Laptop connection dropped

[sparks_]

Ok I managed to set up my laptop wirelessly a few days ago, using a Belkin Wireless G USB Network Adapter on the laptop, and also using one of these on my PC, it took a whole day to set up but in the end it finally worked.. Only set back being having to go though the connection wizard everytime I turned the laptop on, only took a few minutes so that wasn't too bad... But now, the connection refuses to work, I'm 'connected' both on the PC and laptop, the connection is fine apparently, I'm able to connect on both even if it takes a few mins to get past the 'acquiring network address' stage.. Yet I can't browse the net... any ideas?? Surely it's something pretty simple if I'm connected on both with excellent signal strength! :S

I can browse the net fine on the PC, it's just the laptop that's having none of it!

Thanks

[DonVito]

I assume you have set up a wireless infrastructure network i.e. you connect to a central access point. If so you might want to check firstly that you can wireslessly access the web management feature of the access point from one of the connected computers (log in to the box) then check the internet connection is succesfully connected. If it is and its still not working then post again.

[sparks_]

Hi DonVito, I'm only using my Broadband connection from my PC, a Belkin Adapter in the PC and a Belkin adapter in the laptop, someone set it up for me and told me I could do it this way, now I know it works cause it's been working for the last two days, it must be some simple hidden away setting that maybe I haven't realised I've fiddled with or something, like I said I can 'connect' to the wireless network on both the PC and laptop, so I know it is actually working...

Thanks!

[Tritan]

Sorry for the long post, but bare with me. Sounds to me like you have an "Internet Connection Sharing" (or ICS) setup going... that is that one PC connects directly to the broadband, and shares it's connection to the other PC (in your case using a wireless network card). I assume there is no Router at all in the network?

It could be that the PC that is connecting to the broadband connection has it's IP address change once the connection is successful (which is normal), but the other PC which is sharing the connection is not getting the correct IP address.

The primary computer, the one that dials the connection, needs to be setup with 2 IP addresses. One will be allocated to it by the ISP, the second you need to define. It is usually designated as 192.168.0.1 by default when you initialise ICS. This is fine. The second PC (ur laptop) should be given an IP address of 192.168.0.x (x being any number up to 254). Again you primary PC should do this automatically, but if it's failing, you will need to do this manually.

Open the second PC's network properties. Right click on the network card connection, select Properties. From the box that appears, double click on "internet protocol (TCP/IP)" remove the "automatic settings and select Manual. In the number fields, add the following:

IP Address: 192.168.0.2, Mask: 255.255.255.0, Gateway: 192.168.0.1 and for the DNS, use 192.168.0.1

This may sort out the issue you are having, but there are many other posibilities. I stongly recommend buying a wireless router.

[sparks_]

Hi Tritan, I'll give this a go when I get home tonight and post back, thanks. There is no router at all in the network no, I'll probably end up investing in one anyway as this way sounds uber complicated :S

[sparks_]

Tritan... Do I need to change the TCP/IP settings to manual on the PC as well as the laptop? I've changed it on the laptop and it's now connecting straight away instead of hanging on the 'acquiring network address' but it's still hanging on the PC, hangs for about a minute before connecting. Still can't get online on the laptop though.

[Tritan]

Sorry for the late response!

No you should not change the primary PC's IP settings. That is because when you connect to your ISP, it allocates you an IP address, and if you have manually assigned an IP address, you will not connect to the web at all. Also, once ICS is enabled, it changes IP addresses for you.

I have found some usefull links for you to do with ICS (internet connection sharing). I have tested what they are saying, and it all works. may take a little time to get the hang of things, but it is worth it! (until you get your router). There is a lot of info here for you... but promise it is worth it.

http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/xp_ics/

Please let me know how you get on, i'm interested...

[sparks_]

Hi Tritan, I've went through that and everything looks like it's set up ok but I'm still having no luck unfortunately. On the laptop when I go onto Internet Explorer it displays 'detecting proxy settings' along the bottom for about 15 secs, then 'finding site' for another 15 secs but ends up on page cannot be displayed... I'm sure it's something really stupid as like I said it was working ok for a few days and is still connecting ok... argh! Very frustrating! *shakes fist* Thanks for your help! :)

[Tritan]

Hi sparks_ - i think we've almost nailed this on the head... if you followed all the instruction and everything is working apart from Internet Explorer, try this:

Open IE, from the Tools menue select Internet Options. Then slect the Connections tab. From there, press LAN Settings (bottom right). The next screen you see will have 3 check boxes. This is the area that tells IE where to look for the internet connection. In the Proxy Server section (bottom half) place a check in both the check boxs. Then in the two number fields, insert the following: 192.168.0.1 in the first (Address field), and 80 in the second (the port field).

I think this should do the trick. Please let me know how it goes! :-)

[sparks_]

Ohh it's so close I think... I'm now getting on the laptop 'connecting to site 192.168.0.1' for about 10 secs then page cannot be displayed again... I think this may drive us both insane! :|

[Tritan]

Damn, how frustrating. But this illustrates exactly why i would recommend getting a router :-)

Before you try the following, open up your Network Connections (by right-clicking the 2 mini "tv" screens next to you PC clock, and selecting open network connections). Locate the network card you are using, and right click that. Select properties. The next screen should look like this:

http://www.homenethelp.com/ics/images/ics-xp-net2-lg.GIF

If it doesn't, please add the checks in the relevant boxes.

This is a useful Microsoft article for you to follow. It has some basic trouble shooting steps to perform. Please let me know the outcomes by posting the results here?

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;308006

You will also need to undo what I suggested in the last post - when you set the Internet Explorer connection details. You want this to now look like so:

http://www.homenethelp.com/ics/images/ICS-IE-Config-lg.gif

You might have a DNS issue going one here, so an entry to your PC's host file may need to be made. But this will be the next step to take depending on your results from reading this post.

[sparks_]

Hi Tritan, thanks for that, I've just been through it all and still I can't see any problem :S In my network connections properties along with the 4 things there's another one that's not in the picture you showed, it's called

AEGIS Protocol (IEEE 802.1x) v 3.0.0.5

I have no idea what it is but I don't think it's doing any harm or causing any problem... I think it's just something to do with the Belkin adapter?

I think I'm going to have to give up with this as I've been fiddling with it now for a week and patience is wearing thin! I did what you said in your last post and in IE I'm now getting just 'finding site (eg.) www.google.co.uk' for about 10 secs then page cannot be displayed... argh

Oh another thing.. I'm having to start Wireless Zero Configuration manually on both the PC and laptop everytime I turn them on... Should that be happening? I have the startup type set to automatically...

Thanks again for your help! :)

[sparks_]

Hmm.. would showing you the nsw.log help at all do you think..?

[Tritan]

Hi sparks_ the AEGIS protocol that you mentioned is a protocol to do with your wireless network adapter. This is fine, and should remain active. I use Netgear and have a Netgear protocol running - it depends on what adapter you own, and the functionality it can provide.

As for the Wireless Zero Config, this should be starting automatically by default as a system service... it doesn't sound right that it's not?

I am ashamed of myself :-( I will have to admit defeat with this particular case of yours. I setup home and small office networks all the time for a job, and this is well within the my realms... but it's much harder to troubleshoot when you are not actually sitting infront of the relevant computers. I do apologise, the only thing i can suggest, is to start from scratch and follow the ICS instructions from the beginning once more?

( http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/xp_ics/ )

or, if you have �70-80 available to spend this weekend, go out and purchase a solid router like the Netgear that I use - see this link:

what it can do: http://www.netgear.com/products/details/DG834G.php

and for how much: http://www.transparentcommunications.com/cgi-bin/rs000001.pl?SOURCE=GoogleNetgearDG834G&DESTINATION=Netgear4%2ehtml&PATH=%2e%2e%2facatalog&BASEURL=http%3a%2f%2fwww%2etransparentcommunications%2ecom%2facatalog%2f

Not too sure what you mean by the nsw.log but the more info there is, usually, the better.

[sparks_]

I've just got it working...!!!! What did I do? Turned my bloody firewall off.. Jaysus... A whole week and all I needed to do was get rid of evil Zonealarm.. although I had actually tried that before and was having no luck..*sigh* Thanks for all your help Tritan.. muchos appreciated! :) I'm afraid to turn it off now incase it doesn't work again when I turn it back on! eeeek. I'll definately invest in a router.

:D

[sparks_]

Ah.. the only problem I'm still having is the Wireless Zero Config having to be done manually each time... pfft.

[Tritan]

Hi Sparks... damn, i cannot beleive i missed that! I really should have known. Well done to you and i am glad that it is all up and running for you :-)

On the Wireless Zero Config issue, try this:

Press START > Run > services.msc > OK

From the box that appears, scroll down untill you see the Wireless Zero Configuration service. Double click it, and set it to Start Type: Automatic then click OK and close all the applications and reboot the PC.

That should do it for you. :-)