Not letting me connect to WiFi - password not being asked for

Background:

I've just arrived at my parents house for a 2 week stay over and I am trying to access their WiFi. At first it was fine, both my computers would access the WiFi (Alienware with Windows 8.1 and Toshiba Encore with Windows 8.1). Yesterday (after 5 days of no worries access) the Alienware wouldn't connect and nor would my mum's computer. So I replaced the modem with a newer LinkSys modem and used a wired connection to set it up. It's all set up. My mum's computer got back on the internet but the Alienware can only access a wired connection and the Toshiba Encore has no wired port so has no access.

If I click on the Linksys WiFi network it tries to connect but does not ask for the password. If I try to access the neighbour's WiFi it asks for password.

This is what happened on the old modem before I changed it over. The Alienware wouldn't access their modem (named David) and now won't access the Linksys modem (which was a modem I had used for about a year prior). Nothing has changed except the passwords.

I tried resetting and rebooting the modem.

I've tried switching my computer on and off again.

How is it that mum's Windows 7 computer can access the wireless but neither of my Windows 8 computers can? And how is it that I could access the WiFi for a number of days and now can't? And... how is it this access magically stopped and even changing to a new wireless modem still lead to the same problem?

 

Try reinstalling your wireless drivers. It may have saved the password but have issues connecting due to an ip conflict, make sure it's on auto, if it is try manually setting an ip in the range your router expects.

 

What does "make sure it's on auto, if it is try manually setting an ip in the range your router expects." that mean? Can you let me know what you're suggesting to do? Sounds reasonable to me, but how?

Also, I'd have suggested it was the wireless drivers if it weren't occurring on both my tablet and laptop and not my mother's laptop.

 

What I've noticed with my Win8 machines is that they won't ask you for Wi-Fi password if "connect automatically" checkbox above the "connect" button is checked, so you can't connect to the network. When I uncheck it, the pass is being asked and then i connect normally. This happens only the first time you're connecting or after the pass change.

 

If you are not sure where the ip configuration is then it will be on auto. If you google change network adapter ip address you should get step by step guides on how to change it.

usually if your router settings are accessed through say 192.168.0.1 then you would try setting your ip to 192.168.0.150 as this is unlikely to conflict with an auto generated one ( which tend to go 192.168.0.2 onwards).

 

I have the Alienware plugged in so that's my access to the internet - I can access the wireless router through the IP 198.... address in the Alien. How can I change the Toshiba Encore though? None of which want to join at all. But they'll happily ask for passwords to the neighbour's wireless routers.

 

Ahhhh, just did it. I right clicked "Forget this network" and then re-entered it. Sweeeeeet!

 

That's usually what happens. If the network has the same name and changed devices, your config may need to be redone.

 

I'm glad you have navigated the murky world of networking, never my favorite part lol.