Laptop Or Network Problem

Right so im using my new laptop on my brothers network (wirelessly) and both i (on the laptop) and my brother (on his computer) keep getting this message saying how we're not connected to the internet and that we can only work offline.

on the laptop it has 3 sections one named broadband, one named LAN and wireless (i think) and one i cant remember but on the LAN and wireless one it has three connections but one of the "Local Area Connection" keeps saying that a network cable is unpglugged i have checked the cables and they all seem fine.

as i know NOTHING about networks i was wondering wheres the problem? my new laptop or the network i am using?

thanx

 

Does the router have any security enabled on the wireless? As a minimum it should be set to not broadcast its ID.

Unless there is no security and Vista (if that's what you have got) is being clever and blocking you from using an insecure connection, then you may need to manually configure the wireless connection.

John

 

yeah it uses WPA and i have the code for it. im using XP and my brother is using Vista. but the computer which is plugged vai cables into the router is having the same problemss, does that mean that its the router that is coursing the problems?

 

Hi ArmageddonAsh, how are you doing?

Have you tried to reset the router? You might lose all the password and id thing, but at least you will be connected to the ISP, home and internet.

I changed from WEP to WPA and I had the same results than you, I couldn't connect, so it must be WPA settings, so I went back to WEP and everything is working fine now. I will go back to WPA later because is more secure but I'll do it when I feel comfortable enough about WPA.

Furthermore, there is so much protection anyway, the ISP has its own firewall, you have one too, plus the router blocks anyone not having your private IP address, and WEP is not easy to break neither. So try with WEP for the moment and let's us know.

 

how do i change from WPA to WEP?
how do i reset the router?

thanx for the help

 

Eneter 192.168.1.1 on IE, this should get you to the router, then go into the seurity sttings and disable WPA and enable WEP, that's all. In the client's device (computer/laptop) open the network adapter and select secutiry and enable WEP with the password.

 

Wirelessman: WPA and WEP don't have anything to do with a wired connection, and changing from WPA to WEP also won't make the wired connection start working.

ArmageddonAsh: Somewhere in your router configuration there is an option to reset to defaults. Click that option and your router will be reset. Alternatively, there should be a small hole on the rear (or front, depending on the manufacturer) with a small button inside. You can use a pen and depress the button for five to ten seconds, release, and it should reset everything to default settings. The manufacturer provides a manual for your router, so I highly recommend reading it.

Don't bother trying WEP instead of WPA. After you reset the router, choose WPA again.

 

Just a note: Generally If u will only be using or connecting to the Wireless network u do not need the lan connection enabled. I'm guessing that's what ur talking about where i've bolded above. So go to ur Network Connections right click on the Lan connection and disable it. The only two connections that needs to be enabled is the Wireless Connection and the Internet Connection if u see that...everything else can be disabled.

 

It is never a good idea to disable any LAN ports on a router. All router configurations should be done via ethernet and not wireless. If ports are disabled, and wireless connections suddenly disable themselves, the only option is to hard reset the router.

 

I was talking about the LAN setting on the Computer itself in the Network Connections folder...not the Router!

 

@makaveli72: Yes, I understood your point.

@kegobeer: The OP also has a wireless connection.

 

Is very unlikely that your cable is broken but try another cable just in case.

If that doens't work, try to do what kegobeer suggested, make sure you have installed your network (ethernet and wireless) cards drivers.

 

Now that I read your post again, I see that you did indeed talk about the computer LAN settings. Sorry about that!

Wirelessman - Since all computers have a connection problem, troubleshooting logic points to a router issue, and not a wireless problem. When more than one system are affected, you look for a common point - in this case, that is the entire router. I understood that there was also a wireless problem, but that was merely a symptom of the problem, and not the problem itself, which is why I posted that WEP/WPA isn't a solution.

 

Yes, you make sense, but I was following Armaggedonash second post when I talked about WEP/WPA, but if you notice my first feedback was to reset the router.

 

right thanx for the help. when i next go down his i will try your ideas.
we are thinking that its a defective unit, as this aint the first time that he has hard trouble conencting to the net, it just gives differnet messages this time.

so i will try your ideas, but hes going to move ISP he has had nothing but trouble with Sky.

thanx again