Wireless problem, Vista and 7

[Kando]

Strange wireless problem, hope you folks can help. A client calls and tells me his wireless connection does not work any more. I figure it to be that annoying switch that turns off the wireless card. Nope, that is still on. Then maybe the router is not connected to the cable modem? Nope, his desktop computer is online.

I go to check it out and sure enough no wireless connection. The laptop and second wireless desktop see the network but when they try to connect nothing happens aside from a window saying they are not connecting.

In the network section for the laptop it showed   Client laptop------X------Internet

Some fiddling got it to show   Client laptop-----"yellow triangle"------Unidentified Network------X------Internet

We tried restarting the router, restarting the router and modem, rebooting the laptop and restarting all three. The best it ever got was Limited or No Connectivity. The WPA2 key was checked and rechecked and re-entered multiple times with the letters showing just to be sure.

Laptop - brand new Lenovo, core2duo, 7 Home premium
Desktop - Sony Vaio all-in-one, Vista Home premium
router - brand new Linksys WRT160NL

There is also a Macbook in the house, but that connects without problem.

All of the wireless computers were working flawlessly for the last 3 weeks and now just the Macbook connects.

Any ideas on this?

Thanks

[JJ 3000]

Did it ever work?
How long has this been happening?
Any new hardware or software?

[Kando]

ok, yeah they worked when set up three weeks ago
the new hardware is the Lenovo and the Linksys, both received 4 weeks ago
the only new software is what came with the Linksys
the connection went on the fritz this past Wednesday.

[Broni]

1. Click Start>Run (Start>"Start search" in Vista).

2. Type in (or copy and paste):

          cmd /c ping google.com>%temp%\$.$&notepad %temp%\$.$

      and press Enter.

3. Notepad will open.

4. Copy all text in Notepad ([Ctrl-A], then [Ctrl-C]), and then post it (paste = [Ctrl-V]) in your next reply.

[Kando]

Hi, very nice. I will send this to the client. I won't be getting back to him before maybe Tuesday. The ip that he was getting was 169... and unless something radically changed in the last 24 hours the Notepad file will show that.

[Broni]

I simply want to see, if there is connection, or browser problem.

[Kando]

We tried with both IE and Firefox, didn't have Opera, Safari or Chrome installed so could not check them. I sent the instructions off, now just to wait for the response.

[Broni]

Yeah, the above script will let us know, if any connection is there.

[Kando]

Finally got an answer:

"Ping request could not find host google.com.  Please check the name and find again

Note - meanwhile the other wireless computers in the house have been connecting and disconnecting randomly. "

[Broni]

meanwhile the other wireless computers in the house have been connecting and disconnecting randomly

It's time to call ISP.

[Kando]

Wouldn't the desktop computer also be experiencing problems? What about running the router installation again and making another ssid?

[Broni]

Since all wireless computer are experiencing similar problems, it may be a router issue.
Try to hardwire couple of wireless computer to the router, or even straight to the modem and see they'll connect.

[Kando]

The laptops all connected to the internet when wired to the router. They stayed connected with no drops. Is it possible for the router software to become corrupted? Seems a little soon considering the age of the router. What about deleting the network and reinstalling?

[Broni]

Try to reset router.

Turn the computer off.

On your router, you'll find a pinhole marked "Reset".
Keep pushing the hole, using a pencil, or a paperclip until all lights briefly come off and on.
Restart computer and see what happens.

NOTE. You may need to re-check your router security settings, as described HERE

[Kando]

Well that looks like the plan for tomorrow. I will let you know how it goes. More than likely posting from his house.