Can't connect to the internet

firbyfred

I bought my 2 sons a Acer aspire 4920 laptop for their birthday and I have spent most of the weekend trying to get onto the internet, it is a wireless connection, it is showing it is connected with excellent signal strength, when I go onto NETWORK SHARING CENTRE , the diagram shows
laptop_________ Speedtouch B68A2A ______x______ internet, as if there is a problem between the router and beyond.
I am no expert so I don't know if it is a problem with the laptop, router, or just not set up properly, this computer is wire connected to the same router.
any ideas what to do next?

Browntoa

try letting Visat mange the connection rather than the built in Acer software

http://www.home-network-help.com/wlan-autoconfig.html

WLAN AutoConfig service in Vista is actually similar to Wireless Zero Configuration service in XP that is used to detect available wireless network and manage wireless network profile. .

vyseyboy

That the wired computer is working fine indicates that the problem is with the connection between the laptops and the router.

You need to find out if the wireless connection has security enabled (you want this) - there should then be a passcode or password that is required when connecting with the laptop. (enter once, automatically saved for future reference.)

Can't find any info. about your router, are you sure that's the right model number? Check underneath / on labels for other codes / possible model numbers.

Generally speaking you want to open a browser on the wired PC, type 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1 into the address bar (whichever works) and log in to change settings (there'll be a default username password, often "admin" "admin" or "admin" "password")

then you can browse the settings to find your passkey... try not to change anything unless you know what to expect from the change.

Also make sure that the laptops are set up to obtain IP address automatically- start ? settings > network connections, then right click on the wireless connection, select properties, highlight TCP / IP protocol click properties, make sure both settings are set to automatic.

Edit: Gah, I assumed XP, looks like you have Vista... still, pretty much everything except the last paragraph applies.

firbyfred

vyseyboy wrote: »

That the wired computer is working fine indicates that the problem is with the connection between the laptops and the router.

You need to find out if the wireless connection has security enabled (you want this) - there should then be a passcode or password that is required when connecting with the laptop. (enter once, automatically saved for future reference.)

Can't find any info. about your router, are you sure that's the right model number? Check underneath / on labels for other codes / possible model numbers.

Generally speaking you want to open a browser on the wired PC, type 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1 into the address bar (whichever works) and log in to change settings (there'll be a default username password, often "admin" "admin" or "admin" "password")

then you can browse the settings to find your passkey... try not to change anything unless you know what to expect from the change.

Also make sure that the laptops are set up to obtain IP address automatically- start ? settings > network connections, then right click on the wireless connection, select properties, highlight TCP / IP protocol click properties, make sure both settings are set to automatic.

Edit: Gah, I assumed XP, looks like you have Vista... still, pretty much everything except the last paragraph applies.

Just give me a bit of time to take all that in! I should have mentioned that the desktop computer is wired running xp pro. and the new laptop has Vista home I think

firbyfred

The router is a speedtouch 585 v6

vyseyboy

OK... on the wired PC (the working desktop,) open up either Internet Explorer or Firefox, or whatever you use to browse the web, and type 192.168.1.254 into the address bar, and hit enter. This enter's the router's configuration. From here, you need to find the wireless setup/configuration, and see if there is any encryption enabled (this determines whether anything connecting wirelessly requires a password or passkey to connect - it's a good idea to have a password, or neighbours could use your internet,)

Once you know/have set the password, you can enter this when connecting with the laptops and all should work.

And from before

Also make sure that the laptops are set up to obtain IP address automatically- start ? settings > network connections, then right click on the wireless connection, select properties, highlight TCP / IP protocol click properties, make sure both settings are set to automatic.

This is important, but the procedure might be slightly different in Vista...