Techie/network folks, riddle me this

[effervescible]

So yesterday morning I was surfing the net a little and everything was fine. I came home, woke the computer up and suddenly it can't connect to the wireless network. It sees the network, but claims limited/no connectivity; if you look at the status of the connection, packets aren't being sent or received. If I try to disconnect and manually reconnect to the network, it's always a failed connection, then it goes back to the limited/no connectivity thing. (In terms of icons, this gives me the regular "you're connected" icon with a little yellow "HO SHIT, NO YOU'RE NOT" thing on top of it, as opposed to the grayed-out icon of when you're truly not connected to any network.)

I called my landlord (who lives upstairs) and as of this morning, the network's been working fine for him. He suggested the problem is with my computer, but I really doubt that, considering no changes were made to my computer (I mean, it was sleeping all day) and this sort of thing has happened before.

I suggested he reset the router to see if that helps and call the cable company if it doesn't, but you guys tell me for peace of mind—is there anything else I can try on my end? I'm running Vista Ultimate, which normally doesn't act hinky or anything.

It was actually sort of nice to have a peaceful evening of cleaning and reading instead of doing computery thing, but I'm going to have to cut a bitch if this bullshit continues through the weekend.

ETA: I forgot to mention it, but while I didn't think to cross-check last night, every other time this has happened, my old XP desktop has been unable to connect either.

Comments

[kyburg.livejournal.com]

Jim has Vista on his laptop and it borks his wireless on a regular basis. Check and see if your Vista needs a patch.

Vista. *hisses*

[tricia868]

I'm not sure what you can try. I know that this isn't a problem only you've had; one of my best friends has brought her laptop over to my place and had the exact same thing happen, even while the internet was working fine for me. If you do figure out a remedy, I'd be interested in hearing it...

*hugs*

[jaina.livejournal.com]

I didn't think to check this time around, but I should also mention that when this has happened before, it also refuses to connect to my old XP computer, which is slow and I don't use anymore but keep around to double-check things (and uh...to prop my feet on.)

Would you happen to know where I can check on a patch? Googling and even just looking at microsoft.com bring up a ton of contradictory locations.

[kyburg.livejournal.com]

He went back to his hardware manufacturer (which was Gateway), and they had it.

I have two other wireless items in my house I can check with - and that hasn't happened to me. The laptop loses its mind - it does it alone. (But it wouldn't hurt to update.)

[empath-eia.livejournal.com]

I've had this problem before. Nothing I did fixed it, I had to get a technician in. Sorry. :(

[cjblackwing.livejournal.com]

When I was homeschooled last year, every time it rained, we had the EXACT SAME PROBLEM.

So, how's the weather? :)

[thesunshine.livejournal.com]

I had this problem so much on my home laptop that I started using my husband's.

[lady-ganesh.livejournal.com]

I got nothing. Except once I turned the wireless card off on my laptop by mistake. Unless you did that...yeah, useless.

[raynos.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I get that with my office computer sometimes. I've been told it's because too many people are trying to make connections to the wireless and/or the wireless doesn't have a good signal. Usually I get over it by plugging in directly and then the connection will right itself within a couple of days. Your problem is because it can't set an IP address right?

You can also google "wireless limited/no connectivity", and there are some common causes summarised here: http://www.daniweb.com/forums/post670631-9.html

[aevalin.livejournal.com]

Only just peeping in...

Did you try repairing your wireless connection? If your XP machine can't connect my money is on something with the card. If it can't connect get the guy with the router to unplug the modem and router, then wait 30 seconds, restart the modem, then the router. That might smarten it up.

You haven't removed any spyware or anything have you?