WiFi makin' me sad. :(

Hey, this is a stupid question, but hoping someone can help. I got my M1530 and did a clean install. The WiFi is working as far as Device Manager and I can connect to a wireless network. But even though I'm on an unsecured network, I can't use the Internet and Windows basically tells me there is "some problem" that it cannot diagnose or fix. Does anyone have any thoughts or should I just go ahead and call Dell and have them laugh at me?

 

Sure it's not a problem with the router or your modem? I would reset both of those.

Even though laughing at you sounds fun.

 

Yes, quite often it can be the access point's problem. I've often rebooted my D600 in a frenzy when my wifi didn't work, but it usually turns out to be the access point.

 

Could be the access point, but this happens for all available networks. So I'm assuming that ALL of their routers couldn't be shot, right? me = lame.

 

Is the wireless switch on the side set to ON?

What IP address do you get?

 

your computer may net be set up properly for DHCP. Try this:

Start -> Run -> type "cmd" and hit enter
type "ipconfig" and see if there is an IP address listed next to DNS server and DHCP server

 

Post more detail about how and what you're connecting to. Are you at home on your own wireless? Are you in an internet cafe with a known wireless access point? Are you just trying to connect to some strange network that happens to be open and appearing in the list of access points in Windows? If it's the last one, this is common. Those servers may be merely ad hoc servers, not providing DHCP or internet connectivity. Or they may have something like mac address based security, so you appear to be connected, but they don't actually allow you to communicate.

Also post the text you get after following bmp41083 instructions. Actually, type "ipconfig /all" and post the output of that.

 

Thanks for the replies, guys! Yeah, I'm just trying to connect to available unsecured networks from home. I ordered my own wireless router but I don't have it yet and I haven't used WiFi before (you can tell). I dunno if I should be concerned, but I seem to be getting a static IP address; regardless of which network I connect to, it's the same IP. As to whether they're restricting access to the Internet, I don't think so because one of the networks is just a public one that my local county has running (it's crappy but free). But I shouldn't need to actually go to an "official" access point, should I? If the network shows up, I should be able to get on it, shouldn't I?

 

There is an issue with Vista connecting to some older routers. I had this issue with 3 different m1330's and a Sony CR...allrunning vista. They could connect at home to my brand new router, but neither would connect at work or at my parents where there are wireless routers more than 2 years old. Just a suggestion, but I bet with a brand new router (that is Vista compatible) you are up and running in minutes.

Good luck and let us know!

 

Let us know how it goes.

 

kamehame,
a) what makes you think that you WiFi card identifies the network correctly as unsecured?
b) why shouldn't they use MAC addresses to secure their network? You would be able to see them as unsecured but couldn't really connect to them.
c) I can connect to the neighbor's network but without really being connected too.