My laptop will not connect to my wireless router?

Question

I recently reformatted my Dell laptop, back to the way it was when i first got it, and now it will not connect to the NetGear wireless router, it gets as far as Acquiring network address. It will work if i plug it in my Ethernet cord.

Answer 1

You have to reconfigure your wireless connection again because all that info was most likely lost. Did you allow Windows to manage your wireless device, or the software that came with the router? I would recommend just using Windows XP wireless wizard. You'll have to manually enter some info like security WPA, WEP, etc., and the security password that was assigned or that you had assigned. On the router there is an IP address (bottom, maybe). If you can't manually configure, access IP address via ethernet (copy number in web browser) and you'll get your wireless configuration info. That should help you reconfigure your connection.

Answer 2

I'm afraid this may be a bit technical, but I'll do my best: You do not say what models your router & laptop are - that would help! It is possible that they are both working, but not using the same wireless standard. The laptop (if a few years old) may support only '802.11B' while the router (& wanadoo adapter) may be using '802.11G'. Check the router's settings as it should be able to be set to use either only 'G' or both 'B' & 'G' together if it is fairly new. There is also '802.11N' which is very new. You have not said whether the adapter is working with the laptop or another computer? If it works in the laptop, then compare the properties of its settings with those of your built-in wireless adapter. Is there a wireless switch on the case of the laptop? Sometimes this is the same switch for both BluTooth & WiFi - check that it is on! The 'Sony Vaio VGN-SZ2XP' certainly has one like this. What I said about 802.11 standards also applies to encryption standards. There is WPA (newer, more secure) & WEP (older) - make sure that your Sony supports the WPA standard if your router is using it.

Answer 3

You need to teach it how to set up the wireless network again. With the Ethernet cords plugged in (with everything connected thus: modem > router > laptop) you go to the maintenance page of the router (eg. netgear.com....google for it!)

Answer 4

reinstall wireless network drivers.

or if the wireless router has a wireless connector, use that and install the driver for that, restart your computer, and try to connect it.

if you are using windows xp, try to repair the connection, by right clicking on the wireless icon in the bottom right corner, and clicking repair, this then tries to re-establish the connection.

hope this helps.
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Answer 5

The configuration of the wireless port on your notebook is probably incorrect.

Go to the wireless router, check out the configuration (including all security issues, preshared keys, etc) and make sure you match those settings on the wireless port of your notebook. I suspect you lost the preshare key and similar settings when you reformatted.

Answer 6

reinstall the drivers for your wireless may help. Should be under network adapters in the device manager

Answer 7

Then you probably need to reinstall the wireless network card drivers.

You can find them on Dell's support website. http://www.dell.com

Answer 8

I have a dell, and had a similar problem. If you don't know a lot about computers, I'd recommend contacting dell.

Answer 9

Buy a new router

Answer 10

you should check out this site where you can get a sony vaio laptop for free