One laptop out of four will not see my network

Hi. I have a weird problem. My Compaq Presario CQ61 sees all wireless networks available except mine. Sometimes, if I reboot, it will initially connect (at this point my network shows in the list), but then fairly quickly loses connection (at this point my network has dissappeared form the list). More than often than not, it doesn't even try when rebooted. I've even tried it in safe mode.

I have a Samsung 200B (Win7), a Fujitsu (Win XP) and an old IBM Thinkpad (WIn XP), all of which connect with no problem.
I also have two network media players and an Android phone, all of which also connect with no problem.

I have tried all the usual things such as power cycling everything and SSID is turned on. Recently I took the Compaq and Samsung away with me and both had no problem seeing and connecting to my girlfriends network.

Any ideas would be very much appreciated.

Hi there
Had a similar problem with W8

Follow this thread -- it fixed all the W7 computers too.

Make the same changes to the W7 machines as the instructions give for W8 machines.

http://www.eightforums.com/network-s...2k-server.html
Cheers
jimbo

Hi Jimbo. Thanks for the reply but that doesn't help at all. The Compaq is already set like that and, in any case, this isn't a problem with "old servers".
The clue has to be in the fact that my network doesn't show up in the list when I click "Connections are available) in the systray, but all other networks show up, either when I'm at home or somewhere else.

Hi there
Another possibility -- remove any Wireless configuration utility from the Compaq if you have one and just let Windows handle it. Perhaps also re-install the Wireless driver.

Test the computer with a piece of LAN cable too if you can get access to the router. Sometimes network cards especially wireless ones can handle Internet connections but when they try and connect to a LAN things go bonkers.

Another way -- can you "Force" a connection -- for example enable sharing and then mount network drive but mount it as \\192.168.0.24\Shareddiskname where the IP address is the IP address of the computer you want to connect to rather than use the computer name. Do it both ways -- mount a Compaq's disk on another computer as a network drive as well.

I HATE Windows networking -- one area where Linux always works OOB - provided of course the wireless card is supported. !!!! Networking in W8 isn't any better either --You'd have thought Ms would have learned by now.

Cheers
jimbo

Hi Jimbo. Tried with and without the HP wireless config utility. It's just using Windows at the moment. No problem connecting via a lan cable.

Not sure what you're suggesting with "Forceing" a connection. Surely, that's not going to make the Compaq see my network? That's only going to help other machines to see it if I could get it to see the network in the first place.

Take your point about hating Windows networking, I know lots of people say the same. Having said that, I never usually have any problems. It's just this machine.

Hi there
Just try it -- I've had a case where connecting like this finally fixed a problem -- could be something with DHCP or whatever.

Just try Mounting a drive ==> once that drive is mounted you'll be able probably to see the rest of the network from that machine (and the rest of the network will probably be able to see that machine too).. !!! I've long since given up on trying to find ANY logic in Windows Networking.

Cheers
jimbo

I'm probably being stupid Jimbo but I'm not sure what your telling me to do.

Hi there

1) On your HOME computer ensure at least ONE drive is shareable and the computer has been set to be visible on the network. Let's assume it's the C drive and you've specified the SHARE NAME as C.
(Right mouse click on C in windows explorer, go to properties ==>sharing).

2) on the HOME computer open a command prompt and type IPCONFIG. You'll see somewhere an IP address something like 192.168.0.11 may be different numbers but on a Home router the first two will be 192.168. The router itself will be the gateway and have its number as 192.168.XX.1 on your network.

For the sake of this exercise assume it's 192.168.0.11

3) on the Compaq computer ensure your user name and password is the same as on the HOME computer (in theory it doesn't have to be but for testing and fixing problems it's easier).

4) on the Compaq computer now go to windows explorer and choose computer. Right mouse click and then select Map Network drive

5) enter \\192.168.0.11\C as the Folder name

6) you should now see the contents of your C drive on the Compaq computer as probably drive Z.

7) go back to your HOME computer and click Network --you'll now probably see the Compaq computer.

8) do the same on the Compaq computer -- you should now see the HOME computer.

Cheers
jimbo

Aah, I see what your saying. No that doesn't work as the Compaq can't access the network. I already have mapped drives which the Compaq can see if it's connected by lan cable.