"ChrisR" <chris@delete.cirobinson.everyotherword.plus.fromm y.com.address>
wrote in message news:45eac5e5$0$8710$ed2619ec@ptn-nntp-reader02.plus.net...
>>>
>>> ChrisR wrote:
>>>> My sons have identically-configured laptops running XP. We have a
>>>> Linksys WAG54G v2 wireless gateway which has worked fine until
>>>> recently. Now neither PC can connect wirelessly, though wired
>>>> connections to the router work fine.
>>>>
>>>> XP can see the network and attempts to connect to it automatically, but
>>>> fails - either with a long "waiting for the network" or "obtaining
>>>> network address". A visitor's PC had the same problem.
>>>>
>>>> I have tried:
>>>> - rebooting the router
>>>> - disabling WPA-PSK security
>>>> - changing frequency, in case of interference
>>>> - disabling the firewalls on the PC's (Zonealarm)
>>>> - bringing the PC's into the same room as the router to ensure a strong
>>>> signal
>>>> - running the XP "repair connection" tool - just says it cannot connect
>>>> and to contact the network administrator (I guess that's me)
>>>> - setting a static IP for the PC's (normally use DHCP)
>>>> all to no avail.
>>>>
>>>> I don't think any settings have changed or anything relevant is likely
>>>> to have been installed; I did install a dial-up network connection on
>>>> the PC's for use when away from home, but it isn't attempting to dial.
>>>>
>>>> Any suggestions please?
>>>>
>>>> Chris R
>>
>>
> "ChrisR" <chris@delete.cirobinson.everyotherword.plus.fromm y.com.address>
> wrote in message
> news:45d8858f$0$8735$ed2619ec@ptn-nntp-reader02.plus.net...
>>
>> "a" <me@privacy.net> wrote in message
>> news:45D87C80.4090402@privacy.net...
>>> Since two laptops have both shown the fault together, it looks like it
>>> is a router problem rather than a PC or a PC firewall problem.
>>> Since wired connections work ok, it looks like IP addresses are
>>> allocated ok (and you get the same fault with static IP addresses).
>>>
>>> Was the problem present before the visitors PC showed up? Ie is it
>>> likely that the problem appeared as a result of changing the router
>>> configuration to get the visitor connected? If so then the router
>>> configuration looks to be the likely fault. If not then possibly the
>>> hardware has failed, or needs resetting back to the factory settings.
>>
>> There were no changes to the router configuration for the visitor. I have
>> been periodically blocking internet access for the laptops on the router
>> (to get boys to do homework) but taht shouldn't affect connection to the
>> LAN, and it's off now.
>>
>>> Things to check:-
>>> In the Router Configuration web page:-
>>>
>>> 1. under router Wireless.BasicWirelessSettings
>>> 1.1 - is the wireless Network Mode compatible with what your laptops
>>> are using? (ie 802.11b, 802.11g, or Mixed?)
>>
>> G-only
>>
>>> 1.2 - is the SSID the same as which your laptops are trying toconnect
>>> to?
>>
>> Yes. SSID broadcast is on and the laptops see it and attempt to connect
>> to it, but fail.
>>>
>>> 2. under Wireless.WirelessNetworkAccess :-
>>> 2.1 Is it set to AllowAll? (or if not, do the MAC addresses match
>>> up ok?)
>>
>> Yes, allow all
>>>
>>> 3. Under Wirless.AdvancedWireless:-
>>> 3.1 Is AP Isolation set to OFF?
>>
>> Can't see such a setting
>>>
>>> 4. If these all look ok, does it work when the laptops are close to the
>>> router? If so then this might imply interference or poor signal
>>> strength to your usual operating locations.
>>
>> Tried that, makes no difference, also tried changing channel
>>>
>>> 5. If all else fails, you could try resetting the router to its factory
>>> settings, and re-entereing the ISP connection and wireless parameters .
>>> Make sure you make a note of these before you reset your router, as
>>> you'll need to re-enter them.
>>> In particular, make sure that you have your userid and password,
>>> Encapsulation, VCI and VPI parameters noted down before you start,
>>
>> Yes, may have to try this or even reinstall firmware. Come to think of it
>> I have also been having problems with VPN which might point to a router
>> problem.
>>>
>> Chris R
>>>
> Well I've tried all this to no avail. Rebooted router, reinstalled
> firmware, restored to factory settings, makes no difference. A new router
> may be the answer.
>
> One very strange phenomenon though: when I instruct it to Connect, the
> Wireless Network Connection box shows the network as Not Connected in the
> heading and on the system tray icon, but in the text it says "you are
> currently connected to this network". At these times I am able to connect
> to the internet via wireless and the laptop's wireless NIC shows up in the
> router's table of wireless clients. In Network Connections the wireless
> still shows as disconnected. It seems it is connecting but Windows is not
> fully recognising the connection.
>
> After a few minutes the connection is lost. It doesn't reconnect
> automatically as it should, but connecting manually does the same again.
>
> Any advice please?
>
> Chris R
Now the other laptop has started doing the same thing. I was wrong about not
connecting automatically - it can happen - but the connections still drops
every few minutes. Is this an XP bug? Google finds a few reports of these
mixed messages on messageboards, but no solutions.

Weirder and weirder: The above was with network security disabled. Having
given up, I restored WPA-PSK security. Guess what: connected fully, no
problems! But only once. It dropped the connection and now won't connect at
all, according to the computer - but is in the list of wireless connections
in the router!

Chris R



Chris R