Router/network OK, but my computer cannot access

Hello - I have seen many variations of this problem in other threads, but I
haven't found one that relates specifically to my situation. I'll try to be
specific...

I just recieved a computer (used, w/ XP sp2) with a wireless modem. There
is a wireless network at my house that others use, and the router and network
are functioning fine for them.

However, when I try to connect to the network, after entering the correct
WPA network key, the connection remains in "Acquiring network address" status
for many minutes, and eventually notifies me that I have "limited or no
connection" because I was not assigned a network address.

I have checked the settings of all the other computers on the network (also
Windows XP), and they all have "Obtain an IP address automatically" selected.
I also copied all thier other network/internet settings, and I have the same
problem. Other visitors who have come to the house have been able to connect
easily as well, which leads me to belive that it is a problem on my computer.

Using a static IP, I am able to connect to the network with a good signal.
However I cannot access the internet. I think this might be because of the
IP addresses I used, but I don't know how to correct that. I also feel that
my computer should be able to automatically have an IP address assigned,
since that is working for everyone else, so I'd rather not mess around with a
static IP unless it's absolutely necessary.

The wireless card works at many other networks, so I don't think that is the
problem. I have tried uninstalling and reinstalling it, and that didn't
help. I have also tried some of the other recommendations that I have seen
on this and other forums, but no luck.

Any thoughts? I appreciate any help or ideas.

Thanks,

uw805

Youre putting in an invalid key.

-James G.

"uw805" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:32B614EC-723C-4378-9895-(E-Mail Removed)...
> Hello - I have seen many variations of this problem in other threads, but
> I
> haven't found one that relates specifically to my situation. I'll try to
> be
> specific...
>
> I just recieved a computer (used, w/ XP sp2) with a wireless modem. There
> is a wireless network at my house that others use, and the router and
> network
> are functioning fine for them.
>
> However, when I try to connect to the network, after entering the correct
> WPA network key, the connection remains in "Acquiring network address"
> status
> for many minutes, and eventually notifies me that I have "limited or no
> connection" because I was not assigned a network address.
>
> I have checked the settings of all the other computers on the network
> (also
> Windows XP), and they all have "Obtain an IP address automatically"
> selected.
> I also copied all thier other network/internet settings, and I have the
> same
> problem. Other visitors who have come to the house have been able to
> connect
> easily as well, which leads me to belive that it is a problem on my
> computer.
>
> Using a static IP, I am able to connect to the network with a good signal.
> However I cannot access the internet. I think this might be because of
> the
> IP addresses I used, but I don't know how to correct that. I also feel
> that
> my computer should be able to automatically have an IP address assigned,
> since that is working for everyone else, so I'd rather not mess around
> with a
> static IP unless it's absolutely necessary.
>
> The wireless card works at many other networks, so I don't think that is
> the
> problem. I have tried uninstalling and reinstalling it, and that didn't
> help. I have also tried some of the other recommendations that I have
> seen
> on this and other forums, but no luck.
>
> Any thoughts? I appreciate any help or ideas.
>
> Thanks,
>
> uw805

I appreciate your quick response.

Do you mean I'm putting in an invalid network key? I don't know much
about computers, but if the key is invalid, then why does it let me "connect"
to the network (when I have a static IP)? Wouldn't it just reject me
instead? I'll check the key again to make sure.

Thanks,

Paul

"James Gockel" wrote:

> Youre putting in an invalid key.
>
> -James G.
>
> "uw805" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:32B614EC-723C-4378-9895-(E-Mail Removed)...
> > Hello - I have seen many variations of this problem in other threads, but
> > I
> > haven't found one that relates specifically to my situation. I'll try to
> > be
> > specific...
> >
> > I just recieved a computer (used, w/ XP sp2) with a wireless modem. There
> > is a wireless network at my house that others use, and the router and
> > network
> > are functioning fine for them.
> >
> > However, when I try to connect to the network, after entering the correct
> > WPA network key, the connection remains in "Acquiring network address"
> > status
> > for many minutes, and eventually notifies me that I have "limited or no
> > connection" because I was not assigned a network address.
> >
> > I have checked the settings of all the other computers on the network
> > (also
> > Windows XP), and they all have "Obtain an IP address automatically"
> > selected.
> > I also copied all thier other network/internet settings, and I have the
> > same
> > problem. Other visitors who have come to the house have been able to
> > connect
> > easily as well, which leads me to belive that it is a problem on my
> > computer.
> >
> > Using a static IP, I am able to connect to the network with a good signal.
> > However I cannot access the internet. I think this might be because of
> > the
> > IP addresses I used, but I don't know how to correct that. I also feel
> > that
> > my computer should be able to automatically have an IP address assigned,
> > since that is working for everyone else, so I'd rather not mess around
> > with a
> > static IP unless it's absolutely necessary.
> >
> > The wireless card works at many other networks, so I don't think that is
> > the
> > problem. I have tried uninstalling and reinstalling it, and that didn't
> > help. I have also tried some of the other recommendations that I have
> > seen
> > on this and other forums, but no luck.
> >
> > Any thoughts? I appreciate any help or ideas.
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > uw805
>
>
>

Problem solved. It was the wrong key. Someone in the house copied it down
incorrectly. I'm really surprised that they let you "connect" with an
incorrect network key. I'm a little frustrated after all that work for one
wrong digit, but glad to be online. Thanks for the heads up, James

uw805

"uw805" wrote:

> I appreciate your quick response.
>
> Do you mean I'm putting in an invalid network key? I don't know much
> about computers, but if the key is invalid, then why does it let me "connect"
> to the network (when I have a static IP)? Wouldn't it just reject me
> instead? I'll check the key again to make sure.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Paul
>
> "James Gockel" wrote:
>
> > Youre putting in an invalid key.
> >
> > -James G.
> >
> > "uw805" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> > news:32B614EC-723C-4378-9895-(E-Mail Removed)...
> > > Hello - I have seen many variations of this problem in other threads, but
> > > I
> > > haven't found one that relates specifically to my situation. I'll try to
> > > be
> > > specific...
> > >
> > > I just recieved a computer (used, w/ XP sp2) with a wireless modem. There
> > > is a wireless network at my house that others use, and the router and
> > > network
> > > are functioning fine for them.
> > >
> > > However, when I try to connect to the network, after entering the correct
> > > WPA network key, the connection remains in "Acquiring network address"
> > > status
> > > for many minutes, and eventually notifies me that I have "limited or no
> > > connection" because I was not assigned a network address.
> > >
> > > I have checked the settings of all the other computers on the network
> > > (also
> > > Windows XP), and they all have "Obtain an IP address automatically"
> > > selected.
> > > I also copied all thier other network/internet settings, and I have the
> > > same
> > > problem. Other visitors who have come to the house have been able to
> > > connect
> > > easily as well, which leads me to belive that it is a problem on my
> > > computer.
> > >
> > > Using a static IP, I am able to connect to the network with a good signal.
> > > However I cannot access the internet. I think this might be because of
> > > the
> > > IP addresses I used, but I don't know how to correct that. I also feel
> > > that
> > > my computer should be able to automatically have an IP address assigned,
> > > since that is working for everyone else, so I'd rather not mess around
> > > with a
> > > static IP unless it's absolutely necessary.
> > >
> > > The wireless card works at many other networks, so I don't think that is
> > > the
> > > problem. I have tried uninstalling and reinstalling it, and that didn't
> > > help. I have also tried some of the other recommendations that I have
> > > seen
> > > on this and other forums, but no luck.
> > >
> > > Any thoughts? I appreciate any help or ideas.
> > >
> > > Thanks,
> > >
> > > uw805
> >
> >
> >

Its not really connected, it just acts connected. To windows "connected"
means you have a valid IP address, thus a static valid IP will tell it it's
connected... on the other hand when you have a bad network key for example,
or bad connection, it'll give you a IP address but it'll be bad, and tell
you, you have no connection.

-James G.

"uw805" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
newsEE0D58A-3041-4A29-8FCF-(E-Mail Removed)...
> Problem solved. It was the wrong key. Someone in the house copied it
> down
> incorrectly. I'm really surprised that they let you "connect" with an
> incorrect network key. I'm a little frustrated after all that work for
> one
> wrong digit, but glad to be online. Thanks for the heads up, James
>
> uw805
>
> "uw805" wrote:
>
>> I appreciate your quick response.
>>
>> Do you mean I'm putting in an invalid network key? I don't know much
>> about computers, but if the key is invalid, then why does it let me
>> "connect"
>> to the network (when I have a static IP)? Wouldn't it just reject me
>> instead? I'll check the key again to make sure.
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> Paul
>>
>> "James Gockel" wrote:
>>
>> > Youre putting in an invalid key.
>> >
>> > -James G.
>> >
>> > "uw805" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>> > news:32B614EC-723C-4378-9895-(E-Mail Removed)...
>> > > Hello - I have seen many variations of this problem in other threads,
>> > > but
>> > > I
>> > > haven't found one that relates specifically to my situation. I'll
>> > > try to
>> > > be
>> > > specific...
>> > >
>> > > I just recieved a computer (used, w/ XP sp2) with a wireless modem.
>> > > There
>> > > is a wireless network at my house that others use, and the router and
>> > > network
>> > > are functioning fine for them.
>> > >
>> > > However, when I try to connect to the network, after entering the
>> > > correct
>> > > WPA network key, the connection remains in "Acquiring network
>> > > address"
>> > > status
>> > > for many minutes, and eventually notifies me that I have "limited or
>> > > no
>> > > connection" because I was not assigned a network address.
>> > >
>> > > I have checked the settings of all the other computers on the network
>> > > (also
>> > > Windows XP), and they all have "Obtain an IP address automatically"
>> > > selected.
>> > > I also copied all thier other network/internet settings, and I have
>> > > the
>> > > same
>> > > problem. Other visitors who have come to the house have been able to
>> > > connect
>> > > easily as well, which leads me to belive that it is a problem on my
>> > > computer.
>> > >
>> > > Using a static IP, I am able to connect to the network with a good
>> > > signal.
>> > > However I cannot access the internet. I think this might be because
>> > > of
>> > > the
>> > > IP addresses I used, but I don't know how to correct that. I also
>> > > feel
>> > > that
>> > > my computer should be able to automatically have an IP address
>> > > assigned,
>> > > since that is working for everyone else, so I'd rather not mess
>> > > around
>> > > with a
>> > > static IP unless it's absolutely necessary.
>> > >
>> > > The wireless card works at many other networks, so I don't think that
>> > > is
>> > > the
>> > > problem. I have tried uninstalling and reinstalling it, and that
>> > > didn't
>> > > help. I have also tried some of the other recommendations that I
>> > > have
>> > > seen
>> > > on this and other forums, but no luck.
>> > >
>> > > Any thoughts? I appreciate any help or ideas.
>> > >
>> > > Thanks,
>> > >
>> > > uw805
>> >
>> >
>> >