Lost wireless internet connection

[TUS 373]

Can anyone please shed some light on the following problem, it has me stumped.

I have a Centrino laptop that is wirelessly networked to a ADSL/modem/router box. I can exchange files with my desk PC, use the network printer and access the internet.

Last night, I was on the WWW with the laptop and it lost the wireless connection. Not unusual, this just seems to happen sometimes. When I got the wireless connection back, with Excellent signal strength showing and windows reporting all is well, I could not reconnect to the net, print or anything.

I've tried:
- plugging the laptop straight into the modem/router using the LAN cable and I can get on the net OK
- took off all network security - no difference
- checked firewall - all OK
- rebooted the modem - no difference
- check the centrine wireless card - all secure and shows as working in Device Manager

Even going into the modem/router from the desk top, the modem reports back that it can see the laptop - so it is "connected" but nothing happens.

I'm really stumped on this, and why it should suddenly happen when there has been no tinkering to precipitate matters? Anyone help?

[Alex]

If there are other WiFi networks visible, it is possible that your laptop is connecting to the wrong one.

[nick heppinstall]

Have you had any updates that have enabled the Firewall ( the one installed with SP2 ). Asuming you're running Xp of course !

[TUS 373]

No other networks present - just this one.

Running XP Pro with SP2 and have not been playing with the Firewall - but you have just reminded me. The laptop picked up 4 security updates for Win XP yesterday. When I lost the connection, I rebooted the machine which will have completed their installation. May be this has done it?

[pmanson]

Are you running XP?

Can you get an IP address?

Try going to Network Connections. Click on the Wireless Connection and make sure it isn't providing you an automatic private address.

If it is you'll need to untick the tick box for the TCP/IP bit and click ok.
Then go back into properties and retick the TCP/IP box.

Then reboot your machine and it should pick up an IP address again.


Hope this works!

[TUS 373]

Thanks chaps,

It would appear that one of the Microsoft XP patches can bugger up wireless networking as the Centrino driver fails to recognise WDA, but continues to recognise WEP.

Downloaded a patch from Intel for ProSET which is supposed to get things running again - and so far so good. I hope that it IS the answer, otherwise this will continue to be a very tricky problem to isolate.