ANOTHER DELL WIRELESS 3300 FAILURE TO CONNECT TO NETWORK

Question

3 years ago I set up our wireless network with the following:

Dell Inspiron 2500 - laptop (decommissioned so not worrying about this one)

Dell Dimension 2400 - desktop

Dell Inspiron 710m - laptop

Dell AIO 964 - printer

Linksys WRT54GC wireless G broadband - router

...and the modem from Yahoo's DSL

I didn't have too much trouble getting it all to work together, I just didn't secure the network. Last week after some unexpected difficulty, I finally secured the wireless network with a WPA key. But when I tried to print something, I realized I needed to reconfigure the printer and its adapter.

I uninstalled the printer from the desktop and laptop, and started from scratch, not thinking it would be a problem.

When running the installation CD to reconfigure the adaptor to the newly secured network, it kept saying it failed to join network. I tried disarming firewalls, didn't work. I can't even update the server's firmware because it doesn't show up in the Setup IP Address Utility because it can't communicate with the server.

I can't contact Dell because all my warranties are expired. I know other people have had similar problems, but after trying the solutions that can apply to my situation, still doesn't work. I am hating that everything worked relatively smoothly when my network wasn't secure. Now that it is secure, there's all these problems.

SSID broadcast is enabled. WPA key is in effect. Using channel 8 because channels 1, 6, and 11 are used on the other wireless networks picked up around me. Channel 8 should be fine considering it worked well before.

Haven't updated router's firmware because I worry it will make me lose my network like I lost it when I was trying to secure it. I don't want to mess with my network settings anymore.

PLEASE HELP! THIS IS SO ANNOYING!

consmen · Answer

I mentioned in my original post that I can't update the 3300's firmware because it tells me to go to the Setup IP Address Utility and I can't choose the server because there's a message that pops up that says 'communication failed with server.'

PudgyOne · Answer

Look at the other networks in your area. Choose the one using 1, 6 or 11 with the weakest signal and use that channel. I have someone in the neighborhood using channel 11 and I also use channel 11. Since using WPA-PSK(TKIP) Security and mixed mode, I have no problems staying connected.

Just think of it as being the same as if you had a 2.4 cordless phone with network security, since cordless phones use the same frequencies, too.

consmen · Answer

I DID realize that since I changed the network security settings, I needed to reconfigure the printer adapter too - that's why I knew the printer wasn't communicating.

I know the steps of how to reconfigure the adapter, the problem is even though I am reconfiguring the adapter with the new network settings, it still can't join the network. I've even tried changing the network settings again to different channels and it still doesn't join.

PudgyOne · Answer

I forgot to mention, once you change the security in the wireless router, you have to reconfigure the 3300, this way.

After router is done, now setup your wireless print server/printer.

3300 Utility

3300 Firmware

Attach the 3300 to your computer using the USB Cable and insert the 3300 disk. Follow the instructions. It should ask you for the network ID, type of security and password.

I though that you'd have to re-install the printer again but I recently replaced my wireless router and my children can still connect to the printer without me having to do anything.

consmen · Answer

No, all the computers have Windows XP.

consmen · Answer

I already tried disarming firewalls, and their settings allow print servers anyway.

PudgyOne · Answer

Look at your firewall settings and allow the printer. Some also have to allow McAfee and Norton as well as other types of virus protection if you have some type of security suite.

PudgyOne · Answer

I think I got it. Any Vista machines? If so, the drivers don't fully remove themselves and you un-installed the printer, then re-installed the printer.

Disconnect your printer. Download and run this patch to completely remove the printer from your computer.

Restart your computer.

Download the proper drivers.

XP Drivers

Vista 32-bit Drivers

All other drivers

Install the drivers, choose network, choose I'm using a wireless print server(if you do not see this, then choose add printer and you should see it then) and follow the instructions.

consmen · Answer

I thought about using someone else's network, but they're all WPA secured, and I don't know their keys.

I'd rather use my own network anyway considering I spent time setting it up. Shouldn't it work now securely because it worked fine when it wasn't secured???

PudgyOne · Answer

Did you install the latest firmware for the 3300?

consmen · Answer

Thanks, I saw that and tried it before posting my original message and it still didn't work.

PudgyOne · Answer

3300 Utility 3300 Firmware   Attach the 3300 to your computer using the USB Cable and insert the 3300 disk. Follow the instructions. It should ask you for the network ID, type of security and password.   Install the firmware when the 3300 is attached to the computer with the USB Cable.

PudgyOne · Answer

Someone else I helped with a 3300 said this...

The key here was to completely uninstall both printer and adapter, reboot computer and start from scratch. Normal uninstall option from start menu on XP was just fine. Also make sure to unplug the printer from the adapter when re-installing.

To re-install, do this order:

1) printer adapter - it'll give you a mac address after connecting to network

2) printer - network install, will detect ip/mac from above.

Larry R · Answer

Have you tried resetting the 3300 to the factory defaults before trying to reconfigure it from scratch?

Also, while you don't appear to be using it, the documentation does not list WPA2 as a supported encryption protocol. If your cards and router are using WPA2 instead of WPA that could account for the 3300 not connecting after the change.

consmen · Answer

Yes, I made sure to reset to the factory settings before I did any uninstalling, and my network is set to WPA Personal, not WPA2.

Networking, Internet, & Bluetooth

ANOTHER DELL WIRELESS 3300 FAILURE TO CONNECT TO NETWORK

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