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Limited Connectivity in Windows Vista
deans6571
Posts: 6,137
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First of all, apolgese if this has been asked before!
I am having major troubles trying to get my new Hi-Grade laptop with Windows Vista to connect to my Belkin Wireless Router via a wi-fi connection.
The laptop is brand new. The problem is that when I turn the wi-fi on, on the laptop, although it can pick up the wi-fi signal from the router, after asking me to input my WPA encryption key - the status icon at the bottom just says that its only connected with 'Limited Connectivity' which basically means - no internet at all...??!
I know for a fact that its not the router as I also have a desktop with Windows Vista and that connects without any problems at all (via Wi-Fi anyway). I also have a games console and an iPhone and all of these can go online via the wi-fi signal so the router must be fine.
I have tried various things like making sure that the laptop is set to find IP addresses automatically but it still just connects with 'Limited Connectivity'
I've been trying to sort this for the last 2 night now and is really starting to grate.....!
Anyone know of any solutions...?!
I am having major troubles trying to get my new Hi-Grade laptop with Windows Vista to connect to my Belkin Wireless Router via a wi-fi connection.
The laptop is brand new. The problem is that when I turn the wi-fi on, on the laptop, although it can pick up the wi-fi signal from the router, after asking me to input my WPA encryption key - the status icon at the bottom just says that its only connected with 'Limited Connectivity' which basically means - no internet at all...??!
I know for a fact that its not the router as I also have a desktop with Windows Vista and that connects without any problems at all (via Wi-Fi anyway). I also have a games console and an iPhone and all of these can go online via the wi-fi signal so the router must be fine.
I have tried various things like making sure that the laptop is set to find IP addresses automatically but it still just connects with 'Limited Connectivity'
I've been trying to sort this for the last 2 night now and is really starting to grate.....!
Anyone know of any solutions...?!
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Firstly, I would check that your WPA/TKIP key is what you think it is.
Do you use two computers on the same network?
if you do... then its somthing to do with the IP address of your computers! Both are trying to connect at the same time and only one is successful! (my friend was using the internet on his computer, and mine was limited!)
The best way to resolve this is to turn off the router! When re-connected your computer should automatically connect to the "Home Network"!
Also your router may be blocked! it may show a full connection but actually its not!
Try turning off your router for 1 min and then starting it up again! Leave your vista wireless turned on and it should automatically connect if its previously registered as your home network on the computer!
Hope this helps!
..yes.! If a plug an ethernet cable from thr router into the laptop - the internet will work straight away but as soon as I unplug it and try to connect via wi-fi - although it can 'see' my network as 'available connections' it only connects with 'Limited Connectivity'.
I have a desktop and the laptop using the same network but obviously not at the same time so I don't think that this is the issue.....
maybe you could try! The router can become blocked and not show signs that it is!
I have the exact same problem and this ALWAYS resolves it!
And the other questions...?
...not sure about the driver and I don't think I've downloaded any updates apart from the updates that Windows finds when you set it on 'Auto Updates'.
Goto the "Network and Sharing Center" and make sure the network is set to private. Here's a guide to follow.
Even if you think you're typing in the correct code you may not be.
Did you use a passphrase? If so there are rare occurances of different manufacturers implementing passphrases differently, and only same manufacturer tranceivers will use the same encryption process. Avoid passphrases if you can, and use a proper hex based key of the correct length and disable the passphrase option.
So, the best thing to do is to attach by Ethernet - log into the routers setup pages - find where the encryption key is located and (if readable) copy and paste it into a notepad.txt file.
Log off and disconnect the Ethernet cable, and restart your pc so that it connects using wifi.
If/when prompted for the encryption code, copy and paste it from the notepad file.
Now - if you can't read the encryption key in plain language on your router you might need to reset the router back to factory defaults. This time make up the encyrption key you want and put it into a notepad.txt file BEFORE copying and pasting it in to the router's wireless security page.
Whatever, I would recommend putting the code onto a USB memory key or write it to a CD so that you can distribute the wireless key using sneaker net (ie on foot)!
Like someone has said already - if I'd typed it in wrongly, it would come up with a message to say 'Incorrect Key' or something like that.
It is the correct key I am typing because the laptop does 'see' my wi-fi network. My network name shows up as 'Available Networks'. Its just the fact that when you click on 'Connect' - it only connects with 'Limited Connectivity'.
I also know for a fact that it is not a problem with the router because if I physically connect the laptop to the router via ethernet cable instead of wi-fi, it connects straight away. Its also not a problem with obstacles or range either because the laptop is sitting literally 20cms from the wi-fi router...!!!!!
Any other suggestions people...?! Isn't there a Microsoft number or something that I could ring for support..?!
i.e. one minute the icon at the bottom right hand corner shows 2 little pc screens with a yellow hazard sign (Limited Connectivity) and then after a minute or so - the hazard sign switches to a red cross (No Connectivity)....
Make sure network discovery is on
Instead of letting the router assign IP addresses when a device connects give each device it's own static IP.
If you're using the wireless cards connection manager try setting up the connection through the Vista network and sharing centre.
How do I do this exactly? I am sure I have tried connecting this way already through the Network & Sharing Centre but have had no luck.
and further it's usually caused by DHCP being disabled because it's been connected to a server the requires it to be.
I am using Windows Vista wi-fi utility to pick up my network. It picks it ok and lists it under 'Available Networks'. I then click 'Connect' and it tries to connect. It then asks me for my encryption key which I type in correctly, and then the 'Trying to Connect' window comes up.
...after a few seconds - it displays ' Connection is taking longer than usual' and then it fails - everytime...!
...what do I need to do then if this is a possible issue..?!
http://www1.umn.edu/adcs/guides/network/ethernetvista.html#ethernet
follow that guide, but where it refers to local area connection you click on your wireless network.
just check and report back. i would say that if this is an issue it's usually because the computer has been set up to work on a different wifi network, work, uni, whatever.