Strange internet problem please help

smritiaeon · Jan 24, 2011

Hello guys,

I am having a very strange internet connection issue...
I have an Acer Laptop running Windows Vista home premium... i never had trouble connecting to wireless networks before but this time : /

apparently... the internet only connects to windows 7

... and nothing else.. is this even possible?.. how do i solve this..
the security is WPA - personal and Encryption is AES
I managed to find these out but I am slitghtly naive in the matters of computer... please help

Lorien · Jan 24, 2011

Hi smritiaeon,

Welcome to Vista Forums!

Please follow the instructions in the following link: http://www.vistax64.com/network-sharing/284688-network-posting-tips.html. The first two parts will help us understand your network setup and the last may help correct any problems you're having with network defaults.

Is this a new router or ISP? I mean, why is it just being setup now and how did you connect before and did you have any troubles before?

How do you know it connects to Windows 7 - do you have another computer that connects wirelessly to the same router and it works fine but the Vista one doesn't or is the computer a dual-boot system?

Do you know the security key for the router? It's essentially a password that's usually entered on the same screen as the security and encryption.

Do you have (or can you borrow) a patch cable and can you setup a wired connection to the router just to see if it works (and rule out several potential problems)?

The following articles may help with the setup - perhaps at least a quick glance over them to see if there's anything missing or that you did differently:

Here's a tutorial on how to setup a home network (including a wireless one) - check out the additional links for further information that may be of great help: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/Setting-up-a-home-network.

Here's an article on troubleshooting wireless network connections (again with helpful links): http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/Troubleshoot-network-connection-problems.

Here's a long guide on wireless internet connections in Vista: http://www.techwarelabs.com/guides/misc_mod/vistaconnection/.

Here's an article on how to setup wireless internet connection in Vista: http://www.clpgh.org/usingthelibrary/technology/wireless/WindowsVista.pdf.

I hope this helps or at least helps identify the problem. If not, post back (including the screenshots and answers to all the questions asked above) and we'll try a different approach and check out some other things.

Good luck.

smritiaeon · Jan 24, 2011

Hi there,

here's the screenshot of what i get wen i do ipconfig

Capture | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

i did try the FCp thing but it did not work...
ok let me explain wat is happening...
I recently moved into a shared accomodation... and tried to connect to the internet.. I got the security key from my housemates and the security key works.. but it shows limited connectivity.
the router is placed at the shop downstairs (they are the people who let these flats out on rent too) so the internet connection is theirs... I have no clue wat provider it is...
my housemate has a laptop which used to run a windows vista... but he then changed it to windows 7 as the owners said the internet doesnt work on anything other than windows 7...
it seems to be a problem with everyone here...
i have lived in many rented accomodations before but never had any problems connecting my laptop to the internet...

can their be a solution for it or just install windows 7

Lorien · Jan 24, 2011

I need the top part of the IPCONFIG as well - not just the part near the bottom. It may take several screenshots to get it all.

What didn't work about the batch file? Please try it again. It may help (unless the owners are correct).

Did the owners explain why it only works on Windows 7? Perhaps they have a router that isn't compatible with anything else. It would help to know why they firmly believe this to be a fact. Ignore the rest for the moment until you discover the reasoning behind that declaration. If the reasoning is sound (or they are unwilling to do what is required to accommodate anything else but Windows 7), then it would seem the answer is clear, assuming your computer and software can handle Windows 7. Check with: Download details: Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor.

Thanks and good luck!

smritiaeon · Jan 24, 2011

here's wat i got...with ipconfig /all
Capturetop | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Capturemid | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

with the FCP thing... I tried doing it and then the connection is still the same...
here's wat i got
FCP top | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

fcplow | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

and if i need to install windows 7 anyways... my system is 32 bit so i guess i need to get a 32 bit windows 7 for me :P

Lorien · Jan 24, 2011

Did you confirm your computer hardware and software can handle Windows 7 using the Upgrade Advisor I posted above? I'd do that before buying anything as software is notoriously difficult to return for a refund even if it turns out it won't install on your system (as I know it will not on mine).

I assume you prefer to just do this than try to figure out why everyone insists only Windows 7 works. That's entirely up to you - but unless we have some idea why everyone seems to believe this to be the case, then I'm not sure what we can do to help since they have all the information and networking equipment and ISP information.

Looking at IPCONFIG/ALL, it's quite clear why you have no wireless connection - you are not getting a valid IP address, you have no valid DNS servers, there is no default gateway, DHCP doesn't seem to be operating or none of this is connecting to your computer. Normally I'd suspect a simple setup problem, but I provided setup instructions which didn't seem to help (though they pretty much cover every possible methodology and problem and have helped a great many) and, more importantly, it seems everyone in the building believes you can only access the internet if you have Windows 7 (for whatever reason). I honestly have never encountered a situation where only Windows 7 could access the internet before which is why I'm trying to understand why everyone seems to take this for granted and learn exactly why they believe that (I mean the technical reasons - not just word of mouth that eveyone just accepts). Then again, if you'd prefer to just convert to Windows 7 or are convinced that's the only choice, then that's certainly a choice you can make.

If you have Vista 32 and it is a 32-bit computer (it is possible but unlikely that Vista 32-bit could have been installed on a 64-bit computer which would increase your options - you should be able to find out from the manufacturer based on the make, model, and serial number), then you want a 32-bit version of Windows 7. Whether or not you can upgrade or need to clean install depends on the version of Vista you have and the version of Windows 7 you want. Here are the options: Windows 7 Upgrade Paths. If switching from 32-bit to 64-bit (if that's an option based on the computer), then you cannot upgrade and must do a clean install. We can help you if you get to that point and need assistance - just ask.

Good luck!

smritiaeon · Jan 24, 2011

hi, yeah i agree with you.. i find it strange myself as i have never come across this issue.. i checked my network adapter properties...
under device manager i got these options...
Broadcom netlink (tm) gigabit ethernet
inter (r) wifilink 5100 agn
microsoft 6 to 4 adapter
microsoft 6 to 4 adapter 2 ... the microsoft adapters have an exclamation mark on them..
it asks me to update driver software wen i click it...
wen i checked for properties... it says
this device is not working properly because windows cannot load the drivers required for the device (code 31)
click check for solutions...
wen i checked for solutions... since i cannot connect my laptop online...i got this description
windows was able to succefully install device driver software, but the driver encountered a problem when it tried ro run it. The problem code is 31.

Problem signature:
Problem Event Name: PnPDeviceProblemCode
Architecture: x86
Hardware Id: *6to4mp
Setup class GUID: {4d36e972-e325-11ce-bfc1-08002be10318}
PnP problem code: 0000001F
Driver name: tunnel.sys
Driver version: 6.0.6001.18427
Driver date: 02-18-2010
OS Version: 6.0.6001.2.1.0.768.3
Locale ID: 1033

this is wat i got in the description..
hope this helps

MrNeeds · Jan 24, 2011

Hi, sorry to interrupt, but noticing the photos you've uploaded, I can see that the address for the IPv4 configuration starts with 169.254.x.x, usually means that you don't have a fully established connection to the router, usually by means of an IP conflict or not enough addresses are being sent out by the router, have you tried connecting to the router to see how many IP addresses are set on the DHCP? This could even be caused by entering the wrong password while connecting, it will show that it's connected but only local connection, which is rare to find on wireless but none the less, a possibility.

MrNeeds

Edit: the ms6to4 adaptor is a virtual network, it's designed to send IPv6 data over an IPv4 connection, in lay mans terms, it sends Internet connections down a router that isn't connected to the Internet, you can safely remove this as it does not interfere with regular operation of the wireless connection.

smritiaeon · Jan 25, 2011

HI guys,

thanks so much for all the help... I am still trying to figure out why is it not working... at first i thought that its becuase of the WPA connection but my laptop can connect to all the other networks with WPA settings... so the issue is definitely the router here... it seems that its not able to detect wireless network of vista and xp...
i did try to ask someone and he said that the router must be running a new version WPA (well i have no idea wht it is) but he said if i can get the drivers for vista it shud work... is that possible?

MrNeeds · Jan 26, 2011

There is an industry standard when it comes to Internet access,
WEP (wired equivalent privacy),
WPA (wifi protected access),
TKIP (temporal key integrity protocol) and
EAP (Extensible Authentication protocol),
all versions of windows support access to these standards, so I think that is out of the window, however, its not a bad idea to keep windows upto date via windows update.

None the less, it is definitely a configuration problem with the router, any chance you can ask the owners to log into the router and check the settings for wireless access?

Dave

smritiaeon · Jan 26, 2011

HI Dave,

thanks so much for the help :D ... I am updating my vista and i will try to get some help from the owners :P hopefully they'll help me...

Will try this out and let you know :D
Cheers xxxx

Strange internet problem please help

smritiaeon

My Computer

System One

Lorien

Account Suspended

My Computer

System One

smritiaeon

My Computer

System One

Lorien

Account Suspended

My Computer

System One

smritiaeon

My Computer

System One

Lorien

Account Suspended

My Computer

System One

smritiaeon

My Computer

System One

MrNeeds

PC Geek

My Computer

System One

smritiaeon

My Computer

System One

MrNeeds

PC Geek

My Computer

System One

smritiaeon

My Computer

System One