Any suggestions (laptop issue)
 

So I got my laptop today and it won't connect to my wireless internet. My old laptop, the one I'm on atm, is obviously connected so I'm guessing its an issue with connecting to my router or something with the computer.

Either way I called Comcast because usually in the past I've been able to get assistance with setting up my wireless from my ISP. She had me do the typical turn off the computer, turn off the router, etc. Didn't work.

Then she suggested I either get help from their xfinity support but they'd have to charge my account. Other option was to call cisco, the company that makes my router, and see if they could help. I chose to call cisco. Turns out they want to charge me too since my warranty is expired. I'd have to pay $30 minimum to get help from them. I told them no thanks.

So I don't know where to start on figuring this out myself... :hulksmash:

And it's not like it straight up won't connect. It recognizes it but when I go to connect, it tells me I have limited access and it's an unidentified connection :lost:

Decided to contact Acer support and they told me I should try downloading the wireless driver and updating it.

Never had a new laptop so wasn't sure... my old one was for display at Office Max.

Edit: Hm. I did what the person told me to do, it didn't work. Still says limited access.

*waits for Hrae or Triumph*

Tried Googling the "limited access wireless" or whatever along those lines?

Yeah. Hasn't helped too much. I'm trying to find out how to update my wireless driver or at least find it on my PC. I went to the site and it has a list of multiple things under wireless driver. Not sure if I'm supposed to download one or all.

You would think a new laptop wouldn't really need updating...

Yeah lol. This thing had the most ridiculous bloatware too. McAfee AND Norton trials. And a bunch of random stuff like from Netflex, Times, etc. My computer apparently had 55 updates available. Got them hoping one was for my wireless driver, but nothing after the reboot.

Hurm, Im not sure how your wireless is set up but on mine the computer or device has to be added to a 'White-list' of sorts for the wireless to accept it.
Is there any kind of admin control panel you can access and see if there's a security option ?

We haven't had to do that for anything so far (my other laptop, PS3, DS, etc). I mean, we have a security key to use it but I put the correct one in. I'm the one who made it. It still says unidentified network and limited. I think the limited MIGHT be the wifi they put up in our city. We're a smalltown and they recently gave the entire town free wifi for a little bit. It recognizes a really weak unsecured connection and is connected to it. But then when I go to mine and try to connect, it says unsuccessful.

Is your connection WPA, or WEP?
If it's WPA, is it AES or TIK?
This may be an encryption issue.

I guess WEP, it says that in the description.

You should be able to select which wireless network you want to use. I'm assuming Windows 7, so just click on the wireless icon in your tray.

Were you ever able to connect? Because I had a situation like that when I tried to uninstall McAfee/Norton and it didn't fully uninstall. You need to use the utility downloaded from their site to fully remove every aspect of it. I actually changed out a wireless card once before I figured out it was the stupid Norton firewall remnant acting up.

Yeah I thought about it being Norton or McAfee since they were both installed. I THINK I fully uninstalled them. I'll have to look and see if there's anything left behind. This is why I didn't use them on my last laptop, they wouldn't let me connect via wireless.

http://img825.imageshack.us/img825/1501/58510434.png

The top connection in this pic is my ethernet.

http://img29.imageshack.us/img29/8143/16614189.png

Try disabling all encryption.
If you are able to get online it´s an encryption problem and should probably switch to WPA (Better Security Strength)

Personally if I buy a prebuilt system I usually nuke the hard drive and reinstall the OS entirely. Gets rid of the bloatware, and since it's new, you don't really lose anything. Windows 7 makes it a fairly painless process too. That'd be my first suggestion before proceeding below. If you don't want to do this, that's fine too.

I'm not sure if you bought the Acer laptop you linked in your other thread, but either way, find out which wireless card you have, since it doesn't appear to be listed. As an example, while you are connected to a wireless connection:

Open Network and Sharing Center
Under active connections, click on Connections: Wireless Network Connection
Under activity, click on Properties

By default, your wireless card should be listed. Go to the drivers section and install the latest driver for that card. I realize this is a fairly standard noobtech support reply, but you gotta start somewhere.

And back to this... I was at my boyfriends for a few days and since I wasn't at home I figured I wouldn't bother with trying to resolve my issue.

It appears I have an Atheros AR5B97 Wireless Network Adapter. I checked for updates for it on my PC it said it couldn't install my driver and to check the makers website.

It says its at version 9.0.0.202 but I found a download for a version 9.3.0.419 for the same driver I believe...

http://www.atheros.cz/atheros-wirele...et=40&system=5