*** wifi

ok, any help with this would be much appreciated. I'm probably at an intermediate stage capability when it comes to these sorts of things

Basically a friend got a new Compaq Persario V5000. These seem to come with so-called 'seemlessly integrated' hewlett packard software.

Anyway, they also got wireless broadband through xtra (new zealand isp)

The thing is you basically only need to run the setup cd and the it all should work...but we all know it's never that easy. The internet works fine with the ethernet cable plugged in, but as soon as its out, the internet goes, hence the wireless not working.

The internal wireless adapter cannot connect to the router, despite the fact it has excellent signal, and just stays on 'aquiring network address' and then fails. or can't connect at all. I also tried my usb wireless adapter, and it did the same thing. They also had just got the router replaced, because it was thought that it may have been the problem, but it isn't.

I also checked all the settings with the isp and they said they were all correct and even tried alternates. I tried wep, wpa mac filtering, ip filter etc etcand still doesn't work.

I thought it may have been the hp software, but i disabled that from startup so windows could take full control but it still didn't work. (it only actually tells you if the wireless adapter is on)

I am thinking it's something that isn't letting the wireless signal to be broadcasted from the computer.

1. the vendor/hp/compaq version of xp that just isn't compatable.

2. Nortons, but this is all up to date. I did find that wireless adpater wasn't under the avaliable networking thingee, this might be because of something thats not letting the signal get out before nortons could recognise it. I have tried disabling Nortons altogether and it still doesn't work. (so can't really be nortons)

I will try to update the drivers, but this is a brand spanking new laptop

I have been through most of the noob advise that hp/compaq have managed to get a monkey to write up..."plug this into that, and plug this into this and voila!"

Any help would be appreciated. I am going back to the department store where it was bought tommorow to give some stick to some junior salesman and work my way up to the manager

Have you tried it without WEP/WPA etc? If the WEP/WPA key is wrong then it won't be able to get a network address/connect properly to a network.

will try it, but i did have it set up with the correct wep and used this. Txtra setup cd even saves it to a file, so theres no getting it wrong really

thanks