet. At least we know the issue. Also get install good antivirus software e.g. AntiVir, AVG if you are after free ones. A good commercial one would be BitDefender.

[xgnr]

chaps tried all that ipconfig etc, it comes up with a prompt 'another program is using this file'


Yay for you. TG.

In review, maybe the message gave it away??

Cheers
Stu