Laptop doesn't connect to internet

[gaesilva]

Any help would be greatly appreciated. I moved and had to get a new ISP. I had Comcast High Speed Cable now use Verizon High Speed Cable. I originally used a Toshiba 1000 router and a Orinco Gold 11b/g PC card and I installed the software for the Orinco on the lap top and connected to the internet -- used it for 2 years with no problems at all.
Now the laptop shows the icon for wireless with a red X on it It say Wireless Network Connection Not Connected.

Here is our new setup:
Using HP 519J Desktop, Dell Inspiron 8200 laptop, router is Webstar 2100 and the network card is Orinco Gold 11b/g. Both computers are running Win XP-SP2. ISP is Verizon high speed cable. On Desktop, IP config is:

Ethernet Adapter Local Area Connection - Tampabay.rr.com
IP Address - 65.35.78.***
Submet Mask - 255.255.248.0
Default Gateway - 65.35.72.1

Yes I can ping my default gateway.

I have run the Wireless Network Setup Wizard on the Hp desktop, however, I don't have a "flash drive" to use. I used a floppy disk for the info to transfer. When I did the setup from the floppy....I received the following:
Depending on the wireless software funning on this computer, the Wireless Network Setup Wizard might not work. For details, see article 871122 in the Microsoft Knowledge Base on Microsoft.com

I did go to the article 871122 and I made sure the Wireless Zero configuation Service was started and the startup type was automatic for both computers.

The laptop shows
1394 connection - connected, bridged, firewalled 1394 net adapter
Local Area Connection - network cable unplugged, firewalled
Wireless Network Connection - Not connected, Firewalled ORINOCO 802.11bg ComboCard Gold
Network Bridge - connected, firewalled MAC Bridge Miniport

The desktop shows
Local Area Connection - Connected, Firewalled Realtek RTL8139/810x Family
1394 Connection - has no information.

If I try to repair the Wireless Network Connection on the laptop. I get a message that Windows could not finish repairing the problem because the following action cannot be completed. Connecting to the wireless network. For assistance, contact the person who manages your network.
Well....that's me....and I am totally lost at this point.

I have used restore on both computers to bring them back to where they were both working at our previous address....but that didn't work.
I tried using my original Toshiba router and that didn't work. Actually, I couldn't even get the desktop online either.

I would definitely appreciate any help or suggestions. I'm not well versed at "networking" ....so please spell things out for me. Thank you.

[G_Dem]

Try disabling the bridge on the laptop and then connect using the wireless card only. Don't bridge it with the 1394 connection.

[gaesilva]

I disabled the network bridge on the laptop but I still have no internet connection. On the laptop if I refresh the network list ....it shows no wireless networks were found in range. I do have the two computers side by side. The Wireless Network Connection Icon says the connection is not connected. Wirelss network unavailable.
I also tried removing the Wireless Network Connection from the Network Bridge. I then used the repair wireless network connection but got this reply: Windows could not finish repairing the problem because the following action cannot be completed: Connecting to the wireless network.

I have also turned off the firewall on both the laptop and desktop but the laptop still shows Not connected.
Any other suggestions? Thank you.

[gaesilva]

I noticed if I go to Wireless Network Connection Properties , then choose the wireless networks tab: It shows Preferred networks: "HudsonNetwork(automatic). I highlight it and choose properties. Under the Association tab it shows:
Network Authentication: Shared
Data encryption: WEp
Network key: ********
Key Index: 1

I know my Desktop WEP and it's 13 characters. If I change it on the laptop and it click ok and ok. When I redisplay it....it's back to the 8 characters of which i don't even know what they are. Does this have anything to do with my problem. I do know that when I had my high speed installed at the new address. They made me pick a WEP key. Could this be the source of my problem?

[G_Dem]

It could be but it don't sound like it. Your laptop isn't seeing the wireless router at all which prob means one of these things:

Your wireless laptop is not compatible with the router
Your wireless laptop drivers have become corupt
Your Router is not broadcasting its SSID.

The thing with the 13 characters going to 8 is normal. It means people cant even see how many letters your passwords hold.

If you go to your pc and view available wireless networks can you see your router?

[G_Dem]

Also if your pc is connected to the same router as the laptop can you please run ipconfig on it and post the results. Then at least we can see a working config and we may be able to set up a static IP.

[gaesilva]

I still have my Toshiba 1000 router and I can reinstall it instead....I did try that before but then I couldn't even get the desktop on the internet with it. I don't know why. Also, when I first moved here, I tried Verizon DSL and had the same problem of not being able to connect. There router was d-link and they had me purchase a d-link network card. That didn't help out either. I returned that network card, cancelled Verizon and went with a company here called, Brighthouse. I thought perhaps I had a problem because I changed from cable modem to DSL....so I changed to Brighthouse high speed cable.

How can I tell if my laptop is not compatible with my router?

Also, I did reinstall the software that came with my Orinco Gold card, and everything says the device is working and there is no trouble with it.

How would I know if the router is broadcasting the SSID?


My Desktop is now wired to the Webstar router...... I am using a Orinoco Gold Network card in the laptop. The laptop is not wired to the router. But if I wire the laptop to the router, that is the only way I can get on the internet with the laptop. I have the desktop and my spouse has the laptop. We want to share the one internet connection.

How do I run ipconfig and on which computer?
Thanks

[G_Dem]

So is the Webstar router wireless?

On the pc:

go to start and then run. type cmd. then type:

ipconfig /all

(there is a space after ipconfig)

[gaesilva]

No, the Webstar router is wired to the ISP and to my desktop.
This is the ipconfig on the Desktop:
Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.
C:\Documents and Settings\HP_Owner>ipconfig /all
Windows IP Configuration
Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : Gae
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : tampabay.rr.com
Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : tampabay.rr.com
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Realtek RTL8139/810x Family Fast Eth
ernet NIC
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-11-D8-9E-B0-66
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 65.35.78.127
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.248.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 65.35.72.1
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 10.125.160.1
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 65.32.5.74
65.32.5.75
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Friday, May 12, 2006 12:22:02 AM
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Saturday, May 13, 2006 12:22:02 AM
C:\Documents and Settings\HP_Owner>



This is the ipconfig for the laptop:

Windows IP Configuation
Host Name.....................................Joseph
Primary Dns Suffix...........................
Node Type....................................Hybrid
IP Routing Enabled..........................Yes
WINS Proxy Enabled.........................No

Ethernet adapter Wireless Network Connection 2
Media State .................................Media disconnected
Description...................................ORiN OCO 802.11bg ComboCard Gold #2
Phsical Address..............................00-20-A6-4C-DF-9B

[G_Dem]

I've just done some research into your products. The Webstar isnt a router, its a cable modem. However your Toshiba 1000 is a wireless router with 4 ethernet ports.

If you connect your ISP cable to the Webstar (as it is now) and then from the WAN Internet port of the Webstar to the WAN port of the Toshiba. Then use a straight through ethernet cable from the Toshiba router to the laptop. Do you get connection to the router? If so, you can then get into the config page of the Toshiba router and make sure the SSID broadcast is on and check some other settings. Once the settings are configured correctly on the Toshiba Router, your laptop will be able to find the router and connect wirelessly.