Problems connecting to schools wireless network

I have a vostro1500 and an Intel Pro Wireless 3945ABG card.

I have no problem connecting to my own home network(the network is not password protected), but when I enter the schools network, I can't connect to the internet. I tried running a diagnostic and the ping test says I have some kind of DHCP problem. Everyone else, are able to connect to the internet at my school, just not me.

Any help will be appreciated.

 

I do believe that u already know to check to make sure ur set to 'Obtain and IP Automatically' so my next question is does the wireless connection actually say its connected or are u getting the yellow warning symbol or the red X?


Edit: BTW, is the school using an encryption key to protect their wireless network?

 

It says I am connected if I press repair, in which it says it's a host problem, not my problem. The other time it just displays a blue screen, without the little globe.

And yes, the school has an encryption.

 

Did you get the school's encryption key?

 

Yes, I did.

 

My school requires you to go to a certain IP address in order to use the internet. Once there you type in your email address and BAM you're connected. You're school probably requires the same thing.

Go to your schools IT department and see if that's the case.

 

I pretty much know it isn't. The school network automatically gives you an individual IP address when you connect, but that is about it.

The schools IT "expert" said it is a vista thing and couldn't help me.

 

Wow your schools "IT expert" is an idiot!!

My school gives you an IP address when you connect as well. But it won't allow you to browse the internet until after you go to that page. I wouldn't completely rule it out just because you have an IP address.

Try talking to a different IT person. Don't even mention you have Vista and don't show them your laptop. Just ask them for instructions to use the network. My schools IT people are idiots too... I find that they are only helpful when you give them so little information that they can't form their own opinion.

 

lol...he might not b an idiot..sounds like a Vista hater to me...either way i have some clues as to what to try but seeing that i really don't know much about Vista yet i can't walk u through some steps that might be causing the issue, so i'll have to wait until i get home to check out my mom's laptop that has Vista Home Premium on it...i'm thinking more or less its something to do with the Encyption key type and the Key itself...i really don't think that he might have to take another step greg by going to a specific site to finish the connecting process because when i was goign to college i didn't have to do all that...they just distribute the IP's and thats it..ur on. R u sure u have the right Key?...when u enter the Key does it say connected to the network?

 

Check if you have some issues with DNS servers. Verify with the school IT guy what DNS server is he using.

 

Well that was my experience... Maybe it isn't necessary at all schools .

Another thought...

This spec sheet states the the card is certified for WPA & WPA2, but doesn't mention WEP:

http://www.intel.com/network/connectivity/products/wireless/prowireless_mobile.htm

My school still uses WEP, so I assume others might. Is it possible that this card simply doesn't support it?

 

Hmm, I will check tomorrow. Thanks for the help!

 

well WEP is a weaker encryption and was superseeded by the better WPA and WPA2 but if thats the case that really sucks that it don't support it...reason being for this situation. If this is the case.

 

If that is the case, is there anything i can do? Is it the card that doesn't support it or the card driver?

 

The driver shouldn't have anything to do with it... The driver installed already should cover everything the card is built to do. It might be wise to look at the driver spec sheet on the support site from your laptop manufacturer to make sure though.

With further research I found this site:

http://shopper.cnet.com/adapters-nics/intel-pro-wireless-3945abg/4014-3380_9-31687740.html#p5

It says that your card does in fact connect to WEP, so I might have been wrong about that... Perhaps the Intel site just didn't bother mentioning it.

Which leaves us at square one

Does your schools website have any instruction sheets posted online like this one?

http://www.uncwil.edu/itsd/wireless/Wireless Instructions (Vista).htm

 

Nope, just the guy that manages the IT stuff. Guess I will just have to mess around with some settings on my computer, maybe compare it with someone elses laptop, to see if they have different settings from mine.

 

It might be that your school network is 'behind' a proxy and thus you will need to change the settings in the way your browser connects to internet. For example in Firefox, Advanced -> Network -> settings.

To connect to my college network I need to enter the IP and the port number.

For the wireless network I need the LAN settings configured as above and entered the wireless key.

Your network admin sounds like an idiot.. if he's the one who configured it he should know what the problem is and not blame it on Vista simply because it sounds good and everyone's saying it when they don't have a real explanation.

 

well i'm on my mom's vista premium laptop now...and i think i have the same card u have being Intel Pro 345ABG...as far as i can see it doesn't support WEP. How u can check is by right clicking on the network connection, select connect to a network, right click on the network that u r connected to and choose properties. Then click on the drop down list for 'Security Type'. Under there i have shared, wpa psnl, wpa2 psnl, wpa entpr, wpa2 entpr and 802.1x...so check there to see if u have the WEP option....that may be the issue.

 

Most wireless cards support WEP and WPA, so I don't know who is telling you the contrary.

 

I can see that the card pretty much doesn't support wep. Too bad :/

 

I asked if it was a possibility, because WEP wasn't listed on the Intel spec sheet for the card. Then later found another spec sheet for the card stating it does support WEP.

So there seems to be enough cause to raise the question... But still, generally, stuff is backward compatible and should have WEP like Wirelessman said. Only way to know for sure is to check like makaveli72 suggested.

 

I actually just checked the user manual for you card and it states that it DOES IN FACT support WEP . Here is a link to the PDF. Maybe that will help.

http://support.intel.com/support/wireless/wlan/sb/cs-022084.htm

 

Well that sucks...unless u can get the IT Guy there to set it up at least to WPA Security which everyone should have. ...idk y they would set up a network in an Institution setting like that with security for anyway...then again that's a stupid thought because there are computer nerds/hackers out there...but i'm asking that question and thinking back to myself about when i was in college, they didn't have any security on the wireless network at all and i was like are these ppl crazy..i see y now...there are so many students with different types of laptops, and some might not b able to connect...they were smart (I use that word loosely) to leave the connection open....it's a give or take situation..then again my school was pretty small.

 

ok i think i solved the issue with WEP. You can use WEP..i've just tested it myself with my own home network...in those same settings that i mentioned above u need to go there, select 'Shared' as the security type then u will have the option to choose WEP...put in the KEY an voila...connected!

 

I will try that!