[captainphoenix]

I have an XP desktop and refused to get Vista because of all the problems I heard it had, and have, therefore, rarely if ever used Vista. The problem is on my friend's vista laptop. Hence, any help you provide must be in baby steps, because Vista is so far from intuitively designed.

I recently bought a Linksys wireless-n router (behind cable modem) with the hopes that spending an extra 8 bucks would be worth the speed upgrade, especially considering 5 people will be sharing the wireless signal (in addition to 2 sharing a landline). Unfortunately, his laptop does not connect at all to this router. Being that the router is brand new, I sincerely doubt there is anything wrong with the router. Either way, there are two wireless routers in this house, and his laptop connects fine to the other router (wireless-g), but does not even detect a signal from the wireless-n router, even when the laptop is placed inches from the antennae but more than once in a blue moon, and it claims it is connecting at "low signal". Even in the rare instance that his computer actually "connects" (and has a proper, unused IP), no web page can be opened properly. I have tried resetting the connection, setting a static IP, uninstalling and reinstalling his network driver, and using my computer to reconfigure the network all to no avail. The landline connections (even to his computer) all work fine, but no one with vista can get a connection. There is no use in posting an ipconfig /all, because they are all blank when not connected, and completely fine when "connected" (192.168.1.1;192.168.101.1;255.....; DNS matches mine and is fine). Any ideas?

[JohnWill]

In spite of being "brand new", let's try the compatibility fixes anyway.


Changes that may help to increase the compatibility of Vista with older networking devices:



Disable the IP Helper service:

1. Hold the Windows key and type R, enter "services.msc" (without the quotes) and press Enter
2. Scroll down to the IP Helper service, right click on it and select Properties
3. In the dropdown box that says "Automatic" or "Manual", set it to Disabled and then click on "Apply"
4. Then click on "Stop" to stop the service from running in the current session
5. Click OK to exit the dialog



Disable IPv6:

1. Hold the Windows key and type R, enter "ncpa.cpl" (without the quotes) and press Enter
2. Right click on each network connection and select "Properties"
3. Remove the checkmark from the box next to "Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6)
4. Click OK to exit the dialog

NOTE: You should do this for each network connection.



Disable the DHCP Broadcast Flag:

Link: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/928233

1. Hold the Windows key and type R, enter regedit and press Enter.
2. Locate and then click the following registry subkey:
3. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters\Inter faces\{GUID}
4. In this registry path, click the (GUID) subkey to be updated.
5. If the key DhcpConnForceBroadcastFlag does not exist, use the Edit menu, point to New, and then click DWORD (32-bit) Value. In the New Value #1 box, type DhcpConnForceBroadcastFlag, and then press ENTER. If the key exists, skip this step.
6. Right-click DhcpConnForceBroadcastFlag, and then click Modify.
7. In the Value data box, type 0, and then click OK.
8. Close Registry Editor.

NOTE: You should do this for each and every GUID subkey.
NOTE2: (GUID) is a mnemonic for the individual subkeys, the actual text "GUID" does not appaer.




The only program I'm aware of that currently relies on IPv6 is the new Windows Meeting Space. The first 2 changes will cause that program not to work - but will leave all of your normal (IPv4) connections unaffected. If it causes problems that you can't overcome, simply revert back to the original settings.

[TerryNet]

What wireless mode are you using on the router (N only, B+G+N mixed, etc.)?

What encryption are you using? Have you tried without encryption?

Is the wireless adapter on the troubled PC 'N' or 'G'?

Make sure the wireless driver is the latest from the laptop manufacturer's web site (if the adapter is integrated).

[captainphoenix]

To John Will:
The laptop finally recognized the network and at least attempted to connect and is doing so regularly. Now I have the infamous "This computer has limited or no connectivity", my signal quality is "low", my speed is 54.0 mbps, and I've sent 34 packets and received none.

To TerryNet:
I believe I set the router to accept B, G, and N signals, but I don't know how to find that out after-the-fact. The network is not encrypted. I have no idea if the wireless adapter on the troubled PC is N or G, but I'm assuminig since the 'N' technology is so new it's probably 'G'. I don't know how to update a driver on vista (because it's so intuitively designed).

[TerryNet]

I don't know how to update a driver on vista

Pretty much same as other Windows versions. First is to download the driver--for integrated devices first choice is the PC manufacturer's web site and second choice is the motherboard manufacturer's site. For other devices the manufacturer's web site. For old or orphaned stuff search anywhere and even use something like Driverguide.com.

If the downloaded file is an executable self installer just run it. If it's just the driver file itself go into Device Manager and update or install the device's driver pointing Windows to the download.