Linksys Wireless wont connect & makes static noises! 2

[evolutionary]

Hello and thanks in advance for any replies on this....I'm easy with my stars!

I am running a small network with a linksys 2.4ghz router, and all is fine except my one laptop and card (linksys WPC11 ver 3). The laptop, once I put the wireless card in it, makes a static noise every 2 seconds from the speakers. This happens even when the sound card is disabled. It also decreases in volume when I grab onto the end of the card sticking out of the laptop.

It wont connect, and I cannot ping the router.

I am running Windows XP on this laptop as well as the other computers that are hooked up to this router (all of the others are wired).

I have WEP turned off, and I left everything as the default settings in the router as well as the wireless card. I have flashed the router with the most up-to-date firmware and reset it multiple times, all without success.

If anyone can help, please reply to this. If you need to know anything else, just ask. Ive had this card for about 4 months now, and I finally have some time to mess around with it. I'd like to get it fixed.

Thanks!
Ben

 

[bcastner]

1. Have you flashed the card with the most up-to-date firmware and sofware? If the card is four months old the firmware is likely okay. The newer software is available from Microsoft Update, search for Device Drivers.

2. But as the card is essentially new it is not possible to rule out that the card is defective.

Start, Run, CMD

ping 127.0.0.1 Does it work?
ping 192.168.1.1 Does it work (this should be the router)
ping 192.168.0.1 Alternate location of router
ping yahoo.com DNS test

ipconfig /all

Does it show an IP in the 192.168.x.x range for the device?
Is the default gateway setting 192.168.1.x or 0.x?
Are there DNS entries?

ipconfig /reset

Does it do this without complaint?

ipconfig /renew

Did the values change from the instance earlier of this test?

3. Are any green LEDs on for the card? Or, just power but not Link?

4. Do you still have a cable plugged into an ethernet port on the back (or side) of the machine?

5. Did you mess up and run Setup from the installation floppy?

6. right-click My Computer, Manage, Services, Services and scroll the list to nearly the bottom. Is Wireless Zero Configuration Service started and not disabled and stopped?

7. For crackling noise from the speaker: this is almost always due to poor shielding on the PCMCIA slots. The laptop speaker is often directly above the slots. If possible you can try moving the device to the lowest slot to see if it helps. I have one Dell latitude that does this with a Cisco card but not the Linksys; and two other versions of the Latitude that do not do this with either one. Cisco told me that it was a shielding issue with the laptop, and I tend to think they are right.

The "gotchas":

1. Under XP if you run Setup from the Linksys installation CD it installs the client monitor. If this monitor runs it becomes very difficult to make XP connect with the board. It is also a p.i.a. to remove this software. If this is what happened to you, remove any Linksys mention in Add/Remove Programs, Look in Device Manager and uninstall anything that says Linksys. Remove the card and reboot XP. Now insert the card and hopefully the new hardware wizard will run. Tell it Have Disk, and point at the CD-rom drive to locate the drivers.

2. If that works use Device Manger to configure the card in terms of Channel, WEP, SSID. While it is not a great idea to have 'linksys' and Channel 6 as the defaults, worry about changing the router and card later in terms of these details.

3. After Device Manager right-click on the tray icon for your internet connection, Properties, Wireless Connection, Properties, Configure. Check that all the settings look okay. Highlight TCP/IP and make sure everything is set to automatic, and then under Advanced, WINS disable LMHOSTS, and enable Netbios over TCP/IP.

Reeboot.

Double-click the tray icon and see what your status looks like. Signal strength good? Click the support tab, do you have an IP in the 19.168.1.x range? Is the default gateway there? Are there DNS entries?

If not, download the latest drivers from either the Microsoft Update site or Linksys, expand them, and have them available. Repeat the "gotchas" steps with the new drives. If it still does not work return it. Here is the link to establish the RMA. A cross-shipped RMA is usually two business days:

https://ssl.linksys.com/rma1.asp

 

[bcastner]

One last "gotcha", disable 802.1x authentication under the Wireless Connection tab in properties for the card. This usually does not prevent a connection, it just makes it drop after 10-15 minutes of use.

 

[evolutionary]

Thanks for the reply.

So far, I pinged the 127.0.0.1 and got all 4 packets back fine. However, the other addresses you mentioned, all 4 packets sent were lost.

On the card, the power led is green, and the link one is flashing green. There are no other ethernet adapters on this laptop, just a modem on back (which is disconnected).

When I do ipconfig /all, I get the following:
Host name: laptop
primary dns suffix: (blank)
node type: broadcast
ip routing: no
wins proxy: no

ethernet wireless network connection 2:
media state: media disconnected
description: instant wireless network pc card 3.0
physical address: 00-06-25-17-0A-eb

When I tried to release and renew the ipconfig, it said that no operation can be performed on wireless network connection while it has its media disconnected.

I have flashed it with the most updated firmware and just installed the newest drivers yet again, to no avail.

I also checked that service you mentioned, the Wireless Zero Configuration Service, and it is started.


I havent tried the gotchas yet, I just wanted to post this and see if you or anyone else has any ideas.

thanks,
ben

 

[evolutionary]

Now I just switched to ad-hoc mode and I can connect, although its a very weak signal. I cant do anything (browse the network/internet/etc) but I get a subnet mask of 255.255.0.0, no gateway, no DNS suffix.

 

[evolutionary]

And now I just switched back to infrastructure mode and still the same thing. Im connecting, although I cant do anything, the signal strength is low (link quality and signal strength are both n/a). The signal strength is 2/5 bars in the connection status area.

I still have no gateway, and the subnet mask is 255.255.0.0. The DNS and the WINS Server are also blank.

The static noises are now about 5 per second instead of one every 2 seconds.

Thanks again ahead of time.
Ben

 

[bcastner]

If the link led is flashing it is not finding the router. The flashing occurs when there is no association.

Your ipconfig settings reflect this. You do not have a DHCP address from the router, nor a gateway or DNS entries.

The gotchas are important, as you could be on a different channel or have some other setting such as 802.1x enabled that is denying you access.

When you right click the two little blue computer tray icon and select Open Network Connections, then right-click your Wireless Connection and select properties, you should see the Wireless Networks tab. The wireless router should appear. Add it to the bottom panel as a preferred network and set all of its features with Advanced.

Go to the General tab, and hit Configure. Check/set your WEP, SSID and channels. Apply those settings. Make sure that you have added the Client for Microsoft Networks, and File and printer sharing. Highlight TCP/IP and hit Properties. Set it for automaticly obtaining its addresses. Hit Advanced, under the WINS tab uncheck the LHMOSTS option, and check the Enable Netbios over TCP/IP.

Save your way back to the desktop and reboot.

As you have not specified, if the wireless router is a BEFRS41W, then see this link for other possible complications:

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/ewan.lisa/pages/linksys.htm

 

[evolutionary]

Ok, heres the update:

The link led is now a constant green. I have no gateway or DNS still, but I have an autoconfig IP address and a subnet mask. The IP address isnt the 192.168.1.102 that it should be however, it looks like the one that Im connected to now through the router.

I just did all of your gotchas and they allowed me to connect to the network, but I can't do anything or ping the router even. I have disabled the setting of the 802.1x.

I havent set up WEP on the router (its disabled) or the laptop, and the SSID is still linksys. I changed the channel to channel 1 on the router and the card, and Im still getting a 2/5 signal. Client for Microsoft Networks, and File and printer sharing are both there. I Highlighted TCP/IP and set it for automaticly obtaining its addresses. I then hit Advanced, under the WINS tab uncheck the LHMOSTS option, and check the Enable Netbios over TCP/IP.

The only thing I am wondering about now is that the wireless network properties box has the option for the ad hoc network grayed out. I set it up in advanced to access any available network.

Do I need to set up my router differently? I have a linksys 2.4 ghz, model befw11s4 ver. 2.


Thanks a ton, you've almost got me there.

 

[bcastner]

Lets try a static address then. I am going to use for this example a router that you can access the administration page at address 192.168.1.1, the default. If you changed this at all, make the changes below for my example:

On the TCP/IP Properties page for the adapter:
Use static IP 192.168.1.2
Subnet mask 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway 192.168.1.1

For DNS, make 1 entry: 192.168.1.1

Click Advanced. Under the WINS tab make sure LMHOSTS is disabled, Netbios over TCP/IP is enabled.

Save the changes.

From Start, Run, CMD do the following
ipconfig /release *
ipconfig /renew *
(use the asterix, it means 'all')
ipconfig /all

See if the entries you made in the Properties section above for the adapter have successfully propogated to the settings shown by ipconfig. If so, you should be done.

 

[evolutionary]

bcastner -

I couldnt release and renew since I set it manually and DHCP was disabled. However, it says now that I am connected, although I still cannot load anything through IE or access any internet functions. I just restarted the computer as well, but its still doing the same thing. I had to change the IP to 192.168.1.101 to make it work.

Also, I just tried pinging the router at 192.168.1.1 and it did not get any response.

The static noise is still at the 3-5 per second rate, which is what it has done when it says its connected but isnt really.

On the router, I still am not getting any activity in the WLAN act, although the WLAN link is lit.

Thanks again,
Ben

 

[bcastner]

Woah.

You most certainly can release and renew a static IP.

Time for some medicine. Download this and run it with the card in the machine:

http://members.shaw.ca/techcd/VB_Projects/VB_WinFix.exe

After the machine reboots check your settings again.

 

[evolutionary]

Ok, just ran it with the card in the machine, and it cleared out my TCP/IP settings. I manually set them again, and still no change. It says I am connected, although I cannot ping anything (except the laptop itself). All of the settings in the ipconfig look to be right: ip address 192.168.1.101, subnet 255.255.255.0, gateway 192.168.1.1, DNS servers 192.168.1.1. The only thing still blank is the primary DNS suffix in the ipconfig screen.

When I try to renew the IP config in the dos screen, I get the following: "Adapter Wireless Network Connection is not enabled for Dhcp."

 

[bcastner]

If you set a static ip of 192.168.1.101 this is not a good idea. Use 192.168.1.2. If the IP was static then Ipconfig is correct to report that it is not set for Dhcp.

Last step: Disable all firewalls, particularly the default XP one. If you are using another firewall product it may not completely disable itself if you just right-click its tray icon and hit disable. Disable it using MSCONFIG.

Reboot. I think you are done.

 

[evolutionary]

I reset the IP to the 192.168.1.2, and now when I open IE, it says no internet connection detected and asks if I want to work offline. I still have the same connection level and static noise, but when I have this IP, IE asks if I want to work offline. When I set it to .101, IE doesnt give me that message, but instead tries to load pages, but it cant. I rebooted several times so far and even ran that program twice you gave a link to.

My hardwired computer on this linksys router is 192.168.1.100. Thats why I figured I needed the .101 for the wireless one.

I did have another tower hooked up wireless to this router previously with a PCI wireless linksys card, without problems after about 5 minutes of configuration. Its just this damn laptop!

I disabled the winxp firewall awhile ago, and havent installed any other software on this laptop yet.

 

[bcastner]

Look in the router setup pages under the Dhcp tab. The default is to begin assinging IPs at 192.168.1.100 with a default of 50 addresses. If these settings have been changed they need to get reset.

You cannot reuse a static IP, so if something else is at 192.168.1.2 this would be a problem. You can pick any static IP you want in the 192.168.1.x subnet, except 0, 1 or 255; the DHCP scope of 192.168.1.100 - 192.168.1.150; or any static IP already assigned.

While you are there make certain that the default gateway IP on the router itself is 192.168.1.1.
Finally, go into IE, Tools, Internet Options and set your LAN configuration. You do not want a Proxy enabled.

Then go into Device Manger, View, Show Hidden Devices, Network Adapters and look at the list. The WAN miniport drivers you can leave alone, as well as a wired NIC if there is one. Make sure there are no virtual devices, like an AOL Adapter or somesuch thing; no VPN adapters; no PPoE Adapters other than the WAN miniport one. Uninstall any you find.

Make sure any DSL dialing software like WinPoet are removed.

Go to the Network Connection Page and make certain that a bridge was not created by Microsoft. It would show on this page if it was created. Remove it if it exists.

Reboot, and look again at IPCONFIG /all
The wireless adapter should show a proper IP for the subnet 192.168.1.x, a Gateway pointing to the IP of the router, and a populated DNS table.

right-click the Network tray Icon, Properties, and make certain that the SSID of your network is shown as the only Preferred Network, and appears in both top and bottom box. Click connect.

Try IE again.

 

[evolutionary]

Hmm... I have it all set up like that, and no changes. It still says Im connected peer to peer but I cant do anything or ping anything.

Im beginning to wonder if this card is the problem.

 

[bcastner]

The setting should be infrastructure.

Ad Hoc would get you a signal, but not a connection.
Set the card in its Advanced properties to infrastructure, and under the Wireless Connection tab to connect only to access points.

 

[evolutionary]

When I try to connect after I made the changes you suggested, it tells me that the selected network linksys is a computer-to-computer network. Your wireless connection is currently configured to not connect to computer-to-computer networks.

Is this an issue with the router then?

 

[bcastner]

The router cannot be set to an ad hoc configuration.

The relevant settings are found in two places:

Bring up the adapter property sheet by right-clicking the tray icon, Open Network Connections, right-clicking Wireless network, Properties.

Hit the configure button.
Advanced, Network Type, set it to infrastructure and hit Okay.

right-click again on Wireless, Properties.
Wireless Networks tab.
Configure.
Uncheck use Wep
Uncheck use Authentication
Uncheck the last box on computer to computer.
Hit OK.

Now try again. You are very, very close.

 

[evolutionary]

I can feel that Im getting close. At least I hope I am.

However, now that I changed the settings of the card to infrastructure, I lost the linksys network from the available network box in the wireless network tab. I have it in the preferred network box, but none in the box above.