Laptop losses internet access, but says "connected" to wireless router

[dbvr2005]

Laptop losses internet access, but says "connected" to wireless router

I bought a Cisco Valet M10 wireless router a few days ago and I have been having issues where my laptop says that it is connected to network and it shows maximum strength signal, but underneath the network name it says "No internet access". I have already contacted Cisco several times and also HP, as well as my ISP. I was told by someone from Cisco that Atheros (which is what my laptop has) has some problems with connections to wireless routers and I was told to manually update. I already tried and it says that my driver is already up to date. The internet connection on my desktop is fine so I don't think the issue is with my ISP. I have an ipod which is not having any connection issues, thus making me think the problem might be with my labtop and not the router. I connected the ethernet cable directly to my laptop and the internet works fine that way on my laptop.

I live in a 2 story house and my desktop is upstairs and I noticed that when I took my laptop downstairs, that it would loose internet access almost every time, but a while ago my laptop lost connection and I had it in my room which is right next to where the desktop is so now I don't think the problem has to do with the range. Sometimes it works when I am downstairs, but mostly it does not.

So how can i fix this problem? This is very frustrating and I feel like just returning the router.

P.s. the OS is Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit.

 

[Kaktussoft]

Try your laptop with your friends router. This proves if the problem is related to your laptop.

When problems occur ("no internet access"), can you still access the router configuration?

 

[seavixen32]

I'd be inclined to return the router for a refund or exchange.

If you try what Kaktussoft suggests, you will know whether it's your router or laptop that's at fault.

At least then you can decide what to do about the router.

 

[dbvr2005]

I was replying about 15 min ago when my laptop lost internet connection. So now im on my ipod :| Unfortunately I dont know anyone who has a router and lives close to me. What do u mean by router configuration? Router settings webpage?

 

[seavixen32]

Yes, you should be able to access your router's configuration settings.

There should be some documentation with the router that explains how to do it or your router manufacturer will have the information online.

 

[Kaktussoft]

I was replying about 15 min ago when my laptop lost internet connection. So now im on my ipod :| Unfortunately I dont know anyone who has a router and lives close to me. What do u mean by router configuration? Router settings webpage?

yes I mean router settings page. I wanna know if your wireless is still working when having problems. Simple checking tcp/ip connection to router is a first step.

 

[Kaktussoft]

How often does the problem occur? And how do you fix the problem (temporary)?

 

[dbvr2005]

Ok, I will look into how to access the router settings page. Well i have had the router for about 4 days and I noticed it happening yesterday and it happened many times, about 7 times. To fix it i would just bring the computer upstairs and it would get internet access but apperently it happens when im upstairs anyway. I also disconnected the router and connected it but didnt help much cuz it lost connection like 30 min after.

Also, i noticed last night that now the laptop actually looses internet connection with the network instead of just internet access. I dont know if this change occured because i turned safe web browsing off, as i was told to do so by someone from Cisco. When it looses connection it says that there are no networks available and i have to restart my laptop for it to show networks.

 

[Kaktussoft]

When it looses connection it says that there are no networks available and i have to restart my laptop for it to show networks.
=>how many networks you see normally?

"safe webbrowsing" has nothing to do with this problem!! Not only internet browsing doesn't work. Downloading, sending e-mail, downloading torrents... all fail

 

[dbvr2005]

Well i see my network and my guest network and like 6 other networks from neighbors. When my laptop get disconnected from the network it shows no networks availAble at all and i try turning on and off the wireless key on my keyboard but no luck.

 

[Kaktussoft]

Well i see my network and my guest network and like 6 other networks from neighbors. When my laptop get disconnected from the network it shows no networks availAble at all and i try turning on and off the wireless key on my keyboard but no luck.

So it's definitely a laptop problem. As you don't see any wireless networks!
Normally your icon (wireless connection) right in taskbar looks like a triangle with bars. Does it look the same when having problems?

Please describe how the icon looks like. Or even better post a screenshot

 

[dbvr2005]

Well right now the internet is working fine so the bars are all showing normally. But when it looses internet access, a yellow triangle appears in the corner of the bars and when it looses complete connection, a red X appears across the bars.

I tried going on the router setup page on my laptop but it asks for username and password. Would that be my network name and password?

 

[Kaktussoft]

Well right now the internet is working fine so the bars are all showing normally. But when it looses internet access, a yellow triangle appears in the corner of the bars and when it looses complete connection, a red X appears across the bars.

I tried going on the router setup page on my laptop but it asks for username and password. Would that be my network name and password?

read router manual for default username/password. But it isn't a router problem!

 

[dbvr2005]

Right now i got disconnected on my laptop and it shows the bars with a yellow circle and it says "not connected - connections are available", but before that it showed a computer with a red X.

 

[Kaktussoft]

What kind of security software you have?
list virusscanners, firewall, spyware scanners, registry cleaners please.

Is your wireless network adapter still enabled in "network center"?
Does "event log" show any related errors?

 

[dbvr2005]

What if I tell my boyfriend to let me borrow his laptop for a few days so I can know for sure that it is my laptop? And what could be wrong with my laptop? Its new.

 

[Kaktussoft]

Right now i got disconnected on my laptop and it shows the bars with a yellow circle and it says "not connected - connections are available", but before that it showed a computer with a red X.

"not connected - connections are available"=> so you're disconnected from own router. But other wireless networks are in list? Your own wireless router as well?

 

[dbvr2005]

I use Webroot SecureAnywhere 2012. I also have the Windows firewall on.

 

[Kaktussoft]

What if I tell my boyfriend to let me borrow his laptop for a few days so I can know for sure that it is my laptop? And what could be wrong with my laptop? Its new.

to be very very sure:
-try your laptop with another router (go to your friends place)
-try another laptop in your home.

But you told me "no networks were available". And when working fine, you see 6!!
You don't even see your neighbours wireless routers. Must be your laptop's problem.

Try to connect wired, just for a test. Please inform me if that works fine

 

[dbvr2005]

"not connected - connections are available"=> so you're disconnected from own router. But other wireless networks are in list? Your own wireless router as well?[/QUOTE]

Correct