Can't Connect to wireless network

Question

Hi!   I recently formated my Inspiron 6400/1505 and I downloaded and installed all the drivers through my other computer and everything works fine except for the internet. The wireless network is found by the Intel PROset/Wireless tool but when I click connect it takes a while and then it says connection has limited or no connectivity. I have tried reisntalling the drivers and also reconnecting the router and restarting it but still nothing. Before my Windows was Xp Professional and now I installed Windows Xp Media Center Edition.

Soorena1 · Answer

Yes I have tried all of which you said but still nothing. Its really weird cause I have formated my comp before and everything worked fine. Also this might not help but when I connect the modem directly to the laptop the internet works.

volcano11 · Answer

Did you install the chipset drivers as the first drivers installed after reinstallation of Windows? Without the chipset drivers, Windows will not be able to recognize or install drivers for many other devices. Once the chipset drivers are installed you need to install the drivers for your network adapter, video adapter, audio adapter, and modem.   Does the network you are trying to connect to have any security features enabled, like MAC address filtering or WEP or WPA encryption?  If so, have you tried temporarily disabling these features on the router to see if that is where your problem is?   Steve

volcano11 · Answer

To help troubleshoot this problem, go to Start > Run and type cmd then click OK. In the command prompt window that opens, type ipconfig /all then hit the enter key. Write down the output from this command or select it and save it to a txt file, then copy this output into a reply to this message.   Steve

Soorena1 · Answer

Host Name:...................................: Alie-Laptop Primary Dns Suffix........................: Node Type:....................................: Unklnown IP Routing Enabled........................: No Wins Proxy Enabled......................: No   Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection 2:          Media State............................: Meadi disconnected        Description............................: Broadcom 440x 10/100 Intergrated Controller Roller        Physical Address..................: 00 -15 - C5 - A6 - 9E - 0E Ethernet adapter Wireless Network Connection 2:        Connection -specific DNS Suffix     .        :         Description...............................................: Intel Pro/Wireless 3945ABG Network k Connection         Physical Address......................................:  00-13-02-D5-E4-AA        Dhcp Enabled...........................................:  Yes        Autoconfiguration Enabled........................: Yes        IP Address.................................................: 0.0.0.0        Subnet Mask.............................................: 0.0.0.0        Default Gateway.......................................:         DHCP Server:...........................................: 255.255.255.255   I would post a picture of it but I don know how to. Hope this helps

volcano11 · Answer

Are you using Windows to manage the wireless network or the Intel Proset utility to manage the network?     Also do the following:  Go to Start > Run and type services.msc then hit the Enter key.  Find the DHCP client service in the list of services.   Double click on it.  Make sure it is started and set to start automatically.   Then try to connect by wireless.  Report back what you find.   Steve

Soorena1 · Answer

Host Name: .......................... Alien-Laptop Primary Dns Suffix: .............. Node Type:............................Unknown   Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection 2:              Media

Soorena1 · Answer

I tried doing what you said and now the chart changed and looks like this :   Host Name:...................................: Alien-Laptop Primary Dns Suffix........................: Node Type:....................................: Unklnown IP Routing Enabled........................: No Wins Proxy Enabled......................: No   Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection 2:          Media State............................: Media disconnected        Description............................: Broadcom 440x 10/100 Intergrated Controller Roller        Physical Address..................: 00 -15 - C5 - A6 - 9E - 0E Ethernet adapter Wireless Network Connection 2:        Connection -specific DNS Suffix     .        :         Description...............................................: Intel Pro/Wireless 3945ABG Network k Connection        Physical Address......................................:  00-13-02-D5-E4-AA        Dhcp Enabled...........................................:  Yes        Autoconfiguration Enabled........................: Yes        Autoconfiguration IP Address...................: 169.254.79.100        Subnet Mask.............................................: 255.255.0.0       Default Gateway.......................................:

Soorena1 · Answer

I forgot to mention that I use Intel PROset/Wireless.

volcano11 · Answer

Was the DHCP service running when you went into Services and checked?  If not, do you have any idea who changed or why they changed the settings?  It makes me wonder what other default settings have been changed.   To further troubleshoot the problem, see if you can connect to the router using that same computer with a wired ethernet connection.   Report back what you find.   Steve

volcano11 · Answer

Are you absolutely certain that you installed the chipset drivers before installing any other devices???   Do you have any wireless security settings enabled on your router (like MAC Address filtering or WEP/WPA encryption)?  If so, have you tried temporarily disabling these features to see if they are causing the problem?   Steve

Soorena1 · Answer

Yes, the DHCP service was enabled when I checked. Oh and the Internet works if I use a wired ethernet connection. I'm guessing the problem is the laptop because it worked fine before and I didn't change anything so it should've worked again after I reformated.

Nightend · Answer

Out of curiousity....   1) When you formatted did you use PC Restore or do a complete CLEAN format? 2) If complete format did you... delete all partitions and re-create a initial format?                                               ....format using NTFS (quick) or full NTFS format?                                               ....Instal drivers off resource CD in the following order...                                                          Chipset (checkmarked)...then restart machine                                                          Video driver (checkmarked)...then restart machine                                                           Ethernet or Network controller (checkmarked)                                                           Wireless card (checkmarked) and correct version                                                          Audio driver (checkmarked)                                                          Modem............rest don't matter at this point(orderwise) 3) Have you gone to support.dell.com and done the Flashbios Update? 4) Is the card's Utility managing the connection? If so have you tried switching to allow WINDOWS to manage it? 5)Have you power cycled your network? ( shut all systems down...unplug power from modem and router.....wait 2-5 minutes....plug power into modem only and wait for it to cycle( 1 minute).......plug power into router and wait for it to cycle( 1 minute).......turn system on (if applicable) that had internet connection previously and test connection.....power on system with issues and test connection? 6) Is router encrypted or secured? If so have you thought of reseting the router and disabling it and reverting it to factory defaults? Usually works!! 7) Disable Windows firewall....control panel...windows firewall.....turn off.....apply or ok....close 8) Disable Norton or McAffee's personal firewall? 9) Reboot system and right click on wireless network icon and veiw available networks...select yours and click connect....IF NO AVAILABLE NETWORKS...                            Control panel......system.....hardware tab.......device manager......+ symbol beside Network Adaptors......right click on 'wireless Network card' ( * Not the Intel 1394* )...un install.....close everything up and reboot the machine   At this point Found new hardware should pop twice down by date area of screen and then a bubble stating wireless networks detected in range....     Let us know how ya make out :)

Soorena1 · Answer

I found something interesting. I went to the Network Setup Wizard and clicked on the Wireless Network Connection and it gave an error which said :   ' Some of this computer's network hardware is still disconnected. Before you can continue, you must either plug in or otherwise connect all of your hardware, or select 'Ignore disconnected network hardware.' '   any ideas on how I can do what it asked?

Soorena1 · Answer

Where is the modem driver for the Inspiron 6400/1505 ?

volcano11 · Answer

What have you done since your last post?  You didn't answer the questions I asked about security.  Did you decide to reinstall Windows?  Since I have no idea where you stand right now, the error message you posted is out of context, so I can't tell you what it means.  Please provide an update on what you have done.   Steve

Networking, Internet, & Bluetooth

Can't Connect to wireless network

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