Vista laptop not connecting to wireless network

Hallo,

Hoping someone can help...
I have a connection problem with a laptop, approx 3 years old on OS Vista. On a home network we have which is successfully connected at the moment is: a PC on Windows 7 connected to a Netgear DG834 modem router which brings the connection in to the property. That in turn connects to the rest via an Ethernet homeplug set up, i.e. it goes via the electrical circuit, to a second PC (Windows XP) which in turn is connected to a Netgear wireless modem (WRN1000V2). That facilitates a wireless connection for 2 laptops, one on Windows 7 and another on Vista. I am now trying to connect my own laptop, a 3rd, to that set up using the Wireless function but it won't work. It can "see" the network from the drop down list. It says it is connected. The icon in the Sys tray is blue, as in not black with a red cross through it but it is not totally active, a static blue with no icon moving which would normally be visible. In the Network and Sharing Centre it shows the laptop is connected to the network but that the network is not connected to the internet. When running the 'Diagnose the problem' option it says the router is not working - but which it clearly is because the other laptops are online ok. I've been into the router's interface and everything seems to be fine. I've today upgraded the firmware but not sure if that is even relevant.

Does anyone have any suggestions on this? It's driving me nuts !! :cry

Thanks in advance
Jules

 

I had a similar problem with mine-my wife's Windows 7 laptop connected fine, my Vista laptop did not. I changed the WPA encryption to WEP and it worked. I don't think Vista does WPA well, or something.

 

Hi - thanks for the suggestion.

Unfortunately the problem has moved on and I now can't put any security settings on the router at all because it prevents connection if I do. The only way the laptop can connect to the internet is if there is no security on the router - which of course is a no-go. Every time I set it up, the internet connection drops and I can't get back into the router's interface. I end up restoring factory settings again just to do so.

I've seen a post somewhere about making this wireless router a 'child' to the main internet receiving modem router - is this possibly what I need to do and if so, can anyone advise how I set that up?

Thanks for reading