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January 14th, 2006 00:00
One more person having troubles connecting...
I'm yet another person having issues getting online. Yes, this is verbose, but I'm hoping that having my issues laid out will help you to help me!!! I have an Inspiron 1150 and Windows XP Office.
I recently got internet access through a cable modem. From the beginning I started getting a message on my computer that a "network cable is unplugged. " This message would flicker off and on, and over the course of several days it got so that the "cable was unplugged" much more than it wasn't and I couldn't do any work online. I assumed that the problem must be the ethernet cord running from my computer to the modem. I checked this by using a shorter cable that had previously been used between the modem and an old wireless router (which comes into play a little later), and found that my computer hooks right up using this shorter cord. It may or may not be relevant to tell you that this cable has only 4 circuits(?) whereas the other has 8. Working from a shorter cord doesn't work for me b/c the cable hook up is in a utility closet, and with a 6 foot cord I'm currently having to sit on the floor in the hall to hook up to the net.
So I decided to try to hook up the wireless router and make the cables unnecessary. It unfortunately didn't work. It is strange because I could pick up on the neighbor's wireless on occassion and connect just fine (this shows up as "default" in my list of available networks). My computer was automatically connecting to that, but not the router here in the house. When I go to the "Connect to a Wireless Network" box, I click on the network that I want, and select the box that says "Allow me to connect to the selected wireless network even though it is not secure." When I hit connect, nada. In this same window I hit "Advanced," where, under the "Wireless Networks" tab I have removed the "default" network from my Preferred networks, so that my computer will connect to my wireless router rather than the neighbors (I was connecting to that one only at very low strenght and wanted it to go to mine instead). Again, no luck. In this same window, my radio is enabled and I have selected the box that allows "this tool to manage my wireless settings." Despite this, when I open up the "Wireless Connection" Window, I get a message saying that "Windows Cannot Configure this Wireless Connection."
Another curious thing is that despite being told that my wireless connection is unavailable, under the "Dell Wireless LAN Utility" box, in the "Site Monitor" tab, it shows that my computer is seeing my network with excellent strength.
Immediately after trying these things (and some more...I unfortunately can't remember it all) two things happened. First, after logging in I began receiving a message that says "Please wait as the wireless subsystem attempts to associate, authenticate and resolve DHCP for your 802.1x network." I've never seen this message before on my computer. Second, the shorter ethernet wire didn't do the trick anymore, and I was receiving a message saying that there was "Limited or no Connectivity." Amazingly enough, I was able to get online today using that trusty shorter cord, connecting at 100 Mbps.
Someone mentioned that I might have a "WinSock" Error. What is this, and is there a way to know whether or not this is my problem? Either way, can anyone help me get online? I've tried wading through the information online for Wireless Connections and Windows XP, but to no avail. I'd prefer to have both my ethernet connection AND my wireless working again, but for now I need to find a better way to work online than sitting on the floor in the hallway, hoping that I'll stay connected tomorrow!
Thanks,
Meg
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volcano11
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January 14th, 2006 02:00
For the wired ethernet connection, it looks like the longer cable is faulty. I would suggest going to Radio Shack /WalMart / Home Depot / Office Depot etc. and getting a new long ethernet cable.
I doubt that the problem is a winsock problem, because if it were, you would not be able to connect at all with either wired or wireless. Are you sure that you did not set any of the wireless security settings on the router? Have you tried returning the router to its factory default settings by holding in the reset button on the router for 10 seconds?
Steve
meg68
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January 14th, 2006 04:00
Hi Steve,
Thanks for your reply.
In all of that mess of words I forgot to mention that I did in fact go out and buy a new ethernet cable (2 actually. The first was from a guy who makes them, and it didn't work at all. He was saying that it was because of the 4 vs. 8 thing with the ethernet cables, and he gave me an adapter, but that didn't work either.) The second I bought today, a brand new one from Office Max. It worked well for about an hour, and then I started getting the same message again that a network cable was unplugged, with it deteriorating rapidly to the point that I couldn't use the net at all. I guess it's possible that I've purchased a faulty cable, but I'm not sure of that, and I'm questioning whether the original cable is even faulty now.
I should note that about a year ago my ethernet connection suddenly stopped working too when I was at work. One day it hooked up just fine and the next it didn't. We used an external network card with the ethernet cable, and all worked well. Also, I was on a wireless connection at home so I just used that. Now, here I am with it a year later. I was relieved and surprised when the ethernet connection started working at first.
As for the router, I haven't done anything with the settings on it. I did as you suggested, holding down the reset button. Nothing. I disabled and re-enabled my wireless again. Nothing. I restarted my computer. Nothing. I tried repairing the connection. It made it through until it went to connect to the network, and that's where it failed.
Any other thoughts?
volcano11
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January 14th, 2006 14:00
meg68
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January 15th, 2006 00:00
Hi Steve,
I've tried wiggling and then holding the cord both at the computer and the modem. That didn't make a difference. For now, the longer new cable is working intermittently. We'll see how long that goes...Could the problem there perhaps be internal? As I mentioned earlier, I was able to get online and stay there at work using an external network card.
As for the ipconfig in the command prompt, I assume that the part that's relevant for the wireless card is what you want...here's what it says:
Ethernet adapter Wireless Network Connection 2:
Media status..................: Media Disconnected
Description....................: Dell Wireless WLAN 1350 WLAN Mini-PCI Card
Physical Address...........: 00-0B-7D-09-FC-6F
C:\Documents and Settings
I tried this both hooked up to the net through the ethernet cord, and just when wireless was hooked up. This is the same message that I got both times.
Thanks again,
Meg
meg68
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January 15th, 2006 00:00
Another piece of the puzzle could be that I recently moved and had set up a wireless network at my previous address, sharing a wireless router with my former roommate. I haven't done anything to "undo" this. Could that be part of the issue too?
M
meg68
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January 15th, 2006 01:00
volcano11
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January 15th, 2006 01:00
volcano11
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January 15th, 2006 02:00
These intermittent problems are very difficult to diagnose, but it is sounding more and more like a hardware problem - faulty motherboard. This is certainly true of your ethernet connection, but looking more and more like there is some malfunction of the MiniPCI card slot as well. If you are still under warranty, it's time to call Dell Tech Support.
Steve
meg68
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January 15th, 2006 03:00
Doah. I was hoping to avoid that.
Thanks for your help and suggestions!
M
tsalette
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February 9th, 2006 02:00
I too am having problems with my network connection. It does the same thing periodically saying that my network cable is unplugged. I wiggle the cord and it comes back on. This happens at work and at home (just got dsl at home). It seems that the plug into my computer seems to be very sensitive or loose. How do I fix this. Not sure how it happened to be like this...but it is frustrating...
I am constantly being kicked off the net.
volcano11
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February 9th, 2006 03:00
tsalette,
It sounds like either your network cable has a bad connector (less likely if you use a different cable at work than at home) or the connector on your motherboard is faulty. If it is the connector on your motherboard, and you are still under warranty, call Dell Tech Support and get it fixed. If you are not under warranty, you are on your own to find someone who can fix it.
Steve
tsalette
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February 9th, 2006 11:00