Inspiron 9300 wireless networking problem

Question

I have tried and failed many times to get the wireless card in my notebook to connect to my home network.  I click on the wireless icon in the bottom right corner and get the list of wireless networks in range, but any time I click on ANY network available, It refuses to connect me.  I have changed the settings so that my wireless card is active.  My netwok is a 'Linksys' and I have the network key.  When I go to connect to my Linksys network and type in the network key, another box pops up that says: 'Please wait while Windows connects to the 'Linksys' network'  then below that it has a loading bar and says 'Waiting for the network...'  After about a minute the box just disappears and leaves me unconnected!  Frankly, I am at a loss as to why it won't connect!  I have tried to connect to other networks in range but they are all security enabled networks and I don't have their network keys.  The one unsecured network I tried to connect to told me that I was connected, but every time I went to use the internet, I couldn't get on!  My notebook is a Dell Inspiron 9300 and my wireless card is an 'Intel PRO Wireless 2915 ABG Network connection'.  If anyone knows what is going on with my wireless card, please help me!!!  ~~ Autumn

Dragongoddess77 · Answer

Also, whenever I log on, a small bubble apeares by the wireless network icon that says: 'Unable to connect to preferred wireless network  -  Windows could not connect to any of your preferred wireless networks.  Windows will keep trying to connect.  To see a list of all networks, including others you can connect to, click this message.'  Unfortunately, when I click it, it just takes me back to the network list, and I can't connect to any of them!

volcano11 · Answer

As a troubleshooting step, see if you can connect using a wired ethernet connection to the router.  Let us know the outcome. Steve

tariqadkhan · Answer

i also had the same problem with my inspiron 9300 but with the intel 2200 card. what happenend was i was connected  to the network but could not access webpages. so i uninstalled the drivers and firmware and reinstalled them and to my surprise that worked after trying so many things. even if you dont have the drivers to reinstall the card the system will recognise it automatically.

Dragongoddess77 · Answer

Wow, so I found out that I hadn't installed my Bluetooth software!  I've done that now, but now its asking me for my Wireless Security Password (WEP) but I'm not sure how to get that.  My dad set up the Linksys network along with a professional computer setup friend of his.  He doesn't rememer what the WEP is or how to get it!  If anyone knows how to retrieve a Network's WEP, please let me know.

volcano11 · Answer

You will need to log in to the router's configuration utility, select wireless security, and you should be able to see the key there. To do this, on a computer that can currently connect to the router, open Internet Explorer and type http://192.168.1.1 into the address bar. Of course you will still need the username and password for the router if it has been changed from the default settings.

Steve

volcano11 · Answer

Note that the IP address - 192.168.1.1 is the default address of your router - it is not a site on the internet. It is possible that someone changed the default IP address of the router (as well as the user name and password). If this is the case and you don't know what the default address was changed to, your only option is to reset the router to its default settings. This will, of course, also disable all wireless security and change username and password back to their original settings, thus doing away with the need for a WEP key. Although it is nice to have a professional come in and set up the network, unless that professional also leaves you with infomation on what settings were enabled and what the passwords/encryption keys are, it becomes pretty useless unless that same professional is willing to help solve problems like you are having.

Steve

Dragongoddess77 · Answer

I have tried several times to get to that site.... when I type the numbers into the Internet Explorer search box, it will tell me (on the screen's grey bottom information bar) that it is loading the page.  A few seconds later, it will say done, but the screen does not change.  It stays on my MSN homepage no matter how many times I load it.  Note: I am doing this on the computer that's connected to the router.  I also tried to type the 192.168.1.1 code into the AOL search engine.... It couldn't load it.  It came up with the 'page can't be loaded now' message and told me to refresh.... when I refresh, it gives me the same message.  I'm not sure how I'm supposed to get this page to load right.            Autumn

volcano11 · Answer

Try downloading and running winsockfix for Windows XP from the Here   Steve

Dragongoddess77 · Answer

Alright, I finally got ahold of my linksys network's WEP.  It's a 26 hexadecimal key that my dad's computer friend helped me find.  I've installed my Bluetooth and I just need to connect to a network... but I still can't connect!  I go to my connection manager, scan for networks, click on 'linksys' to configure, enter the WEP key and the other specs it requires and then click connect.  It will say, 'connecting to Linksys' for about 45 seconds.  Then it will say: 'searching for available wireless networks' and then it will say 'unable to connect to Linksys.'  I don't get it, I have the WEP key (it has been verifyed on my dads computer, it's the real thing.) and I've installed everything...  I've also tried to connect to an unsecured network.  It will let me connect, but then it gives me a notice saying limited or no connectivity!  I've tried to repair the connection but at the end of the process, an error message will pop up that says, 'could not renew the IP address'.  Is this beyond my power to fix?  Should I take it in to a proffesional to set up?       Autumn

gbarn883 · Answer

it is a bug in xp service pack 2 the fix is simple but a bit obscure even if you have disabled the windows firewall go start then control pannel windows firewall advanced untick the wi-fi option restart your computer problem fixed from Gary sales@thurcastonwebsites.com

Networking, Internet, & Bluetooth

Inspiron 9300 wireless networking problem

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