Wireless internet not working on laptop...works on phone fine

Junior Member

10. August 2008 @ 20:25

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Hey all, I have a problem. I was on my laptop today and using the wireless internet. My girlfriend started pushing buttons and made it go into standby. When it came back from standby the internet didn't work. When I go to search for wireless networks, it says "no wireless networks in range." Thats pretty weird because I can put my phone(PPC6800) right next to my laptop and it connects and lets me get on the internet on it. I have tried everything I can think of. Restarted, updated driver, restarted router, set up the wireless network again, restarted again, uninstalled the device altogether, restarted, nothing. I am using my phone as a modem to get on now. I can't plug in a wire because somewhere along the way, i think my kid put something in the RJ-45 plug in my laptop and it doesn't connect wired at all. Any suggestions at all??????

gadget1st

Junior Member

23. August 2008 @ 17:05

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Check to make sure that the channel corresponds with your router channel, the channel is different from country to country.

You can also check to make sure that the Internet browser hasn't been set up to use an IP address that is not in your router's range.

Tools/Internet Options
Click on Connection Tab
Check LAN Settings

If your laptop uses a manufacturer Connection Manager then make sure that the option in your wireless manager does not say "Let Windows Manage your wireless connection" or words to that effect.

Gadget

If you stike me down now, I will become weaker than you could possibly imagine....

Senior Member

23. August 2008 @ 17:28

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Most laptops have a function key (F4,F6 maybe?) to turn on or off the wireless. Its a hotkey shortcut. Use the instruction manual or search the manufacturers website to find proper key for your model laptop.

Junior Member

24. August 2008 @ 12:22

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Thanks for the responses but the day after I posted that, my internet started working again. I have no idea why. Its done it one time since so I let it sit for an hour or so and it started working again. I don't know why it does this. Its not a problem with my router because my phone uses it and the antennae are pointed the right way(have had a problem with that in the past) but it just doesn't work sometimes for some reason.

Senior Member

24. August 2008 @ 13:04

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Glad it sorted itself out. I should have mentioned my wifes laptop there is a button right next to the LED indicator for the wireless that switches the antenna on or off. That to go along with the hotkey are things to check if they were accidentally switched off but youre fine so good luck!

Junior Member

26. August 2008 @ 16:19

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I still wonder what happened though. Its just one of those annoying things. There aren't any buttons to turn on the wifi and I don't know of any shortcuts. It is a Gateway and its about 2 years old. Gateway MX3422 is the model.

Senior Member

26. August 2008 @ 16:52

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Page 100 of your user manual says something about turning on wireless
http://support.gateway.com/s/Mobile/Q106/Blade/8511264.pdf
I cant say if that was your problem, just showing that there are functions to do that. I've been known to hit strange buttons and combination's trying to type properly instead of with only 2 fingers...

Junior Member

29. August 2008 @ 14:56

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Hey man, thanks a bunch. I didn't know that. I have kids and they just randomly hit buttons. Usually they turn it off but that is most likely what happened....."Fn" and "F2" turns off the wireless. Thanks a lot. I appreciate the time you took to give me that info.

Senior Member

29. August 2008 @ 18:02

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You are welcome. Actually, that very same scenario pops up on testing for A+ certification and other tests for computer tech skills. It served me well in real life already.
Dont be afraid to post if you have other questions.

Junior Member

31. August 2008 @ 14:22

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Ok, i'll keep the testing going. My desktop computer is having internet trouble too. Its been messed up for a while but I haven't really had time to mess with it. I can't get on the internet with it. The weird thing is that i can still do file sharing from that computer to my laptop. I have tried hooking my cell phone up to it to use as a modem and it doesn't work. It says connected just like the wired connection but doesn't let internet explorer display anything. Any ideas?