New dell laptop wont connect to network

[zappa518]

I did a search but could not find exactly what I was looking for.
 I just hooked up my new laptop last night but I cant get it to connect to my network. The laptop is a dell inspirion 1525/ Os is vista service pack 1 . It "sees" my network but when I try to connect it can't. By the way I have a 5 year old compaq laptop that connects no problem. Right now I have the dell hooked up with an ethernet cable.The router/modem is an RCA model provided by the cable company. As a side note my connection is unsecure which is something I would like to deal with.

[computeruler]

Does your laptop have the right wireless card drivers intalled? Mabye the router has mac address filtering on or something?  How far away from the router are you?

[zappa518]

I spoke to a guy on dell support who reuploaded the driver and it still did'nt work. I have the the laptop about 5 feet away from the router right now and it wont connect.

[Broni]

I have the dell hooked up with an ethernet cable
I have the the laptop about 5 feet away from the router right now and it wont connect.

Are you trying wired, or wireless connection?
Did you try to bypass the router, and connect laptop straight to the modem?
Any errors in Device Manager, regarding Network Adapter?

Go Start>Run ("Start search" in Vista).
Type in:
cmd
Click OK (hit Enter in Vista).

At Command Prompt, type in:
ping www.google.com > ping.txt
Hit Enter.

In Window Explorer navigate to:
C:\Documents and Settings\your_name (C:\Users\your_name in Vista)
Double click on ping.txt to open it in Notepad.
Copy all text, and post it in your next reply.

[zappa518]

I have it hooked up straight to the modem with ethernet so I can use it. But it wont go wireless.
   Pinging www.l.google.com [72.14.205.99] with 32 bytes of data:

Reply from 72.14.205.99: bytes=32 time=49ms TTL=244

Reply from 72.14.205.99: bytes=32 time=48ms TTL=244

Reply from 72.14.205.99: bytes=32 time=48ms TTL=244

Reply from 72.14.205.99: bytes=32 time=53ms TTL=244



Ping statistics for 72.14.205.99:

    Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),

Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:

    Minimum = 48ms, Maximum = 53ms, Average = 49ms

[computeruler]

So you are seeming to get interenet.  Did you try to go on the internet with a web browser? What happenes?

[Broni]

I have it hooked up straight to the modem with ethernet so I can use it.

What happens, when you wire it to the router?

[zappa518]

It works completely fine with the direct wired, I'm using it right now. But if I unplug it I can't go wireless.

[computeruler]

This is weird. It can ping google but it wont connect? What does firefox or internet explore say? It cant find the site or wheatever?

[zappa518]

I may have screwed up, I should  probably have the ethernet cable uhooked when I ping google or am I wrong?  Also , after I attempt to connect and it won't It asks to diagnose the problem. Then it says " wireless association failed due to unknown reason".

[computeruler]

Uhh... ya... you should unplug it also try connecting to a different network like your neighbors or something.

[Broni]

In Device Manager, what do you have listed under Network Adapter?
Any errors there?

When you try wireless, is the wireless switch on?

[zappa518]

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


I can't connect to my neighbors cause they want a network key . Maybe I'll drive down the street and see if I can pick up others.

[zappa518]

Under device manager it says the device is working properly and I see no errors. My wireless is on I have an indicator light.

[Broni]

Try to reinstall wireless adapter driver.
Go to Dell's site, enter service tag number, and grab new driver from there. Uninstall current one, install new one.