Windows 7 unable to connect

[atlanta1]

Hi -
I know many people have had this problem, but I need help. I had to reformat my hard drive, and after that, I haven't been able to connect to my home network, though I can connect to other networks. Every time I try to connect, it just says "Unable to connect" (I can't even enter in the password). When I click on troubleshoot, it just says that it can't find the problem. Any ideas??

 

[Petey7]

Well, the normal recommendations are to unplug both your router and modem for 30-60 seconds. Plug the modem back in and wait until all the normal lights are lit with no blinking. Then plug your router back in. If that does not work you can reset your router to the factory defaults by pushing the rest button which should be on the back or bottom of the router.

 

[atlanta1]

Yes, I've done that, but it still says "Windows was unable to connect to [network]." My husband's computer can connect to our network, and my computer can connect to other networks, just not our wireless. I've tried disabling the firewall, to no avail. I'm not sure what else to try?

 

[Petey7]

where is your computer in relation to the router? I assume that you've tried connecting when right next to it, but it I want to be sure. Did you actually try reseting the router, then trying to connect to it afterwards? Once again, I have to be sure, because a lot of people don't follow all the advice given to them.

 

[atlanta1]

Yes, I'm right next to the router. The connection throughout the house is 4 bars.

Yes, I reset it using the red button on the back. Still the same thing.

 

[Petey7]

I'm trying to think of something that would prevent you from connecting to certain routers that has nothing to do with the router itself. Can you do me a favor. Look in Device Manager (you can find this by typing it in the start menu search bar), find you network adapter, right click it, then click properties, and tell me the name of the wireless adapter and the date it list for the driver.

 

[Lordbob75]

If you plug in with an ethernet cable, what happens?

~Lordbob

 

[Jonathan_King]

Try using an ethernet cable to hard wire into the router. I suspect it will work, but if it doesn't, it will give us something else to consider.

I suspect the issue is with the encryption. Try disabling encryption on the router, for the time being, and see if you can connect.

 

[theog]

Can you post a screen shot Device manager?
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/9733-how-post-screenshot-seven-forums.html

Screenshot tools.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/9717-screenshot-paint.html
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/51160-screenshot-upload-using-mwsnap.html
Fscapture free download

Have you try using the IP's setup CD?

 

[atlanta1]

When I plug in the ethernet cable, nothing happens. Well, under "view your active networks," it shows up as connecting, but it never does. when i click on it, it says that it's been connected for however long, but the "packets sent" are like 200 or so and there are none received.

There are two network adapters.
1) Atheros AR8132 PCI-E Fast Ethernet Controller (NDIS 6.20) - date for the driver is 6/5/2009 (when I click to update, it says it's up to date).
2) Dell Wireless 1520 Wireless-N WLAN Mini-Card; driver - 7/7/2009, says it's up to date too.

I'll have to hunt for a flash drive or something in order to transfer a screen shot from that computer to this one.

 

[atlanta1]

I suspect the issue is with the encryption. Try disabling encryption on the router, for the time being, and see if you can connect.

How do I do this?

 

[atlanta1]

Have you try using the IP's setup CD?

I don't think there is one.

 

[Petey7]

encryption should have been turned off when reseting the router. There is a new version of your network card driver available at the Dell website. According to them the the download contains the 32bit and 64bit driver.
Drivers and Downloads

 

[Jonathan_King]

I suspect the issue is with the encryption. Try disabling encryption on the router, for the time being, and see if you can connect.

How do I do this?

Log into the router by entering your default gateway into the address bar of your browser. You can find that by opening a command prompt and entering ipconfig /all

Then look around for the security, and disable it.

 

[atlanta1]

Sorry for the time between postings.

Still no luck with getting it connected to the home network. I just spent a couple of hours at a coffeeshop downloading new drivers (not just for the wireless card), and no luck. I went by the order on the instruction sheet.

I tried to get the gateway IP address, but ...it just doesn't seem like there is one? For each of the connections (ethernet adapter local area connection, wireless lan adapter wireless network connection, etc.), it says that the media is disconnected. Under physical address, it has 6 sets of 2 numbers or number/letter combinations, but it doesn't look like an IP address. Am I just not seeing something/looking in the wrong place? Sorry for being such an idiot....

I'm going to get a screen cap of the command prompt and of the device manager now.

 

[atlanta1]

Okay, screenshots attached. Any suggestions?