Network problem

[ChrisH Kerry]

We just got a new broadband connection with wireless router and all devices connect without problem except the wife's Netbook running Windows 7. We have the following devices connected at times: laptops running XP, Vista & Windows 7, Android tablets and phones and Windows phone. None of those machines has any problem connecting. The only way to get the Netbook connected is turn off the router and turn it back on again whilst the Netbook is on, which is a pain for anyone else using network. I've checked what settings I can but don't see any obvious problem... it's driving me nuts, so any advice (apart from sling the Netbook out the window ) would be welcome!

ps Only difference between Netbook (HP Mini) and the laptop (Toshiba....) is Netbook is running Windows 7 Starter and laptop Windows 7 Ultimate.

 

[(RIP) Bin Ridin]

Bump - could be intrestin..

 

[rce]

Windows 7 starter is the devils spawn, caused me no end of problems until I installed linux on my netbook instead much better, looks good and works well. It is the first linux install I actually like and installed without issues.

Will let you know version if of interest.

 

[ChrisH Kerry]

I've been using Linux on and off for last 15 years or so - have Ubuntu as dual boot on one of my laptops but not sure the wife would appreciate it and her Netbook is fairly new so I guess there's potential guarantee issues. I think it's something to do with IP address but don't seem to be able to find how to change it. It's strange that it will work fine as long as Netbook is on before the router is fired up, otherwise no chance...

 

[rce]

So does it appear to connect to wifi but not get an ip address.

Have you tried 'RUN' type cmd to get dos box, then type ipconfig and see what it comes up with

 

[Rasher]

Windows Wi-Fi is pretty good these days, you should not have to put Linux on the thing just to get it to connect.

What does the it tell you when you try to connect to the Wi-Fi? If it fails to connect you should get a message, it may seem a bit useless to you, but all the same it should moan about something.

Also can you "see" what is going on with router (i.e. any logging) and also check the Windows event logs.

Also make sure the router has a large enough DHCP scope, I would have thought it would be an entire private class C range (192.168.x.x) and throw out a couple of hundred addresses, but if it only has half a dozen they could be getting used up by other devices and the reboot resets all the leases.

If not try the "repair" option on the Laptops connection, this should flush any settings on the Laptop and may save having to reboot router.

 

[ChrisH Kerry]

OK here's what happens... if the router is on, no matter if there is no other machine connected or 6+ machines, the Netbook will not connect and when I look in 'Network and Sharing Centre' the router is shown as 'unidentified network' even though the router is correctly identified in Wireless Network Connection window.
If the Netbook is on before the router is switched on it connects correctly with no hassle and all other machines connect with no problem, so I don't think it's a problem with IP address allocation in so far as the number of available addresses.
If I look in the Wireless Network Connection Status when it's connected the IPv4 Addres is 192.168.0.100 and Default Gateway, DHCP Server, DNS Server are all given as 192.168.0.1 which sounds ok.
When it won't connect (when router is on before Netbook) the values are quite different with a new entry Autoconfiguration IPv4.... 169.254.179.126 and no entry for IPv4 Default Gateway, DNS Server. And in Network and Sharing Centre in 'Connections' the router is correctly identified but it doesn't seem to be able to connect as in the graphic it reads 'identifying' over the router and then eventually changes to 'Unidentified network' as stated above....

 

[rce]

Go to the network settings and in the property box for the wireless connection untick Internet Protocol Version 6 IPv6

If that doesn't work select Internet Protocol Version 4 IPv4 and click properties. Under the alternative tab enter:-

IP address 192.168.0.99
Subnet mask 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway 192.168.0.1

Preferred DNS server 192.168.0.1

 

[ChrisH Kerry]

rce - you could be the man! Disabled IPv6 like you suggested and turned off Netbook left it a while then turned it back on and connected without problem. I had heard of IPv6 giving trouble so think you have hopefully solved the problem - time will tell! Thanks

 

[Rasher]

I had heard of IPv6 giving trouble so think you have hopefully solved the problem - time will tell! Thanks

I have seen other weird issues with IPV6 enabled, normally with Servers (or non IPV6 clients connecting to 6 enabled servers) but this one is new to me.