Member Avatar for serendipity

We have a G wireless router that works well with all of our XP computers. Just purchased an HP with Vista Home Premium SP1 with a built in N wireless router. It does not communicate with the G wireless router. Internet is fine when hard wired to our comcast modem. Any ideas or suggestions?

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— backward compatibility should work, so this is most often a configuration, driver or security mismatch rather than a hardware impossibility. pointed to the right areas (SSID/encryption/MAC) and 's WPS note is worth checking for routers that require push-button pairing. Below is a short, practical troubleshooting checklist (easy → deeper) to get the Vista HP onto the G router.

First quick checks: make sure the laptop wireless is actually on (HP often has a physical slide or an Fn+Fx key). From Vista click the wireless icon (system tray) and confirm the adapter sees other networks. To find the router IP and the wireless adapter MAC, open a command prompt and run:

ipconfig /all

Note the Default Gateway (use it in a browser to access the router admin) and the Wireless LAN adapter "Physical Address" (MAC) if the router is using MAC filtering.

If the network is not listed, temporarily disable SSID hiding and MAC filtering on the router (via the admin page) while testing. If it is listed but will not connect, check the router security mode: try WPA2‑AES (or WPA/WPA2 mixed with AES) — avoid leaving the network unsecured except for a short test. Also set the router wireless mode to a mixed b/g/n (or g+n) option if available.

On the laptop: update the wireless driver from HP for your exact model and Vista SP1. In Device Manager you can open the adapter Properties → Advanced and change the wireless mode (try Auto, or force 802.11g as a test). Update the router firmware from the vendor if an update exists.

If those steps fail, test the HP on a different Wi‑Fi network (or create a temporary open network) to confirm the adapter works. Re-enable security and filters after testing. These steps address the common causes without changing permanent settings you might not want to keep.

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Member Avatar for jbennet

thats wierd because it should be backward compatible.

What encryption are you using. Does it see the network at all? You hiding the SSID? MAC filtering?

Member Avatar for serendipity

What encryption are you using. Does it see the network at all? You hiding the SSID? MAC filtering?

THANKS FOR YOUR REPLY. Sadly, I'm not as good with computers as you. I just know enough to be dangerous. Would you be able to tell me how to find out about encryption, hiding SSID, MAC filtering?

Edited by mike_2000_17 because: Fixed formatting
Member Avatar for jbennet

Okay the SSID is what the wireless network is called. It is the name you see when you go into "view available wireless networks" in windows.

I am asking whether the network (or indeed any networks) is shown in this menu.

I am also asking whether your network has a thing called SSID hiding enabled. This makes it so the network is invisible, to connect to it, you must know its name already, and it is not listed i the connect to network screen.

Thirdly, i am asking you which security you have enabled. Wireless encryption (like a password) means you need the correct key in order to connect. As a further security measure, routers can also be set up to block access from unknown network adapters using a unqiue number on each adapter called the MAC.

I am asking which of any of these measures you use, as they could be causing your problem.

Member Avatar for mjdodd

I agree with all above but would also say that some routers / laptops / wireless connectors have to have a button pushed within a very limited time frame to allow the first connetion set up to work. the Orange 'livebox' is typical of this. Are all units actually in receive mode,
but I do defer to jbennet....
M

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