I can't use wireless on my laptop. why is this?

Question

geez, i've had to ask the same sort of questions again and again to try and fix my laptop!!!!

hopefully this will be the last time. Basically, my dell laptop will not find networks within my home. I'm not sure whether my router has blocked me or something, i haven't had a chance to try outside my house, but when i first got it, it was working fine and i could see the available networks fine, for wireless. However, later on, i tried again and it couldn't see them at all. What's weird is, after i realized i couldn't use wireless, i plugged it into my wall using a phone line thing, and that wouldn't work in my bedroom, but it works in every other room in my house!

In the icon next to the battery thing at the bottom right-hand corner, it has a red cross, and although there is no connection, it sometimes says 'minimum connectivity' although internet will not work and it has made no connection. Hope i've made it clear, sorry it was so long!

Answer 1

If you see no wireless networks at all, I'd guess that the wireless adapter in the notebook (it's internal) either died or a wire got disconnected from it.  (Or you have it turned off in Windows.  (It has to be turned on BOTH in Windows and on thew switch - where in Windows depends on which version of Windows).

If you see other wireless networks, just not yours, turn on SSID broadcast on your router.  If the router requires a password, you'll need it.  If it has MAC-address filtering turned on, you'll need to put in the hardware address of your computer.

BTW, limited connectivity usually means that the radios (in the router and the computer) are "connecting" (they can hear each other), but you need the password, MAC address or something else having to do with data, not hardware.

Answer 2

Try reinstalling the drivers that go to your wireless card, it could have been corrupted by an update or something.

Otherwise, if you can't see any networks and know they're there (say you see them on other computers) call the manufacturer of your laptop (if it's built-in wireless) or the adapter (if it's an add-on)

If you can see networks but not connect, there may be a problem with the settings...call the router manufacturer and they can help you diagnose whether it's your router or settings or what.

Answer 3

Do you have a wireless router? If not you will not get a connection. A phone line thing is not a useful description, if you want help give us something to help with. you are telling us nothing about your system which is why you are not getting sensible answers..

Answer 4

Try Turning on Wireless Zero Configuration

Here is the link that will help you out, by the way you describe it this may or may not be your problem.

http://www.ifelix.co.uk/tech/2007.html