Here's a question for all you computer types. My new lap top has been having some serious connectivity issues to the internet lately. I think it's my router simply because I don't know what else it could be, but here you go. Since I think two days ago I'll take my lap top out of hibernate and it won't automatically connect to my wireless network. I'll try to manually connect it and it won't even try to generate an IP or anything, it just says can't connect (Even though the signal strength and everything looks fine on the wireless networks list). I'll try to connect a few times and it won't even try, then all of a sudden it will connect just fine. It will stay connected for about 2 seconds (1-2 seconds) then disconnect again. It will then connect once every few times I click the connect button, only to disconnect itself after a second. This will go on until I give up. I eventually walk off the anger and come back to the lap top, only to have it be connected to the internet normally. I've tried restarting, refreshing my router and modem, shutting off zone alarm completely, and doing some troubleshooting with the wireless adapter program and it's still doing it. Any ideas olo? Oh, as a side note I don't think Kate is having the same trouble with her lap top, but I will have to verify that.
Vasya
Thu, 09/11/2008 - 9:21amMy first guess would be an IP conflict. Are you sure nobody is stealing your wireless and thus exceeding the maximum addresses your router allows to connect?
Fap
Thu, 09/11/2008 - 9:22amno. it's got security protection but other than that I don't know how i would find out.
Vasya
Thu, 09/11/2008 - 10:34amAre you sure your router allows enough IPs for every machine in the house?
Fap
Thu, 09/11/2008 - 10:44amit's been working fine for a few months. this just started the day before yesterday.
Vasya
Thu, 09/11/2008 - 10:50amOh hmmm. This sounds like something may have been either busted or corrupted. I know, specific of me :).
Honestly, without looking at the computer the best thing I can recommend is reinstalling, because that's sort of the easiest thing to do long-distance. Other suggestions would be to try changing the wireless channel that you're operating on or resetting the router to factory settings.
Brian
Thu, 09/11/2008 - 11:36amI would of went with the assumption at first what Vas suggested in thinking there is a ip confliction.
Has anything been introduced to your network since the problem started to occur?
Did you add maybe a hub and not realize it's a router (happens more then you would think?
Also are you using a Mac , Linux, or Windows machine? Recently the MacBook Pro had a patch roll out that for some odd reason (if you know why PLEASE let me know) has conflictions on channel 6.
Here is an idea which I like to do for security. Change your security settings to only allow Mac Address's off a pre authorized list. This is in the setup of your router.
To find out the Mac Address on an Windows machine just go to Start > RUN > CMD > and type "ipconfig/all".
Ariwyn
Thu, 09/11/2008 - 1:27pmwe got new wireless cameras for the baby's room that screw with my wireless internet...could you or someone living close to you have added something that's interfering? I know the wireless baby monitors can be detected a few houses down in our neighborhood, so it could be someone else doing something!!!!
15
Thu, 09/11/2008 - 2:06pmI suggest you stop sucking at technology.
docjones
Thu, 09/11/2008 - 2:44pmThere is also a possibility that there is a problem with the router itself. Have you been able to try another system? Will your system connect to another wireless network?
Fap
Thu, 09/11/2008 - 4:07pmWindows XP.
The router is about 3 years old, and has been working for kate's laptops (she's gone through two) and my one laptop fine until about two days ago when this problem suddenly started happening.
Maybe someone next door bought a baby? I dunno. I haven't done anything that I know of.
I don't know what a mac address is, so when I get home I'm going to do that command you told me to do and then repost saying "now what?"
<3 u gaiz
Brian
Thu, 09/11/2008 - 7:04pmcall me if you want . I talk people through this shit all day in my company since half work remotely . 586-876-0617
I work in three shifts a day . 8 to 10, 1 to 5 , and 10 to 1am . It helps me manage the entire company since its now world wide.
Feel free to call me during those hours (CST) at 586-876-0617
Fap
Thu, 09/11/2008 - 7:29pmawesome! that's great man, I will if the problem persists. I just got home and my lap top is working fine now. If it screws up again I'll give you a call and we can do some diagnostics.
don't worry, i won't abuse the offer : )
Demonskin
Thu, 09/11/2008 - 8:22pmFWIW, the first thing I would do is compare the wireless and network settings between the laptop that is working and the laptop that isn't working, note what was different, and then change any settings that were different to those of the laptop that is working.
If that didn't take care of the problem, then I'd probably try changing the channel setting on the router and test both laptops to see if that made any difference.
Then I would set up the authentication on the router and the laptop over again (probably to WPA2 if available) from scratch and see if that changes the pattern or timing of the disconnects. If it does change the behavior (but doesn't fix it), then I'd look at the connection logging or real-time connection display on the router, to see if someone else might be hammering the router trying to crack it via a brute force attack. If it does not change the behavior, then I'd do some googling to see if anyone is talking about authentication incompatibilities with my model of router.
(I've run into problems more or less like the one you describe several times. Once I finally gave up and replaced the router, but the other times I was able to resolve the issue through something like the steps above.)
Zepplock
Thu, 09/11/2008 - 11:49pmThat's how windows is asking for a fresh install ;-)
Ariwyn
Fri, 09/12/2008 - 1:58am586? WTH that's not a local area code
Brian
Fri, 09/12/2008 - 8:54amI don't confine my self to local numbers =). In truth this number I had since i was 16, I have no intentions of changing it. The way nation wide long distance is free these days, I don't see it causing much of an issue. Not to mention when people see 586, they know immediately it's me.
Ariwyn
Fri, 09/12/2008 - 9:39amoh and you know this is the open forum and not the members only part?
Brian
Fri, 09/12/2008 - 10:03amMy cell phone is pretty much public information thanks to it being on my companies contact numbers. If I end up getting a few stalkers in the process, I pity them .
Crazy Rambles
Fri, 09/12/2008 - 10:15amlol
Qyn
Fri, 09/12/2008 - 11:39amOhshits a challenge! Brb scrawling your number in the stalls here at work. Time for some creepy middle aged businessmen stalker action!
Ariwyn
Fri, 09/12/2008 - 1:48pmI'm putting it up on craigs list..oh wait..nevermind it's already been there!
Brian
Fri, 09/12/2008 - 3:09pmBURN!
Though I never put my phone number right out. It's after the 2nd email the number goes out =)