I need help with a laptop.. Im getting ready to take it to be fixed but thought I would check with the mama's first. Heres the problem..... The wireless network shows up and shows a connected status but there is no internet access??? It wont even connect with an ethernet cord? It worked one day and not the next. I have googled it and tried every remedy (that was within my comfort zone) Nothing has worked so far. Any ideas or suggestions before I go spend 50-75 dollars to have it fixed? As always- Thanks moms!
It is a dell laptop. We have a desktop that connects wireless and have had no problems with it. Spent hours on the phone with ATT and they cant help. It doesnt appear to be the internet service. Wireless button is on. Its running Windows 7
OK- after troubleshooting it says that connection does not have a valid IP configuration. How do i fix that??
Have you tried to delete tthat connection and create a new one? The link could be broken somewhere, so creating a new connection may fix it. Delete all the networks out and reinstall.
What kind of computer do you have? Windows? Mac? On windows, you can right click the internet symbol and select 'repair'. Don't take the computer in, you need to call your internet company and ask them what's up, doesn't sound like it has anything to do with the computer and more to do with the internet signal.
Also, make sure you do not have a firewall or security software preventing the computer from accessing the internet.
If you plug it in directly to your router, does it work? Do you have a desk top hooked up that is able to connect to the internet?
One more thing, on some laptops, there is a tiny little switch either on the left hand side or on the back of the computer... make sure it's 'on' and the light is lit (if you have one).
CALL THE INTERNET PROVIDER, this sounds like their problem.
ETA: Of course ATT is going to lay the blame on someone else. Call dell support before bringing the computer in; I bet they say it has to do with the internet connection. Do you have another computer you can try to get internet access on? Or maybe your neighbors do? If it won't even work when you plug it in directly, IT'S THE INTERNET, not your wireless card. If you don't have a valid IP, call ATT and have them issue a new one. I had an issue similar to this a few weeks ago... you have 2 IPs... one, is kind of like your house address, it never changes. The other is based in your computer. THAT one changes every few days/weeks. You got a bad IP, and they need to break the cycle and issue a new one.
Call the internet provider and have them help you reset the IP configuration. You might be able to find it on your desktop if it has wireless to and make it match. I believe it is under settings>network connections and work your way from there. I am not wireless right now so I can't get through the rest
Mine did that a few times, the connection was there but I could not open up the Internet.
It turned out that our Internet provider was the one having issues. It kept going down from time to time for about 3 days. it had nothing to do with our computer at all.
Call your Internet provider to see if they are experiencing problems in your area.
Did you reboot your router?
Basically, unplug it for like 30 seconds, then plug it back in.
Then after you do that, restart your computer.
When I see this problem, I also use that little button and turn it on and off or restart the computer.
I even ordered a new wireless card that I was going to have installed. Then it started working again. It's been sitting in the plastic for awhile. I would be happy to send it to you. I don't know what I paid for it. It's just sitting here. But it has to be installed. I don't know if it fits in most computers or not. Mine is a 6 year old dell inspiron.
Almost sounds like you might be connected to a public wireless connection and not your own. Without seeing your connection info it is tough to troubleshoot this way. Right click on the wireless icon on the laptop and view available wireless connections and see what the status is and what router it is connected to and update us...
My husbands old laptop had a small button on the outside edge that would turn wireless capability on and off. One time when he was having problems connecting he noticed it and it had been bumped and turned off.
Have you went to Tool - Internet options - Connections and set up a connection that way?
