"The network did not assign a network address..." problem

river_boat · #1 December 29th, 2005, 11:39 PM

Hi - I've searched these forums (and others) extensively for a solution to this problem, but though I've seen it mentioned in other places the topic never seemed to get followed through to a workable solution, for me at least.

I recently bought a new laptop, Sony VAIO VGN-FS315S running Windows XP Home, with an Intel PRO/Wireless 2200BGBG Network Connection.

At home I've had a Speedtouch 580 wireless router providing broadband wireless internet access to my two other computers for a year now, and have never had any problems with either the router or the two computers. Both of them obtained IP addresses automatically from the router and connected as soon as I switched it on for the first time.

However, the Sony will not connect, whatever I try. It started off saying that it couldn't connect because the network had not assigned it an IP address. I therefore gave it (and the two other computers) static IP addresses - which the other two computers were perfectly fine with, but the Sony still wasn't. Although it would now connect to the network, it would not use it to connect to the internet. I disabled all security settings on both the computer and the router, and disabled the windows firewall, but that made no difference.

Pinging the default gateway or either of the other two computers always results in failure. I've tried resetting the router and reconfiguring the whole set-up from scratch, but it hasn't changed anything. The other two computers are still fine, the Sony isn't.

In case it makes any difference, I've never set up a bridge or an "proper" network between the computers, nor do I need to, I just want internet access on all three computers, nothing more.

Any advice would be much appreciated. Am more than happy to provide results of various cmd commands or whatever.

mugsy27 · #2 December 30th, 2005, 06:28 PM

dumb question...is this an integrated wireless nic, and if so..is it enabled in the bios?? some laptops come shipped with its turned offf by default.

if it is enabled..what kind of signal strength r u getting?

**z1p** · #3 December 30th, 2005, 08:54 PM

Not a dumb question at all mugsy... Also, some laptops have a hardware button that you need to press to enable wireless.

river_boat, welcome to CTH...

First with a router you don't need to create a network bridge or anythin like that.

Next, as mugsy mentioned if it is an integrated wireless card, make sure it is enabled (This varies from laptop to laptop).

Next, what are you using for configuration software, (Windows zero configuration, or one specific to the wireless interface)?

river_boat · #4 December 31st, 2005, 02:35 PM

It is indeed integrated...I assumed that it came enabled, but I admit that I don't know how to actually check whether thats the case or not?

It is recognising and connecting to the network (but only when I give it a static IP address and enter the default gateway, otherwise it won't connect) and signal strength ranges from very good to excellent. So it seems to me that it is enabled. Its just not actually receiving or sending any packets, and I can't ping anything or use the internet.

I did try to use the configuration CD that came with the router on the Sony, but because the computer won't receive or send any information to the network I can't actually get to the configuration stage with it, so its pretty useless.

Thank you both for your help so far.

**z1p** · #5 December 31st, 2005, 06:40 PM

Have you compared your wireless settings withthe machines that are working? DO you have WEP or WPA enabled on the router? Do you have a MAC filter configured on the router?

So do you have Sony's wireless config software and windows wireless config software both running? You should only run one.

river_boat · #6 January 4th, 2006, 06:20 PM

No, there is no Sony configuration software running, or even available, as far as I can see. All there is is the "My VAIO control centre" which does have a section on setting up network connections, but just refers you to the Windows configuration stuff. On the other two computers, I have the configuration software that came with the wireless cards running.

Today I took the Sony to the library, where there is a public wireless network. The Sony was able to successfuly connect to that network and use the internet with no problems at all. So I do know now that its not an integral problem with the computer, its some sort of incompatibility between the Sony and my router/network...I just don't know what it is. I feel like I've fiddled with every possible setting and tried every possible combination of settings and am getting absolutely nowhere.

**z1p** · #7 January 4th, 2006, 06:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by z1p

Have you compared your wireless settings with the machines that are working? Do you have WEP or WPA enabled on the router? Do you have a MAC filter configured on the router?

Have you checked this?

river_boat · #8 January 4th, 2006, 08:54 PM

Yes, I've compared the wireless settings on the machines that are working to the one that isn't, and I can't find any difference. Other than the fact that the other two are using the configuration software from their wireless devices, whereas the Sony is using the Windows configuration by default.

At the moment there are no security settings at all on the router, no MAC filter or WEP or WPA or network key.

river_boat · #9 January 5th, 2006, 12:58 AM

OK, thanks to the kindness of a stranger I e-mailed who posted in a different forum somewhere about exactly the same problem, I've finally fixed it.

The problem was that the Sony's integrated wireless card will not connect to unsecured networks. I had to assign a network key to the network via the router's internet gateway on one of my working computers, then enter the network key in the sony's configuration info, and voila it connected immediately and I was able to browse the internet.

bAdWaYz · #10 January 5th, 2006, 06:15 PM

I'm glad you have the problem fixed, however just wondering here what sort of built in wi-fi that laptop came with. If you could download and install Everest Home ed from here:

http://www.cybertechhelp.com/downloa...t-home-edition

Then post what type of wi-fi you have for example Intel Pro set 10/100 wireless or whatever you have. I would like to do some research on what you have to see what if any issues are noted.

**z1p** · #11 January 5th, 2006, 09:49 PM

RB, Thanks for the update and valuable info. I agree with Sony that wireless networks should be protected, but if they are going to force it then they should provide clear and precise error messages.....

But wait I'm confused... You said that you took your laptop to the library and it worked there. Public hotspots are usually not (read never) encrypted....

bAdWaYz · #12 January 6th, 2006, 03:17 AM

lol we are thinking along the exact same line yet again z1p

rob1j · #13 January 12th, 2006, 06:20 PM

If I have understood correctly the 580 must be setup as encrypted from another computer if wireless is used as the setup link.

Could this be done with the sony via the setup CD and the USB link first do you think?

rob1j · #14 January 14th, 2006, 06:45 PM

Same problem with my Sony VAIO VGN-FS295VP laptop which no Sony site admits to existing. I set up the SpeedTouch 580 using the USB connection and the CD. This worked to the internet fine once I had disabled all other Lan interfaces. If not it keeps switching to some other IP address and you have to start from scratch as the repair will not. I then set the SpeedTouch580 to level 1: bring up browser connect to address http://10.0.0.138/ to get the setup menu. click on wireless in basic menu part. expose security tab and enter the WPA seed printed on the bottom of the 580 router. Shutdown browser, disable the USB lan interface and enabled the wireless lan interface sweep for signals and select the router. The EM-waves moved for me at this point!

rob1j · #15 January 18th, 2006, 02:56 PM

On complaint about this problem Sony tell me to go to http://www.vaio-link.com and load latest drivers and updates for the machine. Do similar for the Speedtouch580 and make sure "the router settings correspond to the settings on the Vaio". Whatever that means? Then would you believe "For more comprehensive support please contact the manufacturer of the hardware concerned" as though they aren't the odd man out.