Unable to connect to my wireless laptop

J

Jim

I running several XP Pro computers on a wired LAN. Just purchased a laptop
which I initially added to LAN.

I decided I didn't want a hardwired connection to my laptop so I added a
wireless router to my system. My laptop can access the internet through the
wireless router but it can't access any of my other LAN computers.

Need help please.

Jim
 
C

Chuck

I running several XP Pro computers on a wired LAN. Just purchased a laptop
which I initially added to LAN.

I decided I didn't want a hardwired connection to my laptop so I added a
wireless router to my system. My laptop can access the internet through the
wireless router but it can't access any of my other LAN computers.

Need help please.
Click to expand...

Jim,

You need to use the WiFi router as a WiFi AP, not a router, and keep the same
subnet for the laptop.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/06/file-sharing-on-lan-with-two-routers.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/06/file-sharing-on-lan-with-two-routers.html
 
J

Jim

Many thanks for the info but I need more help. I have a little experience in
networking but I'm far from an expert.

This is my setup. I go from my main computer to my new wireless router. Out
of the wireless router I go back to my original router - is that the correct
setup??

I've tried the procedure below (as best as I understand it) with no success.

My currect situation is this:
Can access the internet on both the 2 wired desktop systems as well as my
wireless laptop
Can no longer access any of my networked computers
IP addresses on both desktop systems are out of range (192.168.2.2 and
192.168.1.103)
but IP addresses on main desktop and laptop are in range.

Note: Once I turn off DHCP on the wireless router (step 3 below) and reboot
routers I have problems.

TIA
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Using a PC wired into the current router, unplug it from the wired
connection and plug into a LAN port on the secondary router. Access the
secondary router using your browser via its default LAN IP address and
default password. Since the PC was attached to the previous router you will
have tell the PC to obtain a LAN IP from the new device. Use 'winipcfg' in
win9x or 'ipconfig release/renew' with W2K/XP on the PC.

2. On the secondary router (hereafter called the AP)

a. change the default password to a minimum combination of 8
letters/numbers/symbols.

b. Change the ESSID to a unique name and make all the necessary wireless
configurations.

3. Then, in the AP, go to the LAN setup page:

a. Turn DHCP serving OFF.

b. Change the LAN IP of the AP from its default so that it lies within the
subnet of the primary router but preferably outside the dynamic LAN IP range
of the primary router. (examples below)

c. Disable or turn RIP off, if there is that option.

d. Disable or turn off Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) support (if any).

4. Plug the PC back into the wired connection and repeat the process of
getting new LAN IP. A reboot of the PC may be needed.

5. Plug the AP into the router, LAN port TO LAN port directly or via
switch/patch panel etc.

6. It may be necessary to reboot one or both routers but one should be able
to assign LANIPs wirelessly and connect at this point, ensuring wifi card
setup properly.
 
C

Chuck

Many thanks for the info but I need more help. I have a little experience in
networking but I'm far from an expert.

This is my setup. I go from my main computer to my new wireless router. Out
of the wireless router I go back to my original router - is that the correct
setup??

I've tried the procedure below (as best as I understand it) with no success.

My currect situation is this:
Can access the internet on both the 2 wired desktop systems as well as my
wireless laptop
Can no longer access any of my networked computers
IP addresses on both desktop systems are out of range (192.168.2.2 and
192.168.1.103)
but IP addresses on main desktop and laptop are in range.

Note: Once I turn off DHCP on the wireless router (step 3 below) and reboot
routers I have problems.

TIA
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Using a PC wired into the current router, unplug it from the wired
connection and plug into a LAN port on the secondary router. Access the
secondary router using your browser via its default LAN IP address and
default password. Since the PC was attached to the previous router you will
have tell the PC to obtain a LAN IP from the new device. Use 'winipcfg' in
win9x or 'ipconfig release/renew' with W2K/XP on the PC.

2. On the secondary router (hereafter called the AP)

a. change the default password to a minimum combination of 8
letters/numbers/symbols.

b. Change the ESSID to a unique name and make all the necessary wireless
configurations.

3. Then, in the AP, go to the LAN setup page:

a. Turn DHCP serving OFF.

b. Change the LAN IP of the AP from its default so that it lies within the
subnet of the primary router but preferably outside the dynamic LAN IP range
of the primary router. (examples below)

c. Disable or turn RIP off, if there is that option.

d. Disable or turn off Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) support (if any).

4. Plug the PC back into the wired connection and repeat the process of
getting new LAN IP. A reboot of the PC may be needed.

5. Plug the AP into the router, LAN port TO LAN port directly or via
switch/patch panel etc.

6. It may be necessary to reboot one or both routers but one should be able
to assign LANIPs wirelessly and connect at this point, ensuring wifi card
setup properly.
Click to expand...

OK, let's diagnose your problem. Look at "browstat status" and "ipconfig /all",
from each computer. Read this article, and linked articles, and follow
instructions precisely (download browstat!):
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/troubleshooting-network-neighborhood.html#AskingForHelp>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/troubleshooting-network-neighborhood.html#AskingForHelp

The key here is router LAN to AP LAN. And no DHCP on the AP.

Be generous. Provide diagnostic data for each computer, and don't edit the
content. The diagnosis may be in the details.
 
J

Jim

Here is ipconfig info from each computer. The first listing is from the main
computer, the last listing is from my laptop.
:

Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : athlon3000

Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :

Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Unknown

IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : Belkin

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection 4:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : Belkin

Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Linksys LNE100TX Fast Ethernet
Adapter(LNE100TX v4)

Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-0C-41-26-24-4C

Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes

Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.2.2

Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0

Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.2.1

DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.2.1

DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.2.1

68.87.75.194

68.87.64.146

Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Thursday, November 09, 2006
1:37:51 PM

Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Monday, January 18, 2038
10:14:07 PM



Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : Dell2000

Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :

Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Unknown

IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : Yes

DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : hsd1.pa.comcast.net.


Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:


Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : hsd1.pa.comcast.net.

Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Intel(R) PRO/100 VE Network
Connection

Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-07-E9-CB-08-1B

Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes

Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.104

Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0

Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1

DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1

DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 68.87.75.194

68.87.64.146

Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Thursday, November 09, 2006
2:21:55 PM

Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Friday, November 10, 2006
2:21:55 PM


Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : Jim

Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :

Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid

IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : Belkin


Ethernet adapter Wireless Network Connection 2:


Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : Belkin

Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Broadcom 802.11b/g WLAN

Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-14-A5-C4-72-F0

Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes

Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.2.3

Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0

Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.2.1

DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.2.1

DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.2.1

68.87.75.194

68.87.64.146

Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Thursday, November 09, 2006
9:57:43 PM

Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Monday, January 18, 2038
10:14:07 PM
 
C

Chuck

Here is ipconfig info from each computer. The first listing is from the main
computer, the last listing is from my laptop.
Click to expand...

Jim,

Athlon3000 and Jim are getting DHCP settings from 192.168.2.1; Dell2000 is
getting settings from 192.168.1.1. One of those is the WiFi router. If Jim is
the laptop, the WiFi router is 192.168.2.1.

You need to:
1) Connect Athlon3000, by Ethernet (don't do this by WiFi), directly to a LAN
port on the WiFi router. If there is any cable between the two routers, remove
that cable at both ends.
2) From the browser on Athlon3000, connect to 192.168.2.1.
3) Logon to the WiFi router.
4) Change its LAN address (manually) to 192.168.1.250.
5) Disable its DHCP server.
6) Connect an Ethernet cable, from a LAN port on the WiFi router, to a LAN port
on the current router.
7) Reboot Jim. Test the changes first. Make sure that Jim can connect to the
Internet.
8) Reboot Athlon3000. Make sure that Athlon3000 can connect to the Internet.
9) From Athlon3000, logon, from the browser, to 192.168.1.250. Enable and test
security settings (recommend WPA) on Jim. Note you'll be restarting Jim a few
times, which is why you must do this from Athlon3000, using Ethernet.

Read this thru and ask questions before starting please.
 
J

Jim

Chuck,
Yes, Jim is the laptop and the WiFi router is 192.168.2.1. Athlon3000
connects to the WiFi router and another cable connects back to the other
router.

After following your steps 1 through 8 listed below, I discovered that I
could no longer connect to the internet on either Jim nor Athlon3000. Both
systems failed while trying to renew their IP addresses. Reset the WiFi
router back to 192.168.2.1 and both computers connect to the internet.

1) Connect Athlon3000, by Ethernet (don't do this by WiFi), directly to a
LAN
port on the WiFi router. If there is any cable between the two routers,
remove
that cable at both ends.
2) From the browser on Athlon3000, connect to 192.168.2.1.
3) Logon to the WiFi router.
4) Change its LAN address (manually) to 192.168.1.250.
5) Disable its DHCP server.
6) Connect an Ethernet cable, from a LAN port on the WiFi router, to a LAN
port
on the current router.
7) Reboot Jim. Test the changes first. Make sure that Jim can connect to
the
Internet.
8) Reboot Athlon3000. Make sure that Athlon3000 can connect to the
Internet.
9) From Athlon3000, logon, from the browser, to 192.168.1.250. Enable and
test
security settings (recommend WPA) on Jim. Note you'll be restarting Jim a
few
times, which is why you must do this from Athlon3000, using Ethernet.
 
J

Jim

I'm about ready to throw in the towel attempting to add a Wireless Router to
my wired network.

I'm totally confused - why do I see an IP address of 192.168.1.250 (your
suggestion) when I view the WiFi router from the laptop (Jim) and a
different address (192.168.2.1) when viewed from the Athlon3000?
 
C

Chuck

I'm about ready to throw in the towel attempting to add a Wireless Router to
my wired network.

I'm totally confused - why do I see an IP address of 192.168.1.250 (your
suggestion) when I view the WiFi router from the laptop (Jim) and a
different address (192.168.2.1) when viewed from the Athlon3000?
Click to expand...

I don't know Jim. Let's try again. Describe, as completely as possible, how
everything connects right now. Then, reboot each computer, run "ipconfig /all"
and post the logs. And don't make any changes after running "ipconfig /all".

And try and post after my posts please.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/how-to-post-on-usenet-and-encourage.html#TopPosting>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/how-to-post-on-usenet-and-encourage.html#TopPosting
 
J

Jim

Chuck,
I few questions before I proceed anymore.

I connect the LAN cable from my main Athlon3000 computer to LAN #1 port on
the WiFi router. Should I then use the WAN port or LAN #2 port on this
router to connect back to a LAN port my original router (I've tried both
ports but I'm not certain which I should use.)

As instructed, I change the IP address on the WiFi router from its default
address of 192.168.2.1 to 192.168.1.250 and turn off DHCP. Once I do that, I
can no longer access this router @ 192.168.1.250. I don't understand this
and the only way I can back to the router is by resetting it, which is
sometimes difficult.

I then reboot the Athlon3000 and sometimes the router. ipconfig still shows
the PC has an IP address of 192.168.2.1 so obviously I can't connect to the
internet. At this point must I change the tcp/ip settings from automatic to
manual and if so, what settings do I use?

Again, thanks for your help
 
C

Chuck

Chuck,
I few questions before I proceed anymore.

I connect the LAN cable from my main Athlon3000 computer to LAN #1 port on
the WiFi router. Should I then use the WAN port or LAN #2 port on this
router to connect back to a LAN port my original router (I've tried both
ports but I'm not certain which I should use.)

As instructed, I change the IP address on the WiFi router from its default
address of 192.168.2.1 to 192.168.1.250 and turn off DHCP. Once I do that, I
can no longer access this router @ 192.168.1.250. I don't understand this
and the only way I can back to the router is by resetting it, which is
sometimes difficult.

I then reboot the Athlon3000 and sometimes the router. ipconfig still shows
the PC has an IP address of 192.168.2.1 so obviously I can't connect to the
internet. At this point must I change the tcp/ip settings from automatic to
manual and if so, what settings do I use?

Again, thanks for your help
Click to expand...

Jim,

OK, asking questions is good.

To use a WiFi router as a WiFi AP (ie, a "bridge"), you connect everything thru
the LAN. The WAN sends the network traffic thru the router; by connecting thru
the LAN, you just use it as a switch with a radio, aka an Access Point.

If the LAN is setup as 192.168.1.250, and connected to the main (only) router
LAN, and if each computer is attached to a LAN port on either (or by WiFi), and
DHCP is disabled on the WiFi AP, each computer gets an address on 192.168.1.x.
Everything on 192.168.1.x, if cabled properly, will be able to connect.

1) Enable the DHCP server on the router.
2) Make sure each computer has DHCP client enabled (automatic settings).
3) Disable the DHCP server on the WiFi AP.
4) Change the WiFi AP to an address on the router LAN, such as 192.168.1.250.
5) Connect the router and AP - LAN to LAN.
6) Restart each computer.
7) Each computer will get settings from the router, where your Internet comes
from.

You have to do steps 3 and 4 using a computer wired directly to the AP, and in
that sequence. When you do step 4, you lose connectivity with the AP; you
regain connectivity after step 6.
 
J

Jim

Success, almost

All computers now have internet access and all hardwired computers can
communicate with each other. The only remaining problem is that I'm unable
to communicate with the wireless (Jim). Here is the ipconfig of the main and
laptop computers. Thanks again

Windows IP Configuration
Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : athlon3000
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Unknown
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : hsd1.pa.comcast.net.

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection 4:
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : hsd1.pa.comcast.net.
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Linksys LNE100TX Fast Ethernet
Adapter(LNE100TX v4)
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-0C-41-26-24-4C
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 . . . . . . . . . . . : 68.87.75.194
68.87.64.146
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Saturday, November 11, 2006
3:39:57 PM
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Sunday, November 12, 2006
3:39:57 PM


Windows IP Configuration
Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : Jim
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : Belkin

Ethernet adapter Wireless Network Connection 2:
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : Belkin
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Broadcom 802.11b/g WLAN
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-14-A5-C4-72-F0
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.2.3
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.2.1
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.2.1
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.2.1
68.87.75.194
68.87.64.146
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Thursday, November 09, 2006
9:57:43 PM
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Monday, January 18, 2038
10:14:07 PM
 
J

Jim

SUCCESS
It was a problem with Norton Internet Security setting on the laptop. I
disabled it and everything works just fine. Many thanks for sticking with
me, that was a long hard road.

Jim
 
C

Chuck

SUCCESS
It was a problem with Norton Internet Security setting on the laptop. I
disabled it and everything works just fine. Many thanks for sticking with
me, that was a long hard road.
Click to expand...

All right! Congrats on sticking with it. But please don't stop with NIS
disabled. Please don't ever just disable the personal firewall, and leave it at
that. The personal firewall is an essential component in layered security. Now
that you have it working, find out what's missing in the NIS settings.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/please-protect-yourself-layer-your.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/please-protect-yourself-layer-your.html
 

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