Arrggg!! Wireless false connect.

Hello,

I have an old Acer 521TE running XP. I've already tried 2 different wireless cards with it. Both cards do the same thing. I have the latest drivers for the cards. I am running WEP but it also does the same thing with encryption disabled. It shows that I'm connected to my network but I cant go online at all. It also doesnt let me log into the router. I've been messing with this problem for several days now and need some help. I have a D-Link WBR-2310 router. All the other wireless connections in my house work fine.

Thanks.

 

Can you post all the information from ipconfig /all for these 2 cards after they report they're connected?

 

I only have the one card now.

Here's what it says:

DHCP enabled yes
autoconfiguration enabled yes
ip address 192.168.0.103
subnetmask 255.255.255.0
default gateway 192.168.0.1
DHCP server 192.168.0.1
DNS servers 192.168.0.1

PS the wired connection works fine.

 

It's picking up an address. What do you get when you ping the gateway?

 

I pinged 192.168.0.1

request timed out...4 times 100%loss

 

You might hardwire into the router and check the wireless settings and the connection log too. You want to make sure your router and card are on the same band. Both should be either auto of g-only.

Also, while you are in there, I would try disabling any special enhancements on the router like the "RangeBooster". Often those require a card from the mfg that specifically supports that "feature". I had a Dlink router that would not allow anything to connect if the "SpeedBooster" was enabled and the card did not have the same "enhancement". It might be something like that for your model.

Ya know it's goning to turn out to be something really silly you never would have considered. Always seems to work that way...

 

You don't have MAC filtering turned on on the router, do you?

 

No I dont have mac filtering on. I disabled super G on the router and its set to auto b&g mode. Its still a no go. I agree its probably something simple. Its still frustrating tho. Thanks for the help so far.

 

you bet...I did a search at Broadband Reports in their Dlink forum...seems these routers are a repackaged DI624. And just like the 624 can be a tad fussy to down right rude to work with...so hang in there it might actually not be you...hehehehe...

I suppose you already did a reset to factory settings on the router? If so have you tried deleting the network connection in Windows and creating a new one?

I also seem to remember to actually access the internet needing to add the NIC/rotuer network segment to Zone Alarm's trusted zone a few versions back. So it might be something in the firewall software if you are running one. You might just disable any firewall for now and see if that changes anything when you "repair the connection".

XP can also be funny this way if it has it's own firewall and a 3rd party firewall running.

I am just firing off suggests as it sounds like you have tried most normal stuff.

 

I tried disabling the firewall and reset the router to factory settings. Still no go. All my other wireless systems work fine. I tried both pcmcia ports on the laptop too.

 

darn...ok...well, hmmmmmm....need to think about this one...in the mean time maybe someone will happen along who has a suggestion.

Oh, were you able to check the router's connection logs and see if it even was aware you were connected? Something simple has to be the issue.

 

Yes the log shows the laptop connected. I tried adding the laptop to the DMZ but it didnt work either. One thing I noticed on the laptop is in the adapter configuration/advanced tab, the SSID value is MarvellAP3x. Is that normal?

 

Try erasing (blanking) the Desired SSID which is currently set as MarvellAP3x.

 

Could you do an ipconfig on one of your working pc and paste it here?


Perhaps there is interference and your connecting to the wrong router. I had a problem with identical SSID + channel and it does cause a bit of problem.

 

I didn't catch where you mentioned in your OP that the other wifi devices are working FINE with the router. That might help.

On the router is the range of your network IP's or the number of network connections limited?

First, though, I would try WackyT's suggestion about the SSID. The one it is showing could be from an old connection profile. Unless of course MarvellAP3x is the SSID for your router.

If that does not work you might check the WIRELESS settings for the router and see if there is an existing limit placed on the number of wifi connections or the IP range for the network. If there is either of those either increase the number of connections or extened the range of the IP's....then used the "repair" option for the laptop's network connection.

Still kinda puzzling here...

Banz's tip in the IPCONFIG of another system with a working wireless conection to the router is a good idea too...it will give a point of working reference to offer suggestions.

 

Here is the printout on my ipconfig/all of one of my working pc's. I have probably 5 or 6 wireless computers/devices that work perfectly. I tried blanking the ssid but it's still doesn't work. I'm thinking it might be the laptop. I've tried everything I can think of and you guys can think of.


Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : home-bjby2nn485
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Unknown
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

Ethernet adapter Wireless Network Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : D-Link AirPlus DWL-G520 Wireless PCI
Adapter(rev.B)
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-0D-88-C9-66-DE
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.113
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 68.10.16.30
68.10.16.25

 

I just tried hooking up a pcmcia usb2 card and it worked fine. I guess it's not the slots.

 

Try manually setting your wireless card to:

IP Address: 192.168.0.103
Subnetmask: 255.255.255.0
Gateway: 192.168.0.1
DNS servers: 68.10.16.30 & 68.10.16.25

 

Still no go. I've tried it before with various addresses to no avail.

 

What happens if you enable DHCP on the laptop you listed above that works, then reboot it?

 

How do I do that? It's a desktop with a wireless card.

 

Write down the settings you listed above. Go into Networking, double click the wireless card. In TCP-IP properties activate DHCP. Close out all windows. Reboot.

 

I'm sorry but I dont see the dhcp option. I'm in tcp-ip properties. all it shows me is the options to set the ip and dns to manual or auto. I didnt see dhcp under advanced either.

 

1) Right click on "My Network Places" icon on your desktop or go to the "Start Menu", select "Control Panel", then select "Network Connections"
2) Within the "Network Connection" window, double click on "Local Network Connection"
3) Select "Propeties"
4) Select "Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)" within the connection items
5) Click on the "Properties" button.
6) Under the General tab, select "Obtain IP address automatically" and "Obtain DNS server address automatically"

 

Opps! I'm a dummy. ok changed it to auto, rebooted. The desktop connection is working fine.

 

So, your DHCP is working OK then. Don't know what else to suggest.

 

Thanks for all the help everyone. I'll keep messing with it. I'll let you know if I ever get it working.

 

Check your event logs in applications/security/system to see if you have any errors.
Check that your wireless zero configuration service is started.

Update your XP.

Check if you are getting any packets in your connection.

 

Wireless zero config is started.

XP is up to date.

Packets only go as high as ~40 then no more.

Im not sure how to check for errors.

 

Right click My computer, manage, event viewer, check applications / system logs.

I had a problem before when it shows a reconnection to my wirelesss every 1 second.

Btw have you tried removing the security? I had a 256bit wep key and realise my wifi card only supports up to 128bit.

 

Nothing in the system logs. I tried removing the security in my router and laptop, but it still didn't work.

 

Wow, i have run out of ideas. Your laptop seems to have talked with the router to get a dhcp address, and the ip address range seems to be correct too. I had the problem before when I enter my wep key wrong but it shows it is connected to the router.. But since you said you have removed the encryption which should get rid of that problem. Perhaps remove your old wireless profile and reenter your wep again?

hmm, but I'm pretty sure there is nothing that can't be fixed. If possible could you try bringing your laptop close to the router and plug it in with wire and see if that works.

Before you do that could you go to your dos prompt and type in "route print"

It would be nice if you can take a screenshot or copy and paste it here. I got 2 wifi connection / 1 wired on my laptop and had the similar problem if I don't set it correctly.

 

Here is the results of the print route:

===========================================================================
Interface List
0x1 ........................... MS TCP Loopback interface
0x2 ...00 00 e2 30 64 f0 ...... Intel 8255x-based PCI Ethernet Adapter (10/100)
- Packet Scheduler Miniport
0x3 ...00 18 e7 0b 2c 3a ...... 802.11g Wireless PC Card/PCI Adapter - Packet Sc
heduler Miniport
===========================================================================
===========================================================================
Active Routes:
Network Destination Netmask Gateway Interface Metric
0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 192.168.0.1 192.168.0.103 40
127.0.0.0 255.0.0.0 127.0.0.1 127.0.0.1 1
192.168.0.0 255.255.255.0 192.168.0.103 192.168.0.103 40
192.168.0.103 255.255.255.255 127.0.0.1 127.0.0.1 40
192.168.0.255 255.255.255.255 192.168.0.103 192.168.0.103 40
224.0.0.0 240.0.0.0 192.168.0.103 192.168.0.103 40
255.255.255.255 255.255.255.255 192.168.0.103 2 1
255.255.255.255 255.255.255.255 192.168.0.103 192.168.0.103 1
Default Gateway: 192.168.0.1
===========================================================================
Persistent Routes:
None

PS. It works fine when I use a cat 5 cable from the router.