Laptop Cannot Connect To wireless Networks

Laptop Cannot Connect To wireless Networks: In Windows XP, right-click on the network adapter icon in your system tray and select Repair. Your computer disables the network adapter and then brings it up. In Vista, right-click on the network adapter icon in the system tray and select Diagnose and Repair.

Rebooting The Computer

If resetting the network connection doesn’t work, then reboot your computer. I know it’s a pain, but this is Windows after all, and sometimes it needs the computer equivalent of a swift kick in the behind. Rebooting solves a lot of problems. After a reboot, Windows gets a fresh chance to do things in its own order and from scratch, which is often enough to fix a problem with the computer.

Checking the wireless association

At this point, you’ve rebooted your computer so you know that it wasn’t some sort of transient thing that most computers experience. the problem must either be between you and your router, the router itself, or with the rest of the Internet.

If you can, try plugging your computer into the router using an Ethernet cable instead of using wireless. If things work with a wire, then the problem must be with the wireless connection. If not, you can troubleshoot the router. Go back to your list of wireless networks and make sure you’re connected to the right one!
If your computer loses connection to your original access point, it will try to find another one and associate with that, even if it doesn’t belong to you or work properly. You might not even notice this happening at the time.

If you’re not connected to the right wireless network, or you’re not connected to any network, review Chapter 6 to configure your computer. Try it with both the built-in Windows configuration and your vendor’s configuration tool. Pay close attention to the signal strength as you configure your network. A low strength is a sign that you need to either move your router to a better spot or add a second access point for more coverage.

Put your computer in the same room as the access point while configuring, just to make sure. Incorrect passwords are often the culprit when dealing with association problems. Review the settings on the wireless router and make sure that they match those on the computer. If Wireless Protected Setup is available to you, then use that method. If, after all that, you can’t associate with your wireless network, skip ahead to the end of this chapter and upgrade your router firmware and your computer’s drivers.

Checking and Verifying your IP settings

If you’re able to associate with an access point and you are still having problems connecting to the Internet, then it’s time to make sure you’re getting a proper address. In Windows XP, right-click on the adapter in the system tray and select Status.

Then click on the Support tab and click Details. In Vista, choose Start Control Panel Network and Sharing Center. Click on the Status link next to your wireless adapter and then click Details. You are looking for the following information:

1. IP address (or IPv4 address in Vista)
2. DHCP Server
3. Default gateway
4. DNS Server

Check IP address

The IP address identifies your computer on the network. The IP address probably begins with 192.168, though it could also begin with 172 or 10. These are the reserved private network addresses and are used for people behind routers.Check Links Below 4 More detailed Expaination