Stuck at Acquiring Network Address

Hey everyone,

So my dad bought my little brother a Wireless USB Adapter for his desktop which isn't connected to the internet, but for some reason we can't get it to work.

Its a D-Link DWA-110 wireless adapter, and whether using the D-Link software or just the Windows XP Wireless Connection Manager, we can get onto the WiFi network, but its stuck at "Acquiring Network Address' forever. Signal strength is Excellent, but we can't access the internet.

My MacBook is constantly connected to the WiFi network so I know its not the network issue...what might be the problem?

Thanks in advance guys!

Sam

 

It sounds like it is seeing the network, but failing the handshake. It could be security, drivers, or even the channel. Maybe even the DHCP/DNS settings in the router.

What are the security settings? What does IPCONFIG /ALL show?

 

It's probably not getting an IP address. Possible reasons are:

Is the wireless adapter set to acquire an IP automatically through a DHCP server (usually your wireless router)?

A security issue with the router (i.e. MAC address filtering, incorrect password, mismatched encryptio protocols between router and wireless adapter).

What model and brand of router?

 

We have a 2Wire router, its from the ISP and acts as the modem as well.

A lot of these terms are more technical than I'm used to, I don't follow Wireless stuff much .

I turned off Windows Firewall, after doing some research and seeing some people solved their connection issues that way. No difference for me.

What information from IPCONFIG /ALL are you looking for, AKAJohnDoe?

I'm not too sure, but DHCP is Enabled in IPCONFIG /ALL, if that answers one of your questions, chemistry!

 

I was looking to see if you had an IP address assigned and if it thought the DNS and DHCP server addresses were the router's address.

 

Okay, well there' no IP address (0.0.0.0), so it didn't get an IP address. What could be the problem then?

Thanks guys!

 

Sam, post the ipconfig/all.

 

Alright, here it is:

 

You are not getting to the wireless network at all, although it did recognize the USB device. Did you load the drivers for the usb device? When it first came up did it go through the found new hardware wizard?

 

Yeah, the software is all set up from D-Link...nothing popped up from New Hardware Wizard.

 

Your DHCP server with 255.255.255.255 is not right. Get into your router typing 192.168.1.1 in the IE/FF url bar or the appropriate IP address for your router. Check that DHCP is enable.

 

And while you are there, write down the SSID and the Security and the Encryption Type. You will also need the key, but that will probably be obfuscated.

 

Did you setup your Macbook with a static IP or let it acquire one from the router? You can just setup a static address on the desktop that that it doesn't have to acquire one. Also, check your security settings to make sure the wireless card can access the wireless network. You may want to make sure you haven't setup MAC address blocking. Not sure how in depth you went while configuring your network.

 

With the mask as 255.255.255.255 it mat not allow admin, may need to reset the router.

 

I'm guessing you have a Telus 2wire 2700HG-E model modem/router.

I dumped the 2wire Telus gave me (I found the wireless range a little limited) and went back to the 3com modem I got originally from Telus and a Linksys WRT54GL wireless router.

Off the top of my head, go to your browser on a computer that works with the 2wire and enter 192.168.1.254 in the address (that was the default for the 2wire unless you changed it). It should get you into their web browser firmware configuration. Once in, click on the Home network icon. The link for wireless setting and advanced settings underneath the main menu should get you into pages to view/change your wireless settings (my recollection is fuzzy at this point as it's been 2 years since I've used the 2wire). If you need more help, report back with the 2wire's current wireless settings and someone on this board should be able to help.

 

Yeah, that's the one, chemistry! And maybe its just Telus, but I can access the configuration software through 192.168.1.254 or just typing "Home".

But it doesn't seem like there's much configuration options from what I see, do you remember any further, chemistry?

 

Oh, yeah, I remember a little more now. The 2wire has a Management and Diagnostic Console (MDC). But Telus password-protected the MDC. I had this password but for the life of me, I can't recall it now. Most of the MDC is covered here

http://www.2wire.com/pages/pdfs/5100-000326-000.Rev.A.pdf

and if I recall the password, I'll pass it on

 

I got a little MODEM/Router from Verizon a number of years ago that was also locked down. This was before they sent out wireless ones. I simply plugged my own wireless access point/router into it and went merrily on my way.

That might be the path of least resistance in your situation, too.

 

Re post #14. Do a factory reset and start over.

 

I second blue, reset, reset, reset............

 

A known starting point is usually good