OK, guys, I'm at my wits' end now. I use a Gateway laptop, about 1 year old, with an integrated Wireless card from Intel. I've had it hooked up to my existing homenetwork wirelessly for almost a year, and no troubles. All of a sudden, one fine day, Windows tells me that my wireless connection has "limited or no connectivity" and the internet could not longer be accessed, even though the wireless signal is quite strong. So I clicked "Repair" and that fixed it. Until about a week ago. "Repair" no longer works. I've tried every trick I know of. The problem is that the IP address that it automatically assigns to the card is completely off the wall. It's supposed to be a private IP from my homenetwork's DHCP server. Releasing and renewing the IP will not work. I've disabled and re-enabled the adapter, I've uninstalled the adapter and reinstalled it (virtually, that is, through device manager), I've tried a driver update, I've even used a second wireless card, from D-Link, but it has the same problem. I've entered my IP configuration info manually, and though this works to an extent (it no longer says "limited or no connectivity"), I still cannot browse the internet. I admit that I'm not 100% sure on what info to enter manually, specifically DNS and WINS info. But whatever I've entered so far, it hasn't worked. Does anyone know what to do about this? Perhaps the access point is the problem? (I doubt it.) I suspect if I manually configure it, it might work, if I just had all the settings right. What caused this problem, and how can I fix it?
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Oh, I am definitely connecting to my own access point, as it asks for my encryption key and has my wireless connection's unique name. To be honest, I don't know if this wireless thing will even work on a different channel. Do you still think I should try to switch the channel? Thanks for your quick help here....
There are two other PCs connected to the network, but not wirelessly. I just powered everything down and up again and the problem remains. To complicate things, a few days ago I installed some Intel software to update the driver for the wireless card and that went nowhere, I got a fatal STOP message and had to do a system restore. The result is that now I get an error message after the Windows desktop appears, saying something about "IntelRoam" and an "adapter switching error." I don't think this impacts the issue much, though, since the problem has occurred long before then. I fear I might have to do a complete system recovery to get rid of that, though. I wasn't able to uninstall the Intel stuff using Add or Remove Programs and so I simply deleted the folder. Anyway, I don't think this has much impact on the problem at hand.
There are two other PCs connected to the network, but not wirelessly. I just powered everything down and up again and the problem remains. To complicate things, a few days ago I installed some Intel software to update the driver for the wireless card and that went nowhere, I got a fatal STOP message and had to do a system restore. The result is that now I get an error message after the Windows desktop appears, saying something about "IntelRoam" and an "adapter switching error." I don't think this impacts the issue much, though, since the problem has occurred long before then. I fear I might have to do a complete system recovery to get rid of that, though. I wasn't able to uninstall the Intel stuff using Add or Remove Programs and so I simply deleted the folder. Anyway, I don't think this has much impact on the problem at hand.
I am going to join in to facilitate but not necessarly take home the points. I am not an expert but a novice trying to help. \
Lets get the picture
Gateway Laptop- integrated wireless card probably a G card ---------(Access Point / Router acting as DHCP server)----Modem----The World
Is the Integrated Wireless card's TCPIP setting set to accept incomming IP and DNS values?
If I understand networking correctly the ACCESS Point will dish out the IP address to the card.
You can gather some usefull informaition Marityboy by opening a dos widow on your gateway and entering the following command.
c:\ipconfig /all
At the bottom you will see the following:
Description ---- Your wireless adaptor's name
Physical Address ---
DHCP enabled ---- It will say YES if your card is set to accept any address the router sends it.
IP Address ------ This will be the one assigned by the AP/Router Its the one you mention above is "completely Off the Wall"
Subnet Mask -------- I Think this is given to your wireless card through the (AP/router). mine is 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway ----- I believe this is the address you asigned to the (AP/router) when you set it up.
DNS------------------- The DNS values come from the router at your ISP and are passed down the line to you for example 24.196.64.60
24.196.64.70
Is this what your set up looks like?
Please describe in detail your set up so others may comment more easily.
Include the type of hardware and model numbers of the hardware so others may research how that hardware is configured.
And better be able to help you.
I hope this helps
Thomas from Monroe WI
I am assuming you are running XP, if so try.
http://www.spychecker.com/
After this is complete make sure that the ip settings are setup for dhcp and post what ip it gives you if it dosen't work.
-sean
The Winsock Fix was applied without success. Thank you for the suggestion, though.
Tom, my wireless network is a B network. My D-Link router is configured only as an access point as my modem has a router built-in. I honestly don't know whether the access point or the router gives out the IP addresses. I thought it was the router.
My integrated wireless card is an Intel PRO/Wireless LAN 2100 3B Mini PCI Adapter. My DHCP is enabled, and so is autoconfiguration. But my IP address is totally false (it's not correct for either my private or public IP), the subnet mask is correct (255.255.0.0), and my default gateway is MISSING.
Hope this helps in giving you enough information. I think the problem may be with the missing default gateway. Shouldn't the auto configuration take care of that, though?
Martiboy,
When I am trying to troubleshoot my network the first thing I try is to open a dos prompt and try to ping the componants on the network. This I do to see if I am getting any connectivity. In order to ping thoes componants you need to know the ip addresses and the dns addresses so you can try...to do the pinging. Do you have another computer connected to the system you can get some of these numbers off of. If so try opening a dos window and typing in c:\ipconfig /all to see if you can get some numbers. then go back to your gateway and type in c:\ping xx.xxx.xx.xx where the x's are your numbers.
Come back and let me know how your doing.
With wireless networking and I am not an expert... It seems like I have always had to enter a key.
With my friends combo (Router/Modem) There was a number on the bottom of the unit we typed into the laptop's netowork settings to get connection.
Also there are services that handle the wireless function that have to be running under the services tab.
maritoboy,
I remember when I was setting up a AP router in the configuration you have at your house.
In order to cascade the AP router off the main router/modem I had to use a cross over cable. If I used a regular ethernet cable my networking componants got very confused. After a day long struggle I went to radio shak and purchased a crossover cable and connected the main router to the AP/router by connecting. The devices in the following manor
AP/Router--- port 1 ----- crosover Cable ------ port 1 of the Main Router.
Did you get your cross over cable mixed up with your regular cables mabe?
Also some routers have what is called an UP-Link Port when you connect a regualr cable to the up link port it does the same thing as if you had a cross over cable.
Tom from Monroe Wisconsin
Please see here
limited connectivity
http://www.pchell.com/supp
http://www.intel.com/techn
This link describes that adapter switching service and how it is used. Do you have VPN on your network. Virtual Private Networking. It seems the Adapter switching service is related to VPN Virtual private networking.
You mentioned that you had 2 pcs hard wired to the same network. To determine if the problem is to do with your network configuration rather than your network hardware I'd suggest the following.
from a command prompt from hardwired computer A run ipconfig. Note down its IP address and default gateway.
from a command prompt on hardwired Computer B perform a "ping x.x.x.x" where the x's are the IP address we noted from Computer A. Hopefully there is no firewall blocking the packets and we get a response. If you get no response try again but with the ip address we noted down for the default gateway. If you got no response for either of the above don't bother trying the next part.
from a command prompt on hardwired Computer B run ipconfig and note down the pc's ip address and subnet mask
Unplug Computer B from the network
From Wireless Computer C manually enter in the network settings we obtained from Computer B.
From Wireless Computer C now try and ping whichever IP address worked for you previously.
If you get a response you have some sort of issue with your DHCP server which can be resolved with manually configuring an IP address if need be.
If you get no response then you have an issue with your hardware config and we'll need to determine which part is causing the problem.
Let us know what result you get back.
If your Wireless NIC driver icon shows that you are connected to the network and you are not getting an IP address, then your KEY is wrong. Make sure you are entering the right key.
To set up TCP/IP manually, go to one of the PC's that is wired and type in: ipconfig /all . Copy the DNS and gateway's (which is your router) address and enter it into the Wireless NIC TCP/IP. Don't forget to enter the IP address and the subnet mask too.
First, make sure you have the right key. Since I started working with wireless networks it has always been that the key is entered wrong if the NIC driver is green and you are not getting an IP address, which makes perfect sense. Double check the key by logging in to the router from one of the wired PC's.
Also, did you by any chance upgrade the router's firmware from the laptop that is wirelessly connected to the network?
You also mentioned that you upgraded the NIC's drivers. Try rolling back to the previous driver version by going to the device manager and double-clicking on the NIC. On the driver tab, click Rollback Driver.
Let me know if you are still having problems.
Sean, yes, I am getting an IP address of 169.254.38.197 and a subnet of 255.255.0.0. NO default gateway! I just checked my connections, and my access point is wired to a hub with a cross-over cable (it's been like that forever, though) and the hub through its uplink port is connected to the modem-router.
Shells, OK, I did as you said. Here are the results:
Pinging B from A works fine. I put in the IP settings into C as you said and unplugged B. The connection was fine, that is, it didn't say "limited or no connectivity," but I cannot browse the internet. Then I did a ping to A from C and the request timed out. So I suppose that this means I have an issue with the hardware config, though I don't know if it's my card or the access point. I tend to think it's the access point since I tried a different wireless card and that didn't work either.
Sean, here is the info, but first let me make clear again how the network is set up:
Internet comes in to Modem/Router, which is hardwired to a hub. The hub is hardwired to 2 PCs, and there the connection works fine. But the hub is also hardwired to a D-Link Access Point, and the wireless signal is received by one laptop with a built-in wireless card. Everything used to work fine until just recently, maybe 2-3 weeks.
My IP settings on my two hardwired PCs:
IP: 172.16.1.36
Subnet: 255.255.0.0
Default Gateway: 172.16.0.1
DHCP Server: 172.16.0.1
Default Gateway: 172.16.0.1
For the other PC, same thing, only IP address is 172.16.1.35
When I go into the router to look at the network, the D-Link Access Point is also listed, and it has an IP address of 172.16.1.33. This IP address is assigned by the DHCP also. I can ping the access point fine, but I cannot browse to it using the web browser.
Yes, it's connected to the WAN port, and yes, it has LAN ports as well. But the LEDs light up fine, and everything looks like it's working. I wonder if this AP is defective, though. Is there a way I can get "into" this AP? I tried connecting it directly with a crossover and a regular ethernet cable to a PC and then browsing to it but the connection never worked.
So you're getting "limited connectivity" and no response from DHCP. You've tried with another wireless card, and got no joy.
I'd say that leaves two legs of the connection still suspect:
1. Interference on the radio band. The spectrum used by B and G overlaps with many microwave ovens and cordless phones. If you haven't added such a device to your household lately, perhaps a neighbor has. Changing the wireless channel can often sidestep this.
2. The radio in the AP. Not obvious, but I've had one go bad out in the field, so it can happen....
I don't know anything about a netbios name, I am not sure if that was an option when I configured it as an access point. But I am beginning to suspect it could indeed be the radio, for the antenna on the AP can be taken out simply by gently pulling it out -- I wonder if that's the cause. But I've had I think very much the same problem with a neighbor's computer over at his house and the problem was resolved by uninstalling (physically removing) his wireless laptop adapter card and putting it back in. Of course I can't do that with mine since it's integrated but I already tried uninstalling it through the device manager and even using a different card, to no avail. So yes, maybe it's the AP. So how can I get into that AP? Maybe I should call D-Link tech support. The model is a DI-514. It's a wireless router but configured only as an access point.
what revision is it (look on the bottom)
a/b
or c?
here is the manual for a/b
ftp://ftp.dlink.com/Gatewa
here is c
ftp://ftp.dlink.com/Gatewa
You could always reset the router to factory setting (it would be a router again instead of an AP), and then reconfigure
http://support.dlink.com/f
Plug a machine directly into an AP switch port and set your ip on this machine to 192.168.0.5 and SM to 255.255.255.0. Once this is done as stated in the above post from steven, try to browse to 192.168.0.1 if prompted for a password enter admin under username and enter no password. If you can get this far post your results..
-sean
Maybe I am off the wall but I am still thinking about you and trying to help. So here go's
Two things I have been thinking about
1) When you are fiddleing with a network and plugging and unplugging wires... and changing ip addresses ect. Sometimes the routers and ap's get so confused you need to reset to the factory settings and then start all over reconfiguring them. This is also requires use of the manual and being able to see the setup screens on the A/P router. (Something I know has been impossible for you) To see that A/P router I would have to reset it and look at the manual on how to connect a cable to it and what to type into the browser to open the set-up screens.
If computer A and B are still hittting the internet confused componants are less likely. Except for the AP/Router which may still need a reset.
2)Could your system be set up in such a way that the computers have Static IP addresses. Where DHCP is disabled on the (Modem / Router)
It looks like the Computer A and B have static Ip addresses ending in 135 and 136 so make the gateway ip end in 137
Keep the subnet the same as the Local Area Network.
If it were mine I would set the Gateway wireless TCPIP settings to a static Ip of 122.16.1.37
with subnet of 255.255.0.0
and default gate of 172.16.0.1 the gateway of your Modem Router.
I would check for connectivity on the Gateway Laptop, by trying to ping computer A and B from the Gateway Laptop.
on the Gateway dos window type
c:\ping 172.16.1.35
c:\ping 172.16.1.36
If you can get the gateway computer to talk to the other two computers the last thing I would do is see if you can get a value for the DNS
Try typing into a browser on computer A http:// whatismyip
Just for now use that as your DNS value on the Gateway Laptop.
I am a little weaker on my experience with the SSID and the encryption and Keys but mabe someone else can help us out here.
Good luck my friend.
Thomas from Monroe WI
Cow Country.
I called D-Link tech support and was able to enter into my access point, though I still haven't resolved the problem. I got into the AP by connecting a straight-through cable to computer B and plugging it into LAN port 1 and browsing to 192.168.0.1 using the following IP settings:
IP: 192.168.1.5
SM: 255.255.255.0
Gateway: 192.168.0.1
Pref DNS: 192.168.0.1
So that worked. Everything looked fine in there, the DHCP was disabled as it should be (the DHCP comes from the router built into my modem, not from my access point).
I think what I will do now is reformat my laptop's harddrive and start over again. Who knows, it might work after all. :) Will let you know.
maritioboy,
If I understood your last post... Your lgateway wireless laptop is connecting wirelessly to the other computers. and hitting the browser. Is this correct?
If getting the browser to browse is the only problem remaining.....perhaps you should check your internet connection settings and see that it is set to never dial a connection.
I would also disable the built in ethernet network card when the wireless card is in operation (just a hunch) to be sure no conflicts occur between the wireless adapter and the nonwireless adapter.
Will the folks at D-Link help you any more or have they "buried you for dead"
Do you have another wireless computer you can use to test the system???? This may save you that reformat and reinstall of the OS.
Still trying to help from Monroe,
Thomas Starich
Guys, you are great, and guess what: it's working now! Here's what I did. After doing a complete system recovery (which turned out to be unnecessary), I took my laptop to someone else's wireless connection and there it worked! So I knew the problem was with my access point. I was about to purchase a new one but said to myself, "No, let me first try to reset it to factory defaults just to be sure." I did that, and BINGO! It's working again. So let me see how I can distribute points now. You all tried hard to help. Thanks!
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by: arantiusPosted on 2004-12-28 at 15:40:52ID: 12915746
maritoboy,
I'd suggest changing your AP to a different wireless channel, and making sure it's SSID is not the default, so you can be sure you are connecting to *your* AP, not another one that might suddenly be nearby.