patetc <PatETC@gmail.com> hath wroth:

>I am using an HP Pavilion DV4170 Laptop with Windows XP/SP2 and
>Internet Explorer 7.0 and built-in WiFi.

XP or Vista?

>I can connect at the local library's WiFi hotspot and have an
>excellent connection but when I start Internet Explorer (which should
>start automatically according to my settings), I get a message that
>this page cannot be found.

That's correct. Most libraries have a "terms of service and what's
your library card number" web page appear before you can use the
system. If your default home page in IE7 happens to be Microsloths
check for updates, or some other web page that appears BEFORE the home
page, then you'll get a failure to display.

The solution is to simply type in any URL, such as:
http://www.google.com
into IE7, and you should get the library page with its request for a
card number.

>I have the same settings on my HP Ipaq and can connect to the Internet
>just fine at this location with that.
>
>What could be wrong with my laptop? I've checked and all the settings
>are identical. Is there another setting in IE 7.0 that needs to be
>set? I have the IP address correct--it is the same on both the laptop
>and the Ipaq.

Some other possibilities:

1. Have you tried this laptop at other hotspots? Duz it work there?

2. There are numerous ways to disable wireless, some of which do not
show anything on the screen. If you don't have another hotspot or
access point to use for testing, double check:
The bios wi-fi on/off setting.
The slide switch wireless on/off somewhere on the laptop.
The blue light push button found somewhere on the laptop.
Function key combination (typically Fn-F2) to enable the wireless.
Control Panel -> Network -> Wireless. Right click enable/disable.
The wireless icon in the System Tray. Right click enable/disable.

3. Windoze Wireless Zero config has an irritating mis-feature. If
you change the encryption key, you have to remove the saved settings
for the SSID before it will let you enter new settings. This doesn't
always happen, but I've been running into it lately. I know there's
no encryption key for the libary, but if you accidentally saved one
with the same SSID, you could have this problem. Delete the library
SSID entry, re-detect new networks, and try again from scratch.

4. If you're not using Wireless Zero Config, there may be some
oddities in whatever connection manager you're using. I'll need
details on the MiniPCI wireless card and connection manager version
before exploring this possibility.

5. There may be someone playing games by impersonating the library
SSID system or a "man in the middle" attack. Depending on how it's
being done, it can cause all kinds of strange problems.

--
Jeff Liebermann jeffl@cruzio.com
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558