Trying to connect a laptop through a wireless router

The laptop is newly acquired, and the original owner made only very limited use of it. Although she connected through her cable modem, I've verified that the laptop is wireless-ready because it's been able to access the internet just fine via public servers.

However, when I try to access through my own wireless router, no dice. I mean, I can access the router, but I can't access anything through it, most notably not the internets. From my router manager I can see the "guest" laptop, but that's all. The connection shows "excellent" signal strength, by the way, so I don't think that's the issue.

I'm limited in my ability to provide technical details about the setup, but I was hoping for a more general suggestion from those in the know. Any ideas what I might be doing wrong? Other than our Wii--which works just fine for NetFlix etc.--I haven't tried to set up any other users on this router. Seems like it should be a simple fix, so what's the problem?

Can you try temporarily turning off all security on your router and see if it works then?

I'm just about 100% sure that the router works because the children are watching Spongebob via NetFlix right now.

I'll give the "no security" thing a try and report back.


Right after I fold the laundry. Stay tuned!

:evilgrin:

Thanks, though--I forgot all about that Group.

Seems to be their response to almost everything.

1. Connect via ethernet cable (temporarily) and surf into the router interface. If you need the address, in Windows XP go to Control Panel/Network Connections, right click the Local Area Connection and select Status, then click on the Support tab of the status window - look for the default gateway address. (In Vista/Win7 go to Network & Sharing Center and click on "Change adapter settings" on the left side of the screen to get the Network Connections window.). That's the address of the router. Put that in your browser's address bar and press Enter.

2. You'll probably get a security window asking for a username and password. The default username/pw depends on the brand of router, just google, e.g., Linksys WRT54G default password, Netgear, etc., and you'll find it. If the default doesn't get you in, you can reset the router to get back to the defaults. NOTE: If you reset, you'll lose the existing wireless settings which will knock everybody else offline.

3. Go to the wireless setup tab in the router interface and check the settings. What you're looking for are (a) the network name, or SSID, and (b) the network key or password. This is the info you need to connect to the wireless. Also note the encryption type: WEP, WPA-PSK, etc.

4. Disconnect your ethernet cable and close your browser. At this point, MAKE SURE YOUR WIRELESS CARD ON THE LAPTOP IS TURNED ON!!!! (Really, you'd be surprised how many people don't ...).

5. Have your laptop detect available wireless networks. If you've never connected to this network before, it should come up on the list; highlight the network name and click "connect." You will be prompted to put in the network key. Type in the key and click "connect." The laptop should connect and you have wireless internet.

6. If it DOESN'T connect, and you've tried unsuccessfully before, go back into Network Connections, this time right-click the Wireless Network Connection, and select properties. In XP, the properties window will have a list of "Preferred Networks." In Vista/Win7, go to Network & Sharing Center and click on Manage Wireless Networks (left side of the screen). Either way, if you see your network on the list, right click the network and select REMOVE NETWORK. In XP, highlight the network name and click "delete."

7. Repeat step 5.

If you're still stuck, call your ISP tech support line. They may not support "third party routers" (AT&T, e.g., does not support them unless you pay for the support). You can try calling the Linksys/Netgear/etc. tech support line, but they will probably charge you for support as well.

This is not difficult, really. I've made the steps as detailed as possible so as not to leave anything out, but it doesn't take long at all.

Cheers,

Bake

Note that if you're connecting a Mac, Macs typically don't "like" WEP encryption (although usually they will connect) - if you've got a Mac and have trouble connecting to the router armed with WEP encryption, try changing the encryption on the router to WPA-PSK.

:hi:

Bake