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Question

Vista 32 will not connect to wireless or ethernet

Feb 18, 2015 10:40AM PST

Inspiron 6400, windows VISTA (up to date), New wireless router (Linksys AC1200 EA 6350). Desk top (cable) and owner laptop (wireless) work great. Guest tries to connect to unsecured guest side and his laptop and all indications on the computer show connected. Windows Mail, and google do NOT see the connection. Went to the local library and starbucks, vista connected with no problems. Can not find any solutions on the internet. Linksys sys its not their problem (and want money), computer shop says "it works here".

Any ideas out there?

Discussion is locked

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Answer
obviously
Feb 18, 2015 11:17AM PST

it's your settings on the wireless router at home. All the places you describe are open systems, but your home router needs a different connection with certain entries like the SSID, the encryption used (WEP or WPA*) and the hex or passphrase used, etc.

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Answer
manual
Feb 18, 2015 11:28AM PST
http://downloads.linksys.com/downloads/userguide/UserGuide.pdf

To open Linksys Smart Wi-Fi:
1.
Click the
Linksys Smart Wi-Fi
icon on your desktop.
- OR -
Open a web browser and go to
www.linksyssmartwifi.com
.
2.
Enter the e-mail address and password you set up earlier and click
Log in
============================================================
Plug into the LAN port on back.
Use 192.168.1.1 in your browser URL locator line to access the router.
This is the manual method and the one I personally prefer using.

http://kb.linksys.com/Linksys/ukp.aspx?pid=80&app=vw&vw=1&login=1&json=1&docid=bd520bcb07a647459616924a68849112_Accessing_the_Cisco_Connect_Cloud_of_Linksys_Smart_Wi_Fi_rou.xml
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Vista will not connect
Feb 18, 2015 11:13PM PST

TO: James Denison
Thank you for the reply. I am not sure what you mean. The DELL Inspiron sees that it is connected. The Linksys Smart Wi-Fi sees that the guest is connected. I have ready access to the Linksys Smart Wi-Fi from my PC. Select the browser or MS Mail on the guest laptop and they show up as "Not Connected". Dell network card and all other indications show Connected on the guest Laptop.
Which device should I plug into the back of the LAN?

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the connection is
Feb 19, 2015 8:07AM PST

a "handshake" between the two devices, but then comes the data communication and that is encrypted. Both have to use the same encryption system and use the same hex or passphrase which determines the encryption.

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Answer
I can replicate that here.
Feb 18, 2015 11:18PM PST

Just last month we had a WEP protected router that a client machine did that. Turns out they had typed in the passphrase wrong. It was "connected" on WiFi but Google, mail and such didn't work.

Your post is lacking enough detail to nail this one but I thought I'd share how I was able to replicate what sounds like the same thing.

You may want to have the laptop forget all wireless connections and try again.
Bob

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Vista 32 will not connect
Feb 19, 2015 4:48AM PST

UPDATE

Thank you R. Proffitt,

I disabled "wireless" connection and enabled the internal Ethernet connection using the network and share location. MS went to some sort of repair and now my guest can connect via Ethernet cable directly to the cable modem. So there is some progress. I will have to think about trying the wireless again since they are here for only 2 weeks.

How do I make the laptop forget all wireless connections before trying again?

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Try a few web answers?
Feb 19, 2015 5:03AM PST
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Vista 32 will not interface with wireless.
Feb 20, 2015 6:08AM PST

Thank you R. Proffit,

My son came over last night with 2 computers and had no difficulty interfacing with the internet. The DELL Inspiron 6400 connects with the wireless and all indications show that it is connected. Network and sharing center shows connected to Linksys. The DELL Network card shows it is connected and communication. The one thing that will NOT communicate is VISTA. Now that I have enabled the ethernet connection, VISTA works great with the internet using a cable.

I totally do not comprehend and it is frustrating but I think I will have to accept that there are mysteries in life (digital and other) that are beyond my level of understanding.
Thank you fall efforts on this item by all.

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sounds like it needs a wifi driver
Feb 20, 2015 6:40AM PST
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Vista 32 will not talkwith liksys wifi
Feb 21, 2015 2:26AM PST

Thank you for your reply. I checked with Microsoft Driver updates and Linksys sites. Microsoft driver check OK. Linksys no updates available. As stated earlier, the guest labtop sees the wifi. Looking at the DELL network interface data shows it is connected to the linksys IPv4 guest link and is communicating. Others bring their laptop and other devices and connect with no problems. We went to public wifi sites and had no problem. As soon as the guest tries to go to Windows Mail or start the browser (Internet Explorer) a notice pops up that it can not connect to the site. Going via Ethernet cable, everything works fine.

I am convinced that it is some very small and embarrassing item, but nevertheless, the wifi does not work.

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Tell me your Dell Quickset settings.
Feb 21, 2015 3:09AM PST

In laptops and maybe their desktops Dell turns WiFi on and off with Dell Quickset. You could have all the right drivers but if Dell's Quickset is turned off then it won't work.

This is a last hurrah here as you write it can see the network.

I can't guess if some Hotspotshield (sorry, folk, this is not that good) or some other thing is in play.

Vista did have WiFi connection issues in the past. Read https://www.google.com/#q=vista+broadcast+flag
Bob

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maybe router settings
Feb 21, 2015 3:29AM PST

have a filter set to block certain ports such as 110, 25, and 80 which would keep Guest from using it for mail and browser access. However you said others have no problem using the router as Guest. Maybe it's the setting then in the computer instead. Go through the process of setting up a "new connection" and see if that makes a change. You can create as many connections as you want. My daughter's college laptop was evidence of that when she gave it back to me after 4 years of school. She had a huge number of connects on it.

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Vista 32 will not connect
Feb 21, 2015 9:49AM PST

Thank you very much everybody.

I tried everything recommended in this forum (I think - to the best of my ability). My grand son came over with his new smart phone and I asked him to connect to the internet via my linksys wifi. No problem. I have to throw in the towel and publicly admit that I have reached the max level of my incompetence.

I will close this chain shortly.

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vista 32 will not connect to internet
Feb 25, 2015 6:02AM PST

I know I said no more.
With all the inputs from this forum, Microsoft, other forums. the problem persists. Linksys help is only available for money.
Summary:
Guest computer is a DELL Inspiron 6400. Windows Vista 32 home premium, up to date. Connect via Ethernet cable, works fine all functions. Wireless shows it is connected and functioning as shown on the DELL interface card. Notification area shows connected. Network and sharing center shows connection status as connected but router to internet with a big red X. All hints and suggestions recommended here have been tried without success. Other forums, including Microsoft, were attempted with the same results. Went to the local library for public access and worked fine. Family and friends come over with their laptops and telephones, all work fine. My guest is from Canada and is about to return home.

I am NOT a computer wizard but it still bugs me.

Home network cable connected to Linksys 6350 Wireless router. My laptop HP G60-230 US, same Vista 32, connected wireless works fine for all uses. My desk top Lenovo 3000 connected by Ethernet cable works fine.

That is the latest summary. I will check back from time to time to see if anything is happening.

Thanks beate42

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I understand.
Feb 25, 2015 6:15AM PST

Vista did have issues connecting to some routers (that broadcast flag issue) but without a first hand look I'd just get out my Netgear WNCE2001 and be connected in no time.
Bob