I fecking give up! I've been 'Acquiring Network Address' all afternoon!

Greg Masters

Greg Masters

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The youngster got a new Acer netbook (Windoze XP) for her birthday yesterday. I've spent all afternoon trying to acquire an IP address with the Linksys WRT54G router I use.

I've rebooted everything a dozen times; copied all the setting from my laptop; 'repaired' the connection over and over but I can't get the fecking thing to hook up.

Any ideas?

:(

Greg
 
greg

is it actually recognising the router? I suspect so from your description. try here for a few hints. Also if you type in the router ip address on the dodgy computer can you access the setup screen?

It's normally somethig like 192.168.2.1 Just type those numbers into the web address box and see if it comes up, that will let you enter the mac address in the settings.
 
couple of points worth checking.

does the other laptop acquire an IP auto or is it fixed ?

has the router got DHCP switched on ?

what security on the router do you have enabled ?

check to see if there is any settings in the new laptop already

if you know the IP address of the other laptop, you could try putting in the next one manually into the new laptop this sometimes will kick start a system IE old lap 192.168.1.3 try 192.168.1.4 in the new lap
 
roddy said:
couple of points worth checking.

does the other laptop acquire an IP auto or is it fixed ?
Click to expand...

Auto

roddy said:
has the router got DHCP switched on ?
Click to expand...

Dunno at the moment

roddy said:
what security on the router do you have enabled ?
Click to expand...

WPA Shared. I've got the laptop set to that.

I thought about hops' suggestion - it looked good except the laptop already has SP3.

However, I currently have it hard-wired to the router and am just installing a whole bunch of XP updates.

More later (I hope!).

Thanks guys

Greg
 
roddy said:
if your other laptop is set to aquire IP address automatically and it does then DHCP is switched on.
Click to expand...

It is. :thumb2

Still doing the MS XP updates.

Greg

It's awfully confusing with two mouses on my mousemat! :eek
 
If the XP updates (all 27 of them) don't do the trick, I'll try hand-cranking an IP address to kick-start it as suggested.

Greg
 
Try switching off the security in the router and see if can acquire an address then. There could also be restrictions on the mac addresses page in the router config.
 
Plug the laptop in to the router by one of those old fashioned wire thingies. get it working and online then unplug it, reboot it and try again...
also check out the router for an 'association' button that you may need to press.

You'll probably find the answer in the setup of the router (192.169.2.1 as above, but that number may be different in your case.....Google is your friend on that one)
 
The MS XP updates didn't fix it.

As I've got to be at Rockingham at 8am, I'm giving up for tonight and will pick up on Monday evening.

Thanks for your suggestions.

Greg
 
Sorry I was REALLY tired when I posted yesterday...

if you've been able to install all those updates when you had the laptop hardwired, without changing any settings then:

1. DHCP is enabled on your router
2. There are enough spare addresses (at least) to be able to add one more device.
3. The IP stack on the laptop is basically functioning.

All this is good.

Who's router are you trying to connect to and what has it been configured to do?

There are two methods normally used to secure the router, first being authenticating/encryption the access WPA/WEP/etc the second is to restrict the systems that are physically allowed to access the WAP.

First check to see if the router gives you any kind of report of wireless connection states - this might tell you what the problem is
Second check that the router isnt enabled with a restriction list, you'll be looking for a list of MAC addresses - you pc, etc
Third as above, try turning off the security, I've found that not everything is able to run all the different types of wireless security
Fourth make sure you are located near the router you are trying to connect to - I've seen issues where you get a fair signal, but stil cant connect
Failing all of the above get a really long cable, copper is always best.
 
Cut and paste the WPA Wii web key from the configuration page in your browser to the "dialog box" in your wireless adapter, (when it asks for the info)

Sometimes even though you think you have TYPED in the key, (numbers and letters), it still does not recognise it

If it is searching it probably means the router does not recognise the wireless adapter completely
 
Posted from Rockingham Motor Speedway

LiquidLAN said:
Who's router are you trying to connect to and what has it been configured to do?

Second check that the router isnt enabled with a restriction list, you'll be looking for a list of MAC addresses - you pc, etc
Click to expand...

The router is that of Masters Towers. Apart from my desk PC which is hard-wired, it serves all the other wireless devices in the house (another desk PC, my laptop, Wii etc). None of the wireless devices are 'specified' in the router.

LiquidLAN said:
Third as above, try turning off the security, I've found that not everything is able to run all the different types of wireless security
Click to expand...

I suspect that this is the problem. My next step will be to try connecting at McDonalds. If that works, I'll change the security level of our home system.

LiquidLAN said:
Fourth make sure you are located near the router you are trying to connect to - I've seen issues where you get a fair signal, but still cant connect
Click to expand...

The laptop was about 2 feet from the WLAN transmitter.

LiquidLAN said:
Failing all of the above get a really long cable, copper is always best.
Click to expand...

:jes

Greg
 
Greg I've that problem and it turned out I had one character of the WEP key typed in wrong, another time.

To find out the IP address open a Command prompt window and type in 'ipconfig' :thumb2
 
This is still not sorted!

  • Went to McDonalds - and it all works well
  • Downgraded the WiFi security setting on my wireless router and it still doesn't work
  • Turn off the security setting on my wireless router and, hey presto, it works!!
  • Install latest driver for WiFi card in netbook - but still doesn't work with secure WiFi

Haven't had time to ring Linksys helpline, but it appears to be the netbook's problem.

Haven't yet had opportunity to ring Acer support when they are open and I'm at home.

Any other ideas?

:confused:

Greg
 
Greg Masters said:
This is still not sorted!


[*]Turn off the security setting on my wireless router and, hey presto, it works!!



:confused:

Greg
Click to expand...

There's your answer Greg.

It's got to be something in the setup pages of the router itself.......gimme ten and I'll read back through your post and find the relevant info, but it'll be in the box's settings with the above symptoms :thumb2

B:kissy2
 
PS which IP and connection type?
EG Orange, aol etc, and adsl, cable etc?

The latter I guess will be obvious in a second or two but some IP providers have some odd protocols from time to time
 
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