laptop- prob connection to public / other wireless internet - pls help

jema_2

hi- grateful for any help pls,
Laptop running windows, email via mozilla thunderbird, internet via firefox - wireless internet / email works fine at home, used to work on other public (but password protected) connections,
i travel to quite a lot of sports clubs - i can pick up an connection, my laptop accepts the password then says "failed internet access", when i check thro connections it shows" currently connected to xxxclub"
and shows diagram

PC======XXXXCLUB====X====INTERNET

everyone else around me has no problems connecting to the clubs wireless internet
any ideas / help pls- thx

DD3006

What version of windows are you currently running (XP / Vista / Windows 7 ??)

ExactInternet

You may have a static IP address set on your wireless network adapter. To check this:

• Click Start
• Click Control Panel
• Click Network and Sharing Center
• In the left hand column click "Manage Network Connections"
• Right click your wireless network adapter and click properties
• You will see a list of device with the title "This connection uses the following items"
• Highlight "Internet Protocol Version 4" and click the properties button
• Make sure "Obtain IP address automatically" and "Obtain DNS servers automatically" are checked.

If this fixes your connection when out and about but stops it working at home, make sure your home router has DHCP turned on..

jema_2

hi, thanks for your replies -
i'm running (i think its the most basic) windows 7

i've just been looking through manage network connections, (i'm not a techie - so please tell if doing wrong_
i right click on the home connection - the only one that works at the mo, i get a box with 2 tabs at the top CONNECTION & SECURITY
in CONNECTION, the list below it goes
name.....
ssid.....
network type....
network availability....
then 3 tick boxes .. connect automatically, connect......, conect...
i cant find internet protocol any where- am i in the wrong place?
thanks J

DD3006

Click on the windows (start) button and then where it says search programs and files type the following and press enter.

ncpa.cpl

this will take you to your network connections from there you can check the settings that exactinternet posted (was heading in the same direction btw)

jema_2

been exploring things i'm too nervous to usually open...i found the properties you refered to by the little diagram in the mid page

obtain i[p address automatically was ticked
obtain dns server automatically wasnt - so i ticked it...

i've got several hours hanging round a club again tomorrow - so will try it again there - heres hoping... many thanks
J

Riche1976

jema wrote: »

been exploring things i'm too nervous to usually open...i found the properties you refered to by the little diagram in the mid page

obtain i[p address automatically was ticked
obtain dns server automatically wasnt - so i ticked it...

i've got several hours hanging round a club again tomorrow - so will try it again there - heres hoping... many thanks
J

I'll probably work now, DNS tells your computer where to find websites (converts the website name to an IP address). For most users these should be set to auto!

DD3006

Yep, certainly sounds like that could well be the cause.. fingers crossed.

Let us know how you get on