Wireless Network: Local Access Only

[StarsFan4Life]

Ok. I am getting pissed right about now. Hopefully someone can help..

I just got a new Dell Studio 1537 laptop yesterday. It came with Vista Home Premium which I reformatted and put Ultimate on it. I downloaded all the respective drivers, set them all up, updated to SP1 and got all updates. The laptop is sharp and ready to go.....except for the wireless.

I have a DLink DIR-655 gigabit lan / wireless N. I have it setup on a 26 character WEP key, which I currently use just fine on my PS3 and two other laptops (one of the laptops being Ubuntu). For the life of me, I cannot figure out why I am getting an unidentified network "local access only" on the wireless after putting in the proper security settings/code to connect to my wireless

I ran into this problem once before with my other Dell 1521 laptop (which I posted a thread here). In that thread, I fixed it myself but uninstalling and deleting the drivers, restarting, and letting it reinstall the drivers. That worked that time....it did not work this time.

After googling, this seems to be a pretty common problem, but no real solution for it. Based upon what I said, and the results of my IPCONFIG /all below, what seems to be the problem and how can I fix it?

I have identified the problem....but I can't FIX IT (there is your SNL fix for the day).




Microsoft Windows [Version 6.0.6001]
Copyright (c) 2006 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

C:\Users\Home>ipconfig /all

Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : MyLaptop
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : tx.rr.com

Wireless LAN adapter Wireless Network Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Intel(R) WiFi Link 5100
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-21-5D-70-0C-8C
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::39fe:55b:e1e1:893c%11(Preferred)
Autoconfiguration IPv4 Address. . : 169.254.137.60(Preferred)
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.0.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . :
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : fec0:0:0:ffff::1%1
fec0:0:0:ffff::2%1
fec0:0:0:ffff::3%1
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Enabled

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : tx.rr.com
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Broadcom NetLink (TM) Gigabit Ethernet
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-21-70-89-DD-75
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::a571:5927:9271:c410%8(Preferred)
IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.182(Preferred)
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Tuesday, February 10, 2009 3:04:01 AM
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Wednesday, February 11, 2009 3:04:00 AM
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Enabled

Tunnel adapter Local Area Connection* 6:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : tx.rr.com
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : isatap.tx.rr.com
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Tunnel adapter Local Area Connection* 7:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 02-00-54-55-4E-01
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IPv6 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 2001:0:4137:9e50:2468:389c:3f57:ff49(Pref
erred)
Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::2468:389c:3f57:ff49%9(Preferred)
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : ::
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Disabled

Tunnel adapter Local Area Connection* 11:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft ISATAP Adapter #2
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Might I add that the wireless card is the integrated Intel Wifilink 5100.

 

[JackMDS]

Your Wireless does not connect to the Router and does not get a valid IP.

IP 169.xxx.xxx.xxx means Windows default IP. I.e No network IP.

Does the Wireless works well with No security?

 

[boomerang]

I've had Vista systems in front of me that needed both a reboot and second entering of the key to get it to take. Why would this be necessary? I don't know.

Also, I've made it pretty much standard practice to disable the wireless utility built into the driver package on wireless adapters. I use the utility built into Vista exclusively. I feel they are oftentimes fighting for superiority with the end result being that neither works.

I have also got them to work by initially disabling the firewall as Jack suggested.

 

[StarsFan4Life]

I have been using the built in Vista version only. I only downloaded and manually set the drivers for the Wifi, did not install the Intel Wireless Utility. So that isn't it.

I disabled the firewall...still no go.

None of those are a problems on Vista Ultimate on a Dell 1521 and Linux (Ubuntu) on a Dell X300.

 

[SolMiester]

Silly question, but have you id'd the network and classified as private etc.....I have had issues with that stopping access outside the LAN....

However as the others have said, you aren't receiving DHCP thru the router, which to me says it isnt authenticated....26 character WEP key?.....thats alot to enter correctly....I use WPA2 myself with passphase and MAC filtering.....

I would turn off security 1st and establish if you can get a connect 1st, before doing the encrption.

 

[StarsFan4Life]

Originally posted by: SolMiester
Silly question, but have you id'd the network and classified as private etc.....I have had issues with that stopping access outside the LAN....

However as the others have said, you aren't receiving DHCP thru the router, which to me says it isnt authenticated....26 character WEP key?.....thats alot to enter correctly....I use WPA2 myself with passphase and MAC filtering.....

I would turn off security 1st and establish if you can get a connect 1st, before doing the encrption.

I will try this tonight as well.

 

[JackMDS]

Originally posted by: JackMDS
Your Wireless does not connect to the Router and does not get a valid IP.

IP 169.xxx.xxx.xxx means Windows default IP. I.e No network IP.

Does the Wireless works well with No security?

This means is it Working without the Wireless security?

I.e. log to the Router from a working computer and Disable the Wireless security.

This info might help to, http://www.ezlan.net/faq.html#wep

 

[StarsFan4Life]

If I disable wireless security, don't I run the risk of my neighbours leeching my internet and intruding my network?

 

[Slowlearner]

Yes, but you are going to this temporarily just to troubleshoot. Right now your new laptop is not getting a valid IP address from the router, maybe not connecting it at all. Once you get that worked out, you have to go back and add several layers of security measures. It may also be difficult to accurately type in a 26 character pass code << type it in notepad, then cut and paste using maybe a usb key.

In an older Dell laptop (Ins 8600) there was a separate Dell utility to manage the wireless connection, that needed to be disabled by unchecking a box in the main window to let XP "manage" the connection. But this is a new box call Dell and chech their forums http://en.community.dell.com/forums/ - you are likely to better feedback there.

 

[JackMDS]

The idea is Not to operate forever the Wireless without secuurity.

It is just a short diagnostic step to ascertain that the core hardware is working OK, and basic configuration is correct.

 

[StarsFan4Life]

Originally posted by: Slowlearner
Yes, but you are going to this temporarily just to troubleshoot. Right now your new laptop is not getting a valid IP address from the router, maybe not connecting it at all. Once you get that worked out, you have to go back and add several layers of security measures. It may also be difficult to accurately type in a 26 character pass code << type it in notepad, then cut and paste using maybe a usb key.

In an older Dell laptop (Ins 8600) there was a separate Dell utility to manage the wireless connection, that needed to be disabled by unchecking a box in the main window to let XP "manage" the connection. But this is a new box call Dell and chech their forums http://en.community.dell.com/forums/ - you are likely to better feedback there.

My 26 passkey right now is 26 0's....how can I not type that in right?

Like I said, it authenticated with the router and says connection successful, but all I get it "local access only" with an ip of 169.xxx.xxx.xx instead of 192.168.0.xxx.

 

[thecoolnessrune]

Lol, your key is 26 0s and you're worried about someone getting in while the security is off? :laugh:

Anyways, I have to agree that your best course of action is simply to disable security and try it again.

 

[kevnich2]

Originally posted by: StarsFan4Life

Originally posted by: Slowlearner
Yes, but you are going to this temporarily just to troubleshoot. Right now your new laptop is not getting a valid IP address from the router, maybe not connecting it at all. Once you get that worked out, you have to go back and add several layers of security measures. It may also be difficult to accurately type in a 26 character pass code << type it in notepad, then cut and paste using maybe a usb key.

In an older Dell laptop (Ins 8600) there was a separate Dell utility to manage the wireless connection, that needed to be disabled by unchecking a box in the main window to let XP "manage" the connection. But this is a new box call Dell and chech their forums http://en.community.dell.com/forums/ - you are likely to better feedback there.

My 26 passkey right now is 26 0's....how can I not type that in right?

Like I said, it authenticated with the router and says connection successful, but all I get it "local access only" with an ip of 169.xxx.xxx.xx instead of 192.168.0.xxx.

Well sorry to say but that's poor security in of itself. That can easily be bruteforced if needed. Secondly, a 26 key WEP key is fairly easy to type incorrectly, one or less 0's and it's now wrong. Try changing this from WEP to WPA with like an 8 digit key with random characters. I honestly think the key your typing in is incorrect, hence why your PC is connecting to the wireless but not getting a valid IP, all indications of a bad encryption key.

 

[xSauronx]

Originally posted by: StarsFan4Life

Originally posted by: Slowlearner
Yes, but you are going to this temporarily just to troubleshoot. Right now your new laptop is not getting a valid IP address from the router, maybe not connecting it at all. Once you get that worked out, you have to go back and add several layers of security measures. It may also be difficult to accurately type in a 26 character pass code << type it in notepad, then cut and paste using maybe a usb key.

In an older Dell laptop (Ins 8600) there was a separate Dell utility to manage the wireless connection, that needed to be disabled by unchecking a box in the main window to let XP "manage" the connection. But this is a new box call Dell and chech their forums http://en.community.dell.com/forums/ - you are likely to better feedback there.

My 26 passkey right now is 26 0's....

/facepalm

 

[StarsFan4Life]

Originally posted by: xSauronx

Originally posted by: StarsFan4Life

Originally posted by: Slowlearner
Yes, but you are going to this temporarily just to troubleshoot. Right now your new laptop is not getting a valid IP address from the router, maybe not connecting it at all. Once you get that worked out, you have to go back and add several layers of security measures. It may also be difficult to accurately type in a 26 character pass code << type it in notepad, then cut and paste using maybe a usb key.

In an older Dell laptop (Ins 8600) there was a separate Dell utility to manage the wireless connection, that needed to be disabled by unchecking a box in the main window to let XP "manage" the connection. But this is a new box call Dell and chech their forums http://en.community.dell.com/forums/ - you are likely to better feedback there.

My 26 passkey right now is 26 0's....

/facepalm

Don't hit your head to hard....I did it that way for testing.....but thanks anyways.

Ok, so I upgraded to firmware 1.21 and it set everything back to default. With no wireless security, I was able to connect:

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.0.6001]
Copyright (c) 2006 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

C:\Users\Home>ipconfig /all

Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : Laptop
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : tx.rr.com

Wireless LAN adapter Wireless Network Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : tx.rr.com
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Intel(R) WiFi Link 5100
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-21-5D-70-0C-8C
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::497c:39aa:fe5f:70e7%17(Preferred)
IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.198(Preferred)
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Wednesday, February 11, 2009 11:44:41 AM
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Thursday, February 12, 2009 11:47:11 AM
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Enabled

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : tx.rr.com
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Broadcom NetLink (TM) Gigabit Ethernet
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-21-70-89-DD-75
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::a571:5927:9271:c410%8(Preferred)
IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.182(Preferred)
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Wednesday, February 11, 2009 11:11:17 AM
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Thursday, February 12, 2009 11:11:17 AM
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Enabled

Tunnel adapter Local Area Connection* 6:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : tx.rr.com
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : isatap.tx.rr.com
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Tunnel adapter Local Area Connection* 7:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 02-00-54-55-4E-01
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IPv6 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 2001:0:4137:9e50:3068:17fd:3f57:ff49(Pref
erred)
Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::3068:17fd:3f57:ff49%9(Preferred)
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : ::
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Disabled

C:\Users\Home>^A


So now what do I want to do? Obviously it was WEP that SUCKED.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: StarsFan4Life

Originally posted by: Slowlearner
Yes, but you are going to this temporarily just to troubleshoot. Right now your new laptop is not getting a valid IP address from the router, maybe not connecting it at all. Once you get that worked out, you have to go back and add several layers of security measures. It may also be difficult to accurately type in a 26 character pass code << type it in notepad, then cut and paste using maybe a usb key.

In an older Dell laptop (Ins 8600) there was a separate Dell utility to manage the wireless connection, that needed to be disabled by unchecking a box in the main window to let XP "manage" the connection. But this is a new box call Dell and chech their forums http://en.community.dell.com/forums/ - you are likely to better feedback there.

My 26 passkey right now is 26 0's....how can I not type that in right?

Like I said, it authenticated with the router and says connection successful, but all I get it "local access only" with an ip of 169.xxx.xxx.xx instead of 192.168.0.xxx.

And like everybody is saying that is the classic symptom of a security/encryption mismatch - you'll be connected, but can't communicate.

 

[StarsFan4Life]

Ok....note to self...do NOT use WEP.


Upgraded firmware to 1.21, changed to WPA2 with a 9 character key and I was able to connect.

Now, my next question....how can I "use" Wireless N on this card? Currently I have my router setup for mixed mode B/G/N and this Wifi Link 5100 (which is Wireless N and G) is connecting at 54mbps G. Do I have to change configuration on the card or the router to use Wireless N? I do not want to go strictly N because my other two laptops are wireless G.

 

[SolMiester]

If anything on your network is G, the network will downgrade to G.....you cannot have G & N running at there native speeds on the same network....

 

[ccbadd]

Originally posted by: SolMiester
If anything on your network is G, the network will downgrade to G.....you cannot have G & N running at there native speeds on the same network....

Actually, this only applies to 2.4Ghz @ 40Mhz wide channel. If a G network is close by, your N will drop to 20Mhz width thus giving you a max of 130mbs connect speed instead of 270mbs. It does not, however, drop all the way back to G speeds.

 

[StarsFan4Life]

Well, I am only connecting at 54mbps...and it is 3 feet from the router.