Wireless lap top connection

[PurpleHeather]

So, I have a lap top I want to use with the wireless connection to the router. Fine plugged in but want to use both at the same time.

Clicked on to the symbol and entered everything asked for but all I get is

Limited or no connectivity.

Any ideas?

[PurpleHeather]

[Kendy]

Check that your wireless software is not looking only for wireless stations that advertise it's name.

[chriscross1966]

Has the wireless been enabled on the router yet?... Normally you have to turn it on (use a wired connection to access the router's setup, if you're lucky there'll be a serial port you can do it with as well ,  if you're unlucky Virgin will have stuffed their own firmware into your router and removed most of the functionality (grr)....

chrisc

[nilly71]

Sometimes the pc/router messes up the IP addresses.
Try switching everything off including the router, then switch the router back on and all the light are on then switch each of the pc's on.
You can set the IP's yourself if your happy to try.

Neil

[Deb P]

One simple thing that has happened to us before........my daughters' laptop has a wireless button that has to be slid to 'on', hers is at the front edge and often gets switched off by mistake...it won't work if it is off! ::)

[PurpleHeather]

yup tried all the above except for the IP business which does look like it could be a possible cause.

The thing is the lap top works fine connected it is just when the wireless is used.

It shows all the different possible connections in the area and mine is named which I can follow. They are all  marked as 'secure'

The guy in the computer shop said it was easy just type in the number under the router but there are several of them and I am not sure which one.

Is IP and WEP and WAP all the same?

The ignorance with the jargon is confusing me.

[BarriedaleNick]

Your IP address is if you like your street address - it is unique to your PC on your network - it will always look like 192.168.1.1 but with different numbers!

WEP and WPA numbers are keys used to encrypt data between you and your router.
WEP keys are horrible things to remember and aren't used much any more.
WPA keys can be every day phrases.

To make it work your IP address has to be in the same range as your router and...
WPA and WEP keys must be the same on both router and PC..

Some newer routers just require you to connect with a pin code to make life easier so I guess that is what you are trying to do

Are you on XP and what make\model of router?

[PurpleHeather]

Hi Nick, both computer and laptop are windows XP

The lap top is brand new e-machines. They have a Plymouth address.

I can get the IP address from the lap top it keeps trying to change that when I try to make the connection and keeps saying it has failed so I am sure that could be the key. I am not sure where to locate it on the other computer.

The router is one AOL sent and is a 'speedtouch' There are four sets of numbers underneath in pairs.

I tried to do it using a memory stick but the host computer closes down every time I stick it in any plug hole.

Thanks for the info by the way, it is that huge long number we have been trying to input with dots and letters. Think we are putting the wrong series of numbers in

I found a link on the net telling me how to change IP address but was mentally exhausted at that stage so have just book marked it. It is the jargon I find so hard.

It is making my head hurt.

[Tulipa]

PurpleHeather, have you tried speaking to AOL about this?  They have talked me through the processes several times to add laptops and have been very helpful, I know it cost me but it was worth it in the end just to get it sorted.

T.

[sunner]

Sounds like to me your laptop can not handle wep 128 bit encryption 

Plug the yellow Ethernet cable in type the routers ip address in your internet browser i think that will be 192.168.1.254 or  192.168.1.1 you might have to look that up , type in username and password should be admin admin   , turn off all internet security

Now un plug the cable and see if you can connect , if you can  type in  routers ip address again and change the security to wpa key should be just a 8 letter key make up one , and make sure the channel is set to auto

now type in your wpa key in to the windows wireless connection box and you should be ready to go

if it still cant handle that just set the router for a password  


dont worry about messing anything up you can just reset the router back  back to factory settings

[BarriedaleNick]

I agree - Try AOL if they supplied all the kit and service.
Just one thing you can try.
Go to control panel
right click on the wireless connection and select properties
You should see summat like this



Double click on Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) to see



Generally speaking this should all be set to obtain an IP and DNS automatically so you shouldn't see anything in there.  If you have anything set in there you should try clicking on on both the obtain automatically selections...
Let me know how you get on..

[PurpleHeather]

Thanks for that, I am going to be getting stuck into another go this week end and make another attempt.

Some one has told me that I am wrongly calling this device a lap top, it is actually only a note-book. Probably because it has no disc drive but that is not important for what it is wanted for.

Thanks again and I will definately report back, hopefully, without more questions.

[nilly71]

If you change the IP address on the pc's make sure they are the same as the router (default gateway) but they all must have a different last number.
If you try what BarriedaleNick has suggested on the pc that connects to the internet and take note of the numbers. On the pc thats not connecting do the same and change the numbers to the same apart from the last two digits in the IP address ie. 192.168.1.XX

Neil
p.s pc's are the same as pc/laptop, just quicker to type ;D

[PurpleHeather]

I still can not do it.

I went on to the control panel and selected the wireless connector and it does nothing on a right click, like the example you have displayed. all it says is to input a 26 digit number which we have tried. It does not work.

I can not get through to AOL they keep saying that they have a high volume of calls waiting. I give up after 10 minutes.

[nilly71]

It might sound a daft question but are you sure you are on the correct wireless network?

On the pc thats connected to the wifi there should be a icon that has something to do with wireless connection near the clock at the bottom right of your screen. Mine has 5 bars that range in size, my son's has a ariel icon.
Click once and have a look on the list what one says connected, do the same on the pc thats not connecting and make sure you are trying to connect to the same one.

Try the following way to find out what your IP address is on each pc. and post on here:
Click the Start button and select Run - Type CMD and press OK, a black window with white writing should pop-up  - type IPCONFIG and press Enter .

Neil

[BarriedaleNick]

Sorry left out...

Control Panel then

Network Connections

then right click on wireless connection and try the above

but try what nilly suggests as that will tell you what your IP is as well as the ip of your router...

if you type ipconfig /all it will also tell you if you are getting the IP etc from the router..
Dont worry it may look a bit scary but just look for an entry for the wireless and let us know what you have in there...

[PurpleHeather]

I am still struggling here.

Took the lap top and the router thing to the shop and it was kindly set up by nice lady who changed the IP on the lap top to compliment (if that is the right word) the IP on the host.

Got it home, tried to get in and although the lap top said conneted and excellent for signal strength. Still can not get in.

I am now considering that somehow the security on the host computer is preventing this.

There is something about a wireless network with WEP and or WAP

Now windows wizard keeps setting a 26 digit WAP for this. I gave the nice lady in the shop the WEP from the router number.

I am wondering if I make the network number the WEP instead if this WAP will work?

My worry is loosing connection with the host if I put the wrong thing in to it

Thing is, how does the router know? Is that a computer too?

I feel so thick but this is just beyond me.

[Borlotti]

Bl...dy wireless, whatever that is, I have wires everywhere. I can't do it either. Have a headache from speaking to man from BT in India.  Have gone back to the Speedtouch.  It works on my son's computer in his bedroom but not on mine, and if his works mine doesn't, so have unplugged the BT Home Hub, feel like throwing it out the window.  £80 to get an engineer in from BT, and I can't understand the bloke on the phone although he tries to help, it is not only his accent but I don't understand which wires etc I have to plug in where.  He is going to ring me tomorrow to see if it works, think I will go to the allotment as can't face anymore wire changing/plugging in, think they are worried about losing my custom. Oh happy days.

[GodfreyRob]

If I were you I would get some help in. Local PC repair people can be very helpful and not cost as much as you might think.

If you let us know your approx area maybe someone on here knows of a good local company/individual. Or your local repair shop might be able to recommend someone who will come out and sort it for you.

I am an experienced programmer/web designer but hardware does my head in! Save your head and get a 'man' in.