ESCAPISTS - I Need Your Help

[Andaxay]

Right. I'm stuck. Help would be much appreciated.

We switched Internet providors yesterday. I've been having several issues since. We switched from Virgin Media to BT, and have had a new hub installed. I'm on a wireless laptop, and am really struggling with my connection.

My iPod Touch and Xbox Live connection switched without much issue, after I typed in the key code needed to access the wireless connection. Yesterday, after tapping in the key code into my laptop, it seemed to connect fine with no problems.

Today, my dad tells me he's lowered the security of our connection so my neighbours can access it (yeah, I know). And since then, I've been having issue after issue. My iPod's been no trouble, and after re-configuring my wireless adaptor, my Xbox 360 seems to connect fine, too. My laptop, however, is not.

When I search for wireless connections, it comes up with the one at home I want to connect to. It's supposed to connect automatically when I power my laptop up, but it won't connect. I try refreshing the wireless lists, repairing it, disconnecting and then reconnecting it, and still it refuses to connect. It tells me "connected!" when I reconnect, but then it's still showing a red cross and won't let me onto the Internet.

Sometimes it will flag up with a yellow-triangle-with-a-black-exclaimation-mark-box by the wireless connection and tell me I have limited connection, but even then I can't get on at all. The only thing that seems to work is if I re-enter the key code after disconnecting, then trying to reconnect again. This will get me a connection - but only for a short time. It then disconnects itself, and I have to manually reconnect all over again.

I've tried Googling, but am confused as to what the problem might actually be. So any help on this issue will be much appreciated. I'm not the most computer-literate person in the world, so I don't know how to go about diagnosing and fixing the problem. Apologies for the essay, and this is frustrating me to Hell, so I'll be grateful for any feedback.

 

[Calobi]

Your laptop may believe the wireless still has the higher security on, confusing it when it tries to enter the old password. If that's it, you should remove it from your network connections and then reconnect which would reset everything.

Beyond that, no idea. Best of luck.

 

[HardRockSamurai]

Well if your Neighbors are now using it, your connection is probably confused by the presence of multiple RTS and Fragmentation Thresholds.

In other words, you're probably going to have to ask your dad to reset the security entirely; make sure that both you and your neighbors computers are included in the setup.

And if you're having trouble with the internet, how the hell did you get on the Escapist?

 

[Aunel]

And if you're having trouble with the internet, how the hell did you get on the Escapist?

good point, well made.
I hardly use wireless network, most of the time I just jam a cable in my laptop, and that has never been a problem.

 

[Andaxay]

And if you're having trouble with the internet, how the hell did you get on the Escapist?

I can get on temporarily if I re-enter the key code again, but then it tends to boot me off if I stay on for a while. I'm seeing if I can get a solution while I'm still connected.

We let the neighbours share the connection back when we were on Virgin and never had a problem, but that had really lax security as it was. Might see if I can get it done tomorrow after work if all else fails, and they can get their own sodding connection if THAT fails.

 

[Miss_M]

This happened to me the other day, same problem though different circumstances. Try rebooting your wireless router instead of your computer. That worked for me.

 

[Playbahnosh]

Next time use a more informative topic title please. When I looked at it, I thought "oh noes, not another whiny emo kid on the brink of a failed suicide attempt look-a-like"

On topic: reconfigure your wi-fi access, so it uses the new security settings. That should do it.

 

[Destal]

If your itouch and xbox don't have a problem it sounds like it's an issue with a setting on your computer...

The other possibility is that one of the settings on the router is set to only allow connection for a certain amount of time...I doubt that is the issue though.

The best advice I can give is try see if your computer has the newest wireless device drivers for your laptop or if you have a USB wireless device, check to see if that has the same issue.

Diagnosing computer problems without seeing it is hard...

 

[The Infamous Scamola]

I'm all for spreading the wealth and shit, but why can't your neighbors get their own goddamn internet provider?

 

[cleverlymadeup]

delete the wireless profile for your home connection and recreate it

there's probly something messed up, also you don't need to be lax on security in order to allow your neighbour to connect

 

[Riyka]

this sounds exactly like the problem i'm having...except i'm trying to connect to my neighbours wireless...XD
Like i think someone else has said, if other things are connecting it sounds like your laptop is the problem...
i have huge fights with mine trying to get it connected to the net i constantly get 'connected but to low so you can't use'
i've pretty much given up on wireless...our home network is appallingly bad and packed up completely over the weekend...none of us can work out why><

 

[Irridium]

I'm all for spreading the wealth and shit, but why can't your neighbors get their own goddamn internet provider?

My thoughts exactly, first thing you should do is tell them to stop freeloading and get their own Internet Service Provider.

Second thing you should do: try restarting your router, that may help.

 

[Andaxay]

Hmm, well, progress. I re-configured the wireless, restarted the router and my laptop, and now it's letting me connect almost instantly. Initially, there's still a red cross by the wireless icon in the bottom right. However, if I go into the Network Connections, right-click the wireless, click on Properties and make sure the router is highlighted under Wireless Connections, and then hit OK, it's connecting.

It should be doing that automatically, but now at least, I've got a fairly stable connection as long as I do it manually. Cheers for the help, guys, so far so good. As lovely as my neighbours are, I think I may be telling them to sod off soon. Interesting how we never had a problem until we switched providors.

 

[Destal]

Different providers handle routers instantly, Luckily, I haven't had any problems with Comcast to date. Glad you're fixed.