WLAN disabled??? help!

[ctf20]

Hi. my mom just got a new laptop, it's a compaq presario....it has been working perfectly, it found the wireless network connection (from the router on my computer) right when she took it out of the box and the internet had been working fine. but all of a sudden it isn't working. the wlan says disabled. and the connection says not connected. it doesn't see any connections in the network connections. What happened? it all just went away. any help would be greatly appreciated!!! there are two other computers in the house with a wireless adapter and another laptop, they are all working fine. so it's got to be in the laptop, not the network.

thanks!

 

[spidey07]

You're gonna smack yourself....but....

push the button/switch on the laptop to turn on the wireless card.

 

[ctf20]

SMACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Duh, now i feel stupid....it is still saying acquiring network address, says i have a good signal though..i'm assuming it will eventually acquire the address?


thanks....i love a simple answer like that, even if i do feel a little stupid

 

[spidey07]

well I'm gonna reply and keep this thread at the top.



glad it was that easy.

You'd be surprised how often this happens.

If it still says acquiring address and doesn't get a good IP address then your encryption settings/keys don't match the access point.

 

[ctf20]

it said that...and then it worked ...but now it is saying it again...

 

[ctf20]

now the internet isn't working...it just keeps saying acquiring network address

 

[ctf20]

it still say acquiring network address....and it also says invalid ip address....but i just had it checked to obtain it automatically....what do i do?

thanks

 

[petey117]

make sure DHCP is turned on in your router, and verify that your client PC is in fact connecting to your router, and not your neighbors

 

[ctf20]

i have other computers in the house connected through my router, and they are working, so i don't think it is a problem with that....and the connection it is picking up is my account....what can i check in the laptop settings? where do i go?

 

[ctf20]

can anyone help...and i need a step by step

 

[petey117]

try statically assigning an ip to the laptop that is not part of your regular DHCP range (like 192.168.0.234)

 

[ctf20]

i put that number in as the ip address...and it said connected, but the internet isn't working...do i have to put in dns settings? or default gateway?? like i said i need detailed instructions. and why did it just stop working all of a sudden anyway? it had been working with the obtain ip address automatically. until that wlan button was turned off and back on.

thanks everyone for the help!

 

[Slowlearner]

You cannot just go and assign an IP and expect things to work. Check whether DHCP is enabled on the router - the settings on your other pcs should be get an IP address automatically, get DNS servers auto - if thats case set the same in the laptop - if not then assign a static IP and follow correct procedure for this - read the manual both for router and laptop. Initally make the router broadcastt SSID and check the security settings - if any are enabled then they need to be matched in the laptop.

If nothing works first make sure networkinjg works, i.e. it sees the other pcs and connect to them, then fine tune the internet settings.

Nothing works right right out of the box.

 

[ctf20]

all the other pcs in the house are working and they obtain it automatically, the laptop is set to obtain it automatically...it was working fine,...but now its not. so if i assign a ip address, i have to go and change it on all the other computers in the house? how do i check settings in the router?

 

[petey117]

the ip i gave was just an example

go to a computer that works, go to start, then run, then type cmd
in the dos prompt, type ipconfig

this should give you
the ip address, the default gateway

on the laptop, statically assign a similar ip address, but change the last 3 numbers
example, if the working computer is 192.168.0.23 then assign the laptop 192.168.0.247

then look for the default gateway on the working computer, and assign the laptop the same gateway, and also use that ip address for DNS

post back and let us know

 

[ctf20]

step by step instructions...good! i will try that and let you know....

thanks

 

[ctf20]

GOT IT!

thanks for the help everyone! greatly appreciated....

should i set up the other computers like that...putting in the ip address...how do i make it where other people in the neighborhood can't pick up our signal?

 

[volrath]

Try 4.2.2.2 for a DNS address.

 

[volrath]

Others can't pick up your signal? Encrypt your router. Read the router manual for step by step instructions.