Housemate can't connect to wireless internet

Hi Guys,

I tried to help my housemate connect to the internet but couldn't. Her laptop does have a wireless card but does not automatically connect to the available network. In our house our network isn't secure so there is no password.

 

Is the wireless card on? I've made that error before.

 

lol, yes...I think it was. Her laptop is a HP L2000.

 

Can it not find the network at all? If that's the case, you might want to get another card.

 

Sorry, I should have clarified. It can find the network, but won't connect.

Edit: She said it works fine on the school's wireless connection.

 

What's the error? It spends forever trying to connect or does it only get up to a local connection?

 

It says it cannot connect to the network, and that I would have to contact the network admin to get the problem resolved. Let me try to get the full message.

 

Instead of waiting for Windows to find and connect, use whatever wireless connection manager software that's installed and create a new connection for your network.

 

She's using the Window's manger program. I am not too sure if I can create a new profile or not, never used it before. Is there a free internet manger program out there?

 

Yes, you can create another profile using the Windows wireless manager.

 

? How do I create another profile using WZC?

 

Once you bring up your port properties, select wireless locations. Then you should see a list of your wireless connections. If you are adding one all ready in the list, you need to delete it first. Then use the add location button. You will need to know the SSID, Type of encryption, and PW. Select whether you want it to connect if available. Save and see if it connects.

Now if this is a Visa pc, it prefers WPA2, or WPA. Have heard it does not work well with none. Also I have heard of several report of users having problem with more than 3 locations, not confirmed, suspect driver problem.

 

Is her wireless nic on the same channel as your network?

 

You don't set a channel on a NIC - that's done by the router.

 

Just for the sake of asking, is your router set up with a MAC filter?

 

Honestly, I don't know. We are not using a router, just the modem. And, I have no access to the modem because there is a password that nobody knows what it is or was.

 

Update, I tried making a new profile, and it is a no go. It can detect the network but will not connect to it.

 

What make/model modem is it?

 

the modem is a Westell model: 327w.

 

The default user/password is admin/password OR... if you've got Verizon, it could be your verizon user name, and password.

Try them out, and if it doesn't work, try resetting the modem; http://www.netfaqs.com/windows/DSL/config/install/327w/index.asp

Then the default admin/password should be in effect.

 

Thanks Modly,

Update: So I reset the modem and check all the filters out and what not and to my dismay, well not really but, there is hardly any security on this modem that's been turned on. So, I am still wondering why she can't connect. Honestly, if someone were to come near our house they could get free internet without doing anything besides detect and go.

 

It all depends on how your reset the router. If you reset to gain access you blew all of the setting away back to factory.

 

Everything remained the same, it was never tampered with from the beginning.

 

I suppose you could try adding WEP/WPA, and seeing if it operates with that. Worth a shot anyways.

 

Tell me where, I'm within 5 miles of Kirkland.

 

I would, but since I do not pay for the internet, I don't think I should. I don't think my landlady would appreciate me playing with the modem.

lol, sorry mate, I need all the bandwidth