LINKSYS wireless network connection problems?

Question

My parent's computer has Qwest DSL. My computer doesn't have internet. My parents bought the Linksys wireless-G Broadband Router and it is hooked up to their computer. On my computer, a Linksys Wireless-G PCI Adapter was installed. when we click on the "linksys" network and click connect, it says "waiting for the network..." and it waits and waits and then quits and then tells you at the bottom of the screen that "Windows is unable to connect to the 'linksys' network." Then I clicked the "repair button and it still couldn't connect. What's weirder is that sometimes it says that it is connected, but I can't surf the internet or share files and the printer, so pretty much it isn't connected, and soon it will say it isn't connected again. I don't think the problem is with the router because I could do Nintendo WiFi Connection on my DS using it. Can someone please tell me how to make our computers connect?

My computers are only one room apart so there is no way it is the signal strength.

Answer 1

Since you can already get online through the router using another wireless device, and your parents are online when directly connected to the router - that rules out anything wrong with the router.

Does your computer have any firewalls or third party security software? Routers have built-in NAT firewalls that conflict with other firewalls in the network. Also, make if your OS is XP, make sure only one wireless utility is enabled - XP has a built-in Wireless Zero Configuration Utility (WZC). Choose one, disable the other. If you choose to use WZC, make sure that the option for "Enable IEEE802.1x authentication" is not checked, specially when you've enabled wireless security on your router.

Maybe your router is still at the default wireless settings, and a neighbor also has a wireless network in the same setting. Change the router's SSID to something else other than "linksys"

>On a wired PC go to the browser and type 192.168.1.1 in the address bar, leave user name blank, password is admin - unless you've changed it during the initial set up).

>Go to the Wireless tab/page, change the wireless network name (SSID) and save. Remember that all other wireless devices will need to look this up too.

>Go to Wireless security to check if any security settings has been enabled - take note of it (normally Key one is what you'll need unless transmit key shows a different preference).

>Try reconnecting by either clicking on the wireless icon and "View Available wireless network), choose yours and connect (enter the network key when prompted if any).

Make sure the wireless settings on the router matches that on your computer. Connects to the same SSID, has the same security settings and key (if enabled).

Make sure that the card was installed properly. Check Device Manager (System Proerties>Hardware).

If all else fails - contact Linksys techsupport, they're open 24/7.

Good luck - hope this helps!

:)

Answer 2

A lot of things could be going on. On your computer it will indicate the singal strength. If your computer is too far away or there is too much interference for the signal to get through the router and network card may not be getting good communication. If this is initial installation, I would contact Linksys tech support. That is what they are there for.

Answer 3

Is the router setup as a dhcp server and is your wireless netwk card setup as a dhcp client?

This is exactly what will happen if the one of the above is "no"?

You can actually have a wireless link, but then you need to get an ip address (as well as other addresses). This is done through dhcp.

Good luck