Linksys Wireless Router Problems

[Cedar]

I am almost too tired to ask at this point. Been working on this for hours, but here goes. I bought an HP laptop and got a Linksys wireless router.

I installed the wireless software on my main PC as told to do. Router connected fine with my cable modem, no problem.

Then when I tried to install it on my new laptop, I cannot get wireless connection. I do get regular internet connection, but no wireless connection.

I've contacted Linksys by phone, I've contacted HP troubleshoot by online chat, and still no one can fix the problem.

I get the error message from HP network: Warning: Windows is not controlling network connections...HP has detected that another application might be controlling the connection settings. The WZC service disabled or turned off.

So I went to Microsoft.com to see how to turn on WZC service, but so far nothing in the article has worked.

I've already tried to update the driver on the network adapter, but there are no other updates for it.

My laptop is: HP Pavilion zv5434rs notebook

My network adapter on the laptop: Broadcom 802.11b/g WLAN

When I try to use the software that came with the router, it gets to a point in the setup, then says "unable to connect to router" check cables, etc. Well, I've unplugged and plugged in several times, cables are fine, as I said I have regular internet connection on the laptop, just can't get the wireless connection working.

If anyone out there has an idea, I would really appreciate it. I'm about to collapse from exhaustion (!), but still will hang in there a little while longer if anyone's got an idea.

Thanks!

[Cedar]

Forgot to mention the Linksys is a Wireless-G Broadband Router 802.11g

[Terpfen]

If you're trying to use WPA2, you need to download a patch from Microsoft to allow Windows to use that method.

You also may want to direct your question to the DSLreports forum here. They're probably going to help you more than FR can.

[Cedar]

Thanks, that link looks useful!

Appreciate it.

[garyhope]

Have you done the simple things like click on Start, Control panel, Network and internet connections, Setup a wireless network for a home or small office, wireless network setup wizard?

It's not easy sometimes. One time I couldn't even get my cable broadband "help" line to fix it. I eventually did it on my own.

There's gotta be some very smart computer guys here on the Freep that can help you more than I can.

[Cedar]

Well, it shows both icons for wireless network connection (not connected) and Local Area connection (connected), so I thought plug and play had already set it up.

When I try to set it up through "set up a network for home" I get the message :the network connections listed below are disconnected ...plug in your network cables or connect your network hardware.

As I said, the router is giving me regular internet connection, so I know it's plugged in. For some reason it's not recognizing the router, I guess.

[Cedar]

I checked my firewall, settings seem ok...still getting the message from linksys setup software "Error detecting your SecureEZSetup capable AP/Router."

Also says: "No SecureEZSetup Access Point or Router has been detected."

Then says to verify wireless adapter is secureezsetup capable (I've got all available updates for adapter driver and windows xp WPA2).

Also says to verify that the Access Point/Router is SecureEZ setup capable (which I presume it is since this is the software that came with the Router!).

I guess I'll just call it a night, and try again tomorrow.

[Xenophobic Alien]

I know your going to think this is stupid but I had a friend do this.. You are positive there is a wireless card in your laptop right?

[Xenophobic Alien]

Also on my hp the hardware was installed but the drivers weren't installed for the wireless card, make sure you don't have a floppy or a cd that came with the laptop with the drivers on it.

[Pistolshot]

Let me ask some questions first.
Is the main PC hardwired into the router?
Did you follow the setup guide on the Quickstart menu for the router?
If even the hardwired main PC is not working, your setup is incorrect.
There is a firmware update to that particular router, but I would not do that until you have your current setup working properly. I had a number of problems with the Linksys Wireless routers to the point I took them back and went to Belkin. No one single problem since. And I am an online gamer, so it really is important on the connection.

[opticks]

I too have had a lot of trouble getting Linksys wireless cards to work under windows xp. The problem you are having sounds like you need to turn off the Wireless Zero Config (WZC) service.

You can do this by opening Control Panels, Administrative Tools, Services, and then scrolling to the bottom to find Wireless Zero Config. If you have the Linksys software that came with your router, it will fight with this service for network superiority. Turn WZC off and let the Linksys software do its job.

[Xenophobic Alien]

Also cedar when I got my Lynksis router, it wouldn't work (because of the driver problem) but I called lynksis and they were very helpful. Good customer service with them.

[ThePythonicCow]

Earlier today, I heard Bob O'Donnell, host of the "O'Donnell on Technology" radio program and the web site EverythingTechnology.com, in response to someone else's question on a home network problem, recommend posting the question in the online forums of the web site PracticallyNetworked.com. At first glance, that looks like a very useful recommendation.

[Cedar]

Thanks so much for all of the advice. I'm just now getting back to the computer today, so I'll try everything that's been suggested.

Again, thanks -- I appreciate the help.

[Cedar]

To start answering some questions...since under Network Connections it does show a Wireless Network (though it's not connected), that leads me to believe the adapter is wireless-capable.

I bought this laptop at radio shack, and the salesman sold me the router too --- he was pretty much a techie, so surely he would have mentioned no capability if there wasn't any. I asked him specifically what I needed for wireless, and he said all I needed was the wireless router.

As for the drivers, I do have the driver recovery DVD -- it says it contains drivers that are already installed on the laptop, and is for recovery only.

Since I am getting regular internet connection (just not the wireless connection), seems like the driver must be functioning. Plus when I ran the router software at the beginning, it said I needed to download an update, which I did. That download was from Broadcom (which handles the wireless part, I think)... so it seems I have all necessary driver updates.

[Cedar]

I've got the main PC plugged into the router too, but I'm not having any problem with it (just have regular connection, no "wireless" on my main PC). No problem with internet access.

I did follow the setup guide on the router--before it would proceed it had to get the update from Broadcom (mentioned in my previous post).

But even after that, it's not setting up correctly. I've just read some forums, and the problem might be with Zone Alarm ,which I'm running. I'm going to search this out some more.

[Cedar]

Do you happen to know anything about Zone Alarm Firewall settings? When I view mine, it shows the regular internet adapter (Realtek) with an IP address, but the Broadcom "wireless" adapter (which is actually the same adapter as the other one, just updated) it shows 0000000 for the IP address.

Should I enter the same IP address for it as the other one---which is 192.168.1.1

I keep getting an alert from Zone Alarm telling me that "the firewall has blocked internet access to your computer from 192.168.1.1

Also when I tried to let windows set up the wireless network, I got a status box saying "no accesss...This problem occurred because the network did not assign a network address to the computer"

Again, maybe this is because Zone Alarm has no address showing for the Broadcom adapter??

(Obviously I'm no techie)

[Cedar]

Thanks for those links.

[Joe_October]

Sometimes the privacy protection or firewall will interfere with your connection (especially the pre-installed stuff which is now set on maximum). Turn it off to test. If that is the problem you can then turn it back on and make the appropriate changes to your internet security protection.