[openshac]

I have a Dell Mini Inspiron which I use at home connected to the internet through my wifi router. It has worked without problem for me. Recently though when I have taken my netbook elsewhere I have been unable to initially connect and then to stay connected to any wifi connection that I have found. Firstly when away from home and I go to 'Wireless Network Connection' I am unable to see any wireless networks at all and I get the message 'Windows cannot configure this wireless connection. If you have enable another program to configure this wirelss connection use that software. If you want to configure this wireless connection, start the Wireless Zero Configuration (WZC) serivce. For information about starting the WZC service, see article 871122 in the Microsoft Knowledge Base on the microsoft.com Website.' Now what strikes me first up is why I am getting this error message when I'm not getting it at home. I have tried four separate wifi networks and I get this message everytime. Now the owners never seem to have a problem with these networks and I am able to connect to them sucessfuly using my phone. (I have tried turning off my phone to ensure it is not an intereference problem) So following the instructions I go the Services and sure enough the Windows Zero Configuration service is not started, so I start it sucessfully. If I now "Refresh Network List" I get a similar error to before except at the bottom that it says ... click "Change advanced settings," click the Wireless Networks tab, and then select the checkbox labeled "Use Windows to configure my wireless network settings." So I do that and I can now see a number of wireless networks. So I connect to one ok, but within about 5-10 seconds I get disconnected from it and then it automatically reconnects, stays connected for about 5-10 seconds and then disconnects. This happens repeatedly allowing for very very painful browsing, and impossible downloading of files. So a couple of questions - why am I not able to the networks automatically and why when I do connect am I not able to stay connected?

[Tagware]

A couple of things

1st - do you use the same route to connect to your home router?

2nd - Are the other places you visit businesses? As they may turn off the normal broadcast showing the SSID (Name of Network) ie. to stop external parties using the inter network without IT dept knowing.

You usaully have the SSID given to you with the WEP or now days WPA-PSK+WPA2-PSK.

Sounds like you can see the network but are not authorised to obtain a IP from the router. Hence the connection and disconnection.

To check this out you need to run CMD from the start/Run and type IPCONFIG. To make sure that you are indeed connected

[JohnWill]

I can't figure out from that blob of text what the real issue or configuration is. Can we have that in a more structured format?



Please supply the following info, exact make and models of the equipment please.

Name of your ISP (Internet Service Provider).
Make and exact model of the broadband modem.
Make and exact model and hardware version of the router (if a separate unit).
Make and exact model and hardware version of any other network equipment, like a repeater, a booster, hi-gain antenna, etc.
Model numbers can usually be obtained from the label on the device.
Connection type, wired or wireless.
If wireless, encryption used, (none, WEP, WPA, or WPA2)
Version and patch level of Windows on all affected machines, i.e. XP (Home or Pro), SP1-SP2-SP3, Vista (Home, Business, Ultimate), etc.
The Internet Browser in use, IE, Firefox, Opera, etc.




Please give an exact description of your problem symptoms, including the exact text of any error messages.

• If you're using a wireless connection, have you tried a direct connection with a cable to see if that changes the symptoms?
• For wireless issues, have you disabled all encryption on the router to see if you can connect that way?
• For wireless laptops, have you made SURE the wireless switch is on?
• For wired connection issues, have you booted in Safe Mode with Networking to see if that changes the symptoms?
• Have you connected directly to the broadband modem to see if this is a router or modem/ISP issue?
• If there are other computers on the same network, are they experiencing the same issue, or do they function normally?

On any affected computer, I'd also like to see this:

Hold the Windows key and press R, then type CMD (COMMAND for W98/WME) to open a command prompt:

Type the following commands on separate lines, following each one with the Enter key:

PING 74.125.45.100

PING yahoo.com

NBTSTAT -n

IPCONFIG /ALL

Right click in the command window and choose Select All, then hit Enter.
Paste the results in a message here.

If you are on a machine with no network connection, use a floppy, USB disk, or a CD-RW disk to transfer a text file with the information to allow pasting it here.

[openshac]

Tagware,

Thank you for your post:

1st - do you use the same route to connect to your home router?
I'm really sorry but I'm not sure what you mean by this. I have in the past set up the netbook to be part of my home network so I could share files etc. Is this what you are getting at.


2nd - Are the other places you visit businesses? As they may turn off the normal broadcast showing the SSID (Name of Network) ie. to stop external parties using the inter network without IT dept knowing.
Some been unsecured networks at friends houses/hostels others have been at secured networks where I have been given the password. I have had no problem connecting to them using my phone though.

I have run ipconfig /all but am unable to upload the screendump because the connection doesn't stay up for long enough. Is there something in particular I should be lookign for?

[openshac]

JohnWill,


Thanks for replying, I'm sorry about the 'blob' of text but it had the carriage returns in it when I pasted the message, but they were all lost once it had been posted, I did try honest! Would you like me to repost?

I can't figure out from that blob of text what the real issue or configuration is. Can we have that in a more structured format?

Please supply the following info, exact make and models of the equipment please.

Name of your ISP (Internet Service Provider).
At home it is Tiscali, but I am unable to let you know who the service prover was at each of the other 4 differing locations is.

Make and exact model of the broadband modem.
My modem at home is a Netgear one (I'm sorry but I'm not at home so I am unable to give you the model number). Unfortunately I am unable to give the model details of the modem at the other other locations I have tried since I am unable to revisit some of the locations (overseas) but I figurte they can't all be the same.

Make and exact model and hardware version of the router (if a separate unit).
The router at home is built in with modem, I am unable to give details of the other locations.

Make and exact model and hardware version of any other network equipment, like a repeater, a booster, hi-gain antenna, etc.
I am not using any such equipment at home, and I am unable to give details of the other locations (see above)

Model numbers can usually be obtained from the label on the device.
Connection type, wired or wireless.
If wireless, encryption used, (none, WEP, WPA, or WPA2)
Version and patch level of Windows on all affected machines, i.e. XP (Home or Pro), SP1-SP2-SP3, Vista (Home, Business, Ultimate), etc.
I have mainly being trying get connected using unsecured networks
My netbook is running Windows XP Home Edition SP3

The Internet Browser in use, IE, Firefox, Opera, etc.
I use Firefox

Please give an exact description of your problem symptoms, including the exact text of any error messages.
See original post - here are the error messages again...
'Windows cannot configure this wireless connection. If you have enable another program to configure this wirelss connection use that software. If you want to configure this wireless connection, start the Wireless Zero Configuration (WZC) serivce. For information about starting the WZC service, see article 871122 in the Microsoft Knowledge Base on the microsoft.com Website.'

and...

as above but with the following at the end click "Change advanced settings," click the Wireless Networks tab, and then select the checkbox labeled "Use Windows to configure my wireless network settings."

* If you're using a wireless connection, have you tried a direct connection with a cable to see if that changes the symptoms?
No but I have used the wifi sucessfully with my phone
* For wireless issues, have you disabled all encryption on the router to see if you can connect that way?
I don't have access the router as I am away from home. I can't replicate the problem at home though
* For wireless laptops, have you made SURE the wireless switch is on?
Yes I can get access for 5-10 seconds before the disconnect/reconnect
* For wired connection issues, have you booted in Safe Mode with Networking to see if that changes the symptoms?
No, but I can try that
* Have you connected directly to the broadband modem to see if this is a router or modem/ISP issue?
I don't have access to this as I am away rom home
* If there are other computers on the same network, are they experiencing the same issue, or do they function normally?
I am able to access the networks using other devices

On any affected computer, I'd also like to see this:

Hold the Windows key and press R, then type CMD (COMMAND for W98/WME) to open a command prompt:

Type the following commands on separate lines, following each one with the Enter key:

PING 74.125.45.100

PING yahoo.com

NBTSTAT -n

IPCONFIG /ALL

Right click in the command window and choose Select All, then hit Enter.
Paste the results in a message here.

Obviously there will be different result depending on what stage of the disconnect/reconnect/disconnect/reconnect/... I am at
C:\Documents and Settings\Charlie>PING 74.125.45.100

Pinging 74.125.45.100 with 32 bytes of data:

Destination host unreachable.
Reply from 74.125.45.100: bytes=32 time=387ms TTL=48
Reply from 74.125.45.100: bytes=32 time=366ms TTL=48
Reply from 74.125.45.100: bytes=32 time=429ms TTL=48

Ping statistics for 74.125.45.100:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 3, Lost = 1 (25% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 366ms, Maximum = 429ms, Average = 394ms

C:\Documents and Settings\Charlie>ping yahoo.com
Ping request could not find host yahoo.com. Please check the name and try again.


C:\Documents and Settings\Charlie>ping yahoo.com

Pinging yahoo.com [209.191.93.53] with 32 bytes of data:

Reply from 209.191.93.53: bytes=32 time=375ms TTL=49
Reply from 209.191.93.53: bytes=32 time=361ms TTL=49
Reply from 209.191.93.53: bytes=32 time=418ms TTL=49
Reply from 209.191.93.53: bytes=32 time=395ms TTL=49

Ping statistics for 209.191.93.53:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 361ms, Maximum = 418ms, Average = 387ms

C:\Documents and Settings\Charlie>NBTSTAT -n

Local Area Connection:
Node IpAddress: [0.0.0.0] Scope Id: []

No names in cache

Wireless Network Connection:
Node IpAddress: [192.168.1.105] Scope Id: []

NetBIOS Local Name Table

Name Type Status
---------------------------------------------
NETBOOK <00> UNIQUE Registering

C:\Documents and Settings\Charlie>IPCONFIG /ALL

Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : Netbook
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Unknown
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Realtek RTL8102E Family PCI-E Fast E
thernet NIC
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-21-70-C8-09-4E

Ethernet adapter Wireless Network Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Broadcom 802.11g Network Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-23-08-1F-88-C0
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.105
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 200.122.136.99
200.122.136.97
196.40.15.200
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : 18 November 2009 02:59:06
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : 19 November 2009 02:59:06

[Tagware]

Re item 1. What I was trying to say. Is do you use the Wireless Zero Configuration (WZC) serivce to connect to you home router? If no. Then don't use it outside as Dell normally have there own WLAN software and you are confusing the issue.

Have you been back to DELL site as they seemed to updated the WLAN drivers very recently. Type in your tag number and check the driver issue date for the WLAN.

There can be a number of reasons why the WLAN link comes down.
Unfortunately, most can't be diagnose remotely.

For example. It could be due to the WLAN thinking it can connect at a higher speed then it really can. i.e. sites you are visiting are using a 'N' class WIFI router which runs at 110Mbs rather than the 54Mbs. If the WLAN is set to auto. It tries to connect at the higher transfer only to fail and disconnect. Your phone works as they don't AUTO the speed. They tend to set it at 54Mb and that it. Unlike us in the PC world.

If it works at home properly. Then, at a guess I would say it's probably driver issue (update at DELL) or speed issue (Look at the speed WLAN set to).

[openshac]

David

Thanks for your reply, I don't consciously use WZC at home.
I'll have a look at the DELL site for some updated drivers and post back
Lastly how do I change the WLAN speed - I couldn't find the setting for it.

Charlie

[Tagware]

Depends on OS.

But if you select 'My Computer' on desktop or on Startup Menu. Then click right hand mouse. Then, select 'Manage'. This should bring you to a page that you should see Device Manager. Select this. This will display the devices on the computer. Look for Network Adapters. Double click this and you network adapters should show. Look for the WLAN type select and then click right hand mouse to select propertises. On the advanced Tab you should find what we are looking for. It could be either 11Mb/54Mb or the classifications such as Wireless Mode - 802.11b (22mb)/802.11b/g (54mb) Then support chaps think by now that you should understand these as they are in advanced panel.

If you change something. Make sure you take a note of waht you change. Just in case it goes wrong.

[openshac]

David,

Thank you so much for your persistance, I have now found a solution.
I realised that my wireless connection was being managed by Broadcom Wireless Utility.

It had a setting called 'Let this tool manage your wireless networks'.
If I deselect this option or add the desired network using this utility I am able to use other wifi networks.

Thanks again for you help

Charlie