Why do phone & tablet connect to wifi, 3 x computers don't?

longwalks1

As above, having issues with my internet for the last week, (John Lewis/Plusnet), bought a TP link wifi router about 6 months ago as the old 'freebie' technicolor modem was useless for wifi

Was fine for months but now I can't connect with any of the 3 computers we have (2 x laptops and a desktop) yet can connect every time with both our iPhones and tablets, any ideas please as it's driving me nuts! All 3 computers show connected icon in bottom right hand corner, but never load a page?
I've spoken to JL/Plusnet and they're sending me a new filter and modem as my one is 2 1/2 years old, but feels like they're not 100% sure either... what would our handheld devices connect everytime, but all computers not do so??

Neil_Jones

Depending on the age of the computers and the operating systems/versions of them this can be either a driver issue or the wireless encryption isn't supported by the cards (unlikely but possible, especially if they're older).

Another possible cause of this can be if the laptop/desktop have static IP's in a different range to what the router is set to (192.168.0.1 is not the same as 192.168.1.1 for example - if the router is 0.1 then anything set to 1.1 won't see it)

longwalks1

Both laptops are only 3 years old (I know, quite old in technology terms, both run Windows 10)
iPhones and both iPads similar age, 3 years old in November

Your second comment, is there any easy guide on how to check this please? As you can probably tell, I'm no whizz on a computer sadly

Neil_Jones

In Windows 10 you can right-click the Wireless network (by the clock), select Network and Sharing Center. In there you'll see "view your active networks" and Connections: Wifi (<name of your network>). Click on that, then Details and look at the IP v4 address.

On your other devices that are working, check their IP addresses. In Android you can get to it from the Wireless section of Settings, on IOS it's typically somewhere in settings as it moves from version to version. You need to see whether the IP addresses are all the same save for the last digit.

longwalks1

Hi Neil
Thanks again, have checked my phone and iPad, and desktop PC and one of the laptops and all are the same IP address, apart from the last 3 numbers, so guessing thats all OK

Ive been reading a bit on line, could it be my Windows Firewall settings perhaps?

debitcardmayhem

Run the diagnostics from network settings, the network is probably set to be public, can't be more specific now small screen / not mch etwork here at the mo, someone may help out

debitcardmayhem

This is for above https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/6815-set-network-location-private-public-windows-10-a.html

Neil_Jones

Another possible cause of no internet is a corrupt anti-virus program. Make sure you have your activation code or keys or serial number for your AV beforehand before you go and uninstall these programs to avoid loosing your subscription.

debitcardmayhem

Neil_Jones wrote: »

Another possible cause of no internet is a corrupt anti-virus program. Make sure you have your activation code or keys or serial number for your AV beforehand before you go and uninstall these programs to avoid loosing your subscription.

Yeah but on all 3 pcs? Probably a Windows update (again) borking the Network .....

CardinalWolsey

You've checked that the IP addresses are in the same range, but what about the gateway, and what about DNS? It might well be that your PC's have got fixed IP's, and have had manually set not just the IP addresses, but also the gateway and DNS addresses. Under your TCP/IP v4 settings, ensure that you have "Obtain an IP address automatically" and "Obtain DNS server address automatically" checked. If not, check them, and then OK all the way back out.

System

Hi

Start off by re-setting the router.

Then open a command prompt and type
C:\WINDOWS\system32>ipconfig

and you get an output similar to below...

Windows IP Configuration

Ethernet adapter Ethernet:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :

Wireless LAN adapter Local Area Connection* 2:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :

Wireless LAN adapter WiFi:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::5c9b:f63a:c436:a93c%8
IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.13
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1

Ethernet adapter Bluetooth Network Connection:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :

Tunnel adapter Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
IPv6 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 2001:0:4137:9e76:181e:1c8:3f57:fff2
Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::181e:1c8:3f57:fff2%5
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : ::

and that helps with the first stages.

Then type the following 4 commands...

ipconfig /release

ipconfig /renew

ipconfig /flushdns

ipconfig /registerdns

and report back please.