Is anything else needed for wifi ready laptop?

I have a Toshiba Satellite A105-S4284 laptop that is supposed to be Wireless ready but I can't communicate to the access point. My question is "Do I need anything else (hardware) to get on the internet." My tray icon says I have a connection to our access point at 54mps but i have no IP address. I'm new to WiFi.....

 

Well first verify that your access point is configured correctly. Do you have a laptop that is known to work on the wireless? Can you access the internet if you plug a network cable from your laptop to a port on the wireless access point?

 

have u configured the connection for the type of encryption that the WAP is using?

 

You can't have a connection to the Router and not have an ip address. Does it say it's connected?

You have to configure the Router itself and also the computer's WiFi card in order to get connected to the network. You could start by making sure that ur WiFi card is set to obtain IP's automatically...but u need to give some more info though. Is this the first time u r trying to connect this computer to the network? Is it possible to get a print screen of ur WiFi's IP setting through command prompt. Go to Start--> Run...type cmd and press OK. Type this command, ipconfig /all and do a print screen, paste it in MS Paint or something and attach it on here....

*All u need to connect to the WiFi network is, tpyically a modem, a router, a WiFi card in ur computer and Internet Service from an ISP.

 

Make sure that your router is set with DHCP so it can assign IP addresses to the computers attached to it.

Also if you have XP, make sue your windows zero configuration service is on.

 

First of all, Thanks everyone for the replys....Like I said, I'm new to Wifi. The only way I've ever been on the net is by dial up modem. I'm currently at a campground that is an access point for wifi. My tray icon said I was getting a connection to the campground before but I've downloaded and installed new software and drivers from intel and now my tray is full of X's (3)....I'm confused about configuring Routers, DSN's, Wap's, Wifi cards, DHCP's, Windows zero configuration service is on ????....The new girl manager at the campground doesn't know any info for me for configuring either....Heres a screenshot of my ipconfig/all. Thanks again

 

Ok first off, you need to make sure the Wireless Network Card is "Enabled" in two places.

First, there should be a way to enable it either via 1) a button above your keyboard; 2) by pressing keys to enable it..such as a FN (Function key) and another key that looks like a wireless antenna symbol; or 3) Some laptops have a switch infront or maybe on the sides to enable the WiFi card.

Secondly, it should be enabled by going to 'Network Connections' and enabling ur wireless intel pro/wireless 3945abg card by right clicking it, and selecting enable. From ur screen shot it seems that the WAN PPP/SLIP card is what u use for dial up access. You can go ahead and disable that, and the LAN intel pro/100 card. While in Network Connections, right click on the Wireless Card, go to properties...scroll down to Internet Protocol, select properties and confirm that 'Obtain IP address automatically'....and 'Obtain DNS server automatically' are both selected...click ok to exit those windows...

I would assume that ur using XP. To make sure that the Wireless Zero Config. service is enabled and started go to Start and select Run...type services.msc and press ok. Scroll down to WZC and make sure it says started and it's set to automatic. If it's not, right click on it, choose properties and change it to automatic and click apply and start it. While u r in there, go to DHCP Client and DNS Client and do the same for those.

From here u should see one connection in ur task tray, which should be the Wireless connection, click it and look for wireless connections in the area, and connect to the appropriate one.

Good Luck!

 

Thanks Makaveli72. You have been the biggest help so far. I reset everything in services to auto and started. Now I have to get off dial up and see if it works now....will get back

 

Thanks again Makaveli 72..... That did it. I'm here wirelessly and a lot faster than dial up... I spent hours the last 3 days with people telling what to do but not how to do it, like you did......i appreciate it......

 

Ok, no problem...glad to see ur good to go now.