Member Avatar for hebehemonkey

Why can't I Get Internet?!?
I'm living in a dorm, and I'm trying to use my roommates internet (we're sharing the cost). Anyway, My VISTA computer shows that it is connected to the router (and I can see other computer's on the network sometimes). However, I can't get internet, but my roommate can get internet both wirelessly and not. Even when he's not connected to the internet at all, I still don't get internet. Yet when I connect to the router via a cable, I DO get internet. What is wrong?

Here is some information on the wireless network connection status:
IPv4 Connectivity: Local
IPv6 Connectivity: Limited
Media State: Enabled
SSID: TREV DSL

I'm pretty sure I have everything enabled on my computer that needs to be, because I can get internet on a different router.

If you could help me, that would be REALLY nice (currently, I'm stealing one bar of signal from an unknown neighbor and it's really inconvenient...). Again, this is a Vista computer (Yea, I know...) so try to use instructions for the Vista operating system, not XP.

p.s. I've made the network Private, so it doesn't really have to do with anything like that I think... but I don't really know. Also, I would have just called the company, but the warranty has expired... so, I'm stuck

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Good suggestions from and — this looks like a router-vs-client split rather than a pure Windows setting. A few checks that haven’t been called out yet will quickly narrow the fault.

First, check the router for access controls: look for MAC (hardware) filtering, a guest/“client isolation” mode, or an explicit limit on wireless clients. On most router admin pages the “Attached Devices” or “Wireless Clients” list will show whether your laptop actually has a lease and which BSSID (AP MAC) it’s using. If the laptop appears but still can’t reach the Internet, disable MAC filtering and client isolation temporarily to test.

Second, test whether the problem is authentication/encryption or the PC itself. Update the Vista wireless driver from the adapter maker, or try switching the router’s encryption to a mixed mode (WPA/WPA2) for a moment — older adapters sometimes associate but fail during authenticated traffic. Also try disabling any third-party firewall/security suite briefly; Windows firewall profiles can sometimes block traffic when the network type changes.

Third, isolate DNS vs. routing quickly by testing reachability to an IP (for example, ping 8.8.8.8). If pinging a public IP works but hostnames do not, it’s a DNS issue. If ping by IP fails, it’s a routing or access-control problem on the AP/router. If comfortable, try assigning a temporary static IP in the router’s subnet (pick an unused address) and set a public DNS to see if that changes behavior.

Tie these back to ’s note about the key and ’s successful wired test: since cable works, focus on router-side wireless rules and adapter compatibility first. If those checks don’t fix it, have the roommate log into the router’s status/log pages or reboot the router — router-side logs often show blocked associations or exhausted DHCP leases.

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Member Avatar for chococrack

If you've made your network private, you've got your network key plugged into your laptop I hope :X

Member Avatar for hebehemonkey

Yes... I have plugged in the network key...

Member Avatar for zeroth

Why can't I Get Internet?!?

I'm pretty sure I have everything enabled on my computer that needs to be, because I can get internet on a different router.

Your computer seems to be configured correctly, let's look at the router.

First, hook a cable to the router and see what your IP address is:
Start/Run/cmd>return and type ipconfig /all

Then, disconnect the cable, get "connected" wirelessly, and see what your IP address is.

If you're not getting a wireless IP in the range 192.168.1.xxx then you need to cable up again and go to the router setup page thru your browser. If your roommate is familiar, see if he sees something odd, like not allowing enough IPs.

Something else to check is if the router is set "b" or "g" - if it's "g"-only and you have a "b"-only computer card then there's a problem. Lot's of things it CAN be, let's eliminate what it ISN'T and go from there.

Member Avatar for hebehemonkey

Something else to check is if the router is set "b" or "g" - if it's "g"-only and you have a "b"-only computer card then there's a problem. Lot's of things it CAN be, let's eliminate what it ISN'T and go from there.

How would you check it it is set to "b" or "g" for both the computer and the router? (and bty, thanks for the help)

Member Avatar for zeroth

on the computer, you're probably going to have to refer to the card serial number and brand web page. On the router, it's under the Wireless tab "wireless Network Mode" it can be set for "mixed" "b-only" or "g-only" on a Linksys for example.

Look at the router first, if it's set "mixed" then this is not the problem. I'm only giving you suggestions for checking how the router is setup, you should go through it carefully. There's a lot of pages there...you can google the router manual and go through that also.

Member Avatar for hughv

As zeroth said:


Your computer seems to be configured correctly, let's look at the router.

First, hook a cable to the router and see what your IP address is:
Start/Run/cmd>return and type ipconfig /all

Then, disconnect the cable, get "connected" wirelessly, and see what your IP address is.

If you're not getting a wireless IP in the range 192.168.1.xxx then you need to cable up again and go to the router setup page thru your browser. If your roommate is familiar, see if he sees something odd, like not allowing enough IPs.

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