Can never connect when setting up new laptop

[mike6623]

Ok, this has happened twice.

I get a laptop to set up in my house (which has wireless and ethernet connections) and even with ethernet plugged in it will not connect to a network. I have to use my mobile hotspot from my phone to get internet, and update the drivers.


What if I didn't have a hotspot? How would I be able to connect to the internet? This happened with my mothers computer and my friends, yesterday. He needed a clean install, updates, etc and this happened again, not sure what is going on, and why I need an external internet source to update the drivers, why wouln't ethernet work?

 

[ThrashZone]

Depends on your wired and wireless network setup,
Either would be interpreted as a invader,
Why can't I access my homegroup?
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Why-cant-I-access-my-homegroup
Why can't I join a homegroup?
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Why-can-t-I-join-a-homegroup
Why can't I create a homegroup?
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Why-cant-I-create-a-homegroup
HomeGroup from start to finish
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/help/homegroup-from-start-to-finish
File sharing essentials
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/File-sharing-essentials
Share files with someone
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Share-files-with-someone
Setting up a home network
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-vista/setting-up-a-home-network
Home Network, Wireless Network and Computer Networking Made Easy
http://www.home-network-help.com/
Windows Vista Tip: How To Setup And Connect To A Wireless Network
http://www.watchingthenet.com/windows-vista-tip-how-to-setup-and-connect-to-a-wireless-network.html

 

[mike6623]

Depends on your wired and wireless network setup,
Either would be interpreted as a invader,
Why can't I access my homegroup?
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Why-cant-I-access-my-homegroup
Why can't I join a homegroup?
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Why-can-t-I-join-a-homegroup
Why can't I create a homegroup?
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Why-cant-I-create-a-homegroup
HomeGroup from start to finish
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/help/homegroup-from-start-to-finish
File sharing essentials
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/File-sharing-essentials
Share files with someone
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Share-files-with-someone
Setting up a home network
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-vista/setting-up-a-home-network
Home Network, Wireless Network and Computer Networking Made Easy
http://www.home-network-help.com/
Windows Vista Tip: How To Setup And Connect To A Wireless Network
http://www.watchingthenet.com/windows-vista-tip-how-to-setup-and-connect-to-a-wireless-network.html

Wheever I tried to connect to anything (other than my phone) it wouldn't even give me homegroup or network options until I updatred the drivers, which I wouldn't have been able to if I didn't have a mobile hotspot.

 

[Winky7]

Some network problem I solved with the CMD. Don't know if it will work here but always good to have handy.

ipconfig /release
ENTER
ipconfig /renew
ENTER
Exit

 

[ThrashZone]

I suppose the only trick is to enter your wireless network first/ with password when prompted for it.
The same way a cellphones trying to enter a secure wifi network anywhere,
Many new computers come with junkware/ the worst is the pre-installed security suites on them,
What third party security do the existing machines have and what is coming pre-installed ?
More information about your wired and wireless network is needed to be able to say what is really going on/ out of date drivers I doubt would hamper entering a wifi network.

 

[mike6623]

I suppose the only trick is to enter your wireless network first/ with password when prompted for it.
The same way a cellphones trying to enter a secure wifi network anywhere,
Many new computers come with junkware/ the worst is the pre-installed security suites on them,
What third party security do the existing machines have and what is coming pre-installed ?
More information about your wired and wireless network is needed to be able to say what is really going on/ out of date drivers I doubt would hamper entering a wifi network.

That is the problem, I Was never given an option to connect to anything, so I couldn' have put in the passkey. I will, however, try to CMD thing it is just weird that this is 2 laptops in a row

 

[ThrashZone]

You would need to first search for available wifi networks,
Laptop are not by default set to find and ask you if you want to enter wifi networks/ most cell phones are.

 

[mike6623]

You would need to first search for available wifi networks,
Laptop are not by default set to find and ask you if you want to enter wifi networks/ most cell phones are.

How, when I go into network and sharing center and try and connect to a network, nothing available.

 

[mohavepc]

I have found that when doing a clean install it works faster and connects easier if you have the machine hardwired "Before" installation. Win 7 likes to go look for updated drivers during the install. it is also handy to download and have ready on a flash drive any eth0 drivers that may not be mainstream. I have had no issues with most systems with the exception of a Coby laptop that had antiquated Broadcom drivers. Win 7 would hiccup at the installation of said drivers. I had to forcefeed xp drivers to it after install.

just my two cents

 

[ThrashZone]

Give some more information about the laptop computers.

 

[Thorsen]

Also, what router are you using?

if you are using netgear, use this tutorial to try to connect to your router when wired:
If You Cannot Log on to Your Router

If it prompts you for a password, and you haven't set one up, use the default: Default Password for NETGEAR Devices

(if you are using something else like linksys or belkin, there are tutorials for these steps online comparable to these)


After you get in to the router settings page, you can either reset it to default settings or look for "allowed devices" and make sure connections are allowed from any device (or if you prefer, add the mac address of the laptop you are trying to add)

Not sure if this is your problem (router only allowing certain machines access) or not, but wanted to post just in case.

 

[DeaconFrost]

When you say they wouldn't connect, were the drivers loaded at that time? I always keep my drivers updated and stored on a flash drive, so a clean install doesn't need to hit the internet until I have all my hardware installed and functioning.

 

[gregrocker]

Are you enabling Automatically get recommended drivers and updates for your hardware (Step 3) when you plug in your ethernet cable or try to connect using Wifi after install? This is needed to let Win7 auto-install the driver or scan for other needed drivers via Windows Update after getting online.