Please help- laptop won't connect to wireless internet..

Vindiesel

hi all

got a small home network - two pcs connected to the web, one wirelessly.
Just bought a new laptop and trying to connect to the web. Been through a long chat with my mate on phone..he explained how to connect laptop to LAN..done. However the laptop won't connect to the web..can't fathom why. Also, when on the master pc, it cannot find the laptop on the network, but the laptop states it IS connected to the laptop.

PCs: XP, no problems
Laptop: Vista

please help!!

rdpro

a) Turn off windows firewall on the laptop - your router does the firewalling for you, and Vista firewall might not be 'trusting' the router

b) make sure the laptop is in the same Workgroup (network setup) as the XP box - XP is MSHOME by default, Vista is WORKGROUP, so they won't see each other if this was never changed.

Vindiesel

hiya

thanks for that. i have seen the WORKGROUP bit before but can't find it now- my head it turning to mush..can you tell me please?

Vindiesel

**** Found it..just restarting****

espresso

Vindiesel wrote: »

hiya

thanks for that. i have seen the WORKGROUP bit before but can't find it now- my head it turning to mush..can you tell me please?

Don't think that this is relevant. Are you saying that this laptop shows as connected to the wireless router but will not resolve web addresses? Try http://216.239.51.99 in the browser.

rdpro

not sure where it is in Vista (not touching it with a bargepole til service pack 2 at least!), but in XP, rightclick 'My Computer', select 'Properties', then click the 'Computer Name' tab. It'll tell you the Workgroup name there, and click 'Change..' to alter it to whatever matches the laptop

Vindiesel

espresso wrote: »

Don't think that this is relevant. Are you saying that this laptop shows as connected to the wireless router but will not resolve web addresses? Try http://216.239.51.99 in the browser.

no. the laptop is showing as connected to the default local network, but it is not being found my the master pc upstairs, i also can't access shared files on the laptop (but i can on my other pc) and the laptop won't connect to the web either..

btw changing WORKGROUP to MSHOME has had no effect..

espresso

Vindiesel wrote:

no. the laptop is showing as connected to the default local network, but it is not being found my the master pc upstairs, i also can't access shared files on the laptop (but i can on my other pc) and the laptop won't connect to the web either..

btw changing WORKGROUP to MSHOME has had no effect..

Two different problems here.

Vindiesel wrote:

However the laptop won't connect to the web..

So it's not connected correctly then!

rdpro

What's your router model? Might need some settings changes..

Vindiesel

espresso wrote: »

Two different problems here.

Ok, but how can i be sure it IS in fact connected to the network when the laptop won't find anything that is shared, and the pc can't find the laptop? Assumning it isn't, could you perhaps tell me how to connect it correctly?

thanks

rdpro

connect the laptop directly to the router with an ethernet cable.