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buckethead34

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Unidentified Network Limited or No Connectivity on Vista Wireless

I have a Vista desktop with a Dell Wireless adapter and I can connect to the Wireless network and authenticate, but it states that it's Identifying the network and eventually comes back with Unidentified and Limited or No Connectivity. I have tried adjusting the DHCPBroadcast toggle flag in the registry, as well as reinstalling the drivers. Any help would be appreciated, as I've opened a ticket with Microsoft that has been of no help. Thanks in advance. I can also connect with a Windows XP machine without any problems.
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Alan Hardisty
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It could be that you have got MAC restrictions on your wireless that only allow certain laptops to connect.  Talk to your IT poeple (if you have them) and get them to add your MAC address into the restrictions, or if you are your IT people, check your settings and add the MAC yourself.
MAC = Media Access Control i.e., the physical address of your network card in xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx format
 
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buckethead34

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I am an IT person, and I don't have any restrictions set on the router. It's just a SOHO router, very simple setup, I've had this problem before with Vista, which is why we don't use it here in our Corporate office. This is a home user I'm working with. Thanks
is the ssid broadcast? and are you using wep or wpa?
Okay - Always good to check ;-)
Have you check the TCP & DNS settings are set to Automatic?
Have you stopped the Dell software from controlling the Wireless card and let Windows play with it - I always find 3rd party software crap and always disable it.  Windows does a much better job (I hear people rushing to their keyboards to disagree!).
Broadcast and it's WEP, Like I said I can connect with an XP machine no problem.
As far as the Windows Wireless/Dell Utility, I'm actually using the Windows Wireless to set it up. I can double check after bit to ensure the Dell utility is disabled.
Have you checked for a driver update too? - was going to add that to my last post - but my mouse got excited and hit the submit button!
I reinstalled drivers and looked for the update in the process, nothing.
Are you able to connect to another wireless other than yours? As well as the wired connection?

Rgds.
Is this a new Dell laptop or an old one?
What is the asset tag (if you are happy to divulge) - if not, the model of laptop.
since your using wep you may see issues with the dell card. I've got clients that had similar issues because the wireless network was using an older encrytion than the card could handle. last time the client had a 40bit wep and his machines adapter was trying to connect at 128bit.  we changed it to the XP default and he could connect.  what type of router are you using and what band?
Most likely the issue is with the router that is in use (i.e. not fully Vista compatible). I have a ActionTec router from Verizon that exhibits the same issue. If i use a newer router that is supported on Vista then the issue goes away.
It's a new Dell Desktop, I went and tested, I can connect w/ a wired cable that I ran across the floor, the other thing that I found is that the user has a b/g band router and the card is an N. I haven't worked too much with N band, is it backwards compatible?
its supposed to be.
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I had the very same issue with a Dell Inspiron 1520 Laptop. Tried everything except re installing. Not related to the router in my case as I re produced on another router. Uninstalling Norton 360 fixed it for me.
Hope this helps someone.