Hi,

I hope you are all well.

First, let me know explain, I have stumbled across this forum via Google, so I hope my post is appropriate. Second, I am no 'network' genius, so I hope my experience is appropriate, or not too inappropriate!

I have recently signed up to Virgin Media fibre cable broadband (UK based). The internet is working wonders. Straight from my wall, into the modem they provided, them from the modem to my laptop, works great. Really fast. Really pleased.

However, whats the point of having laptop if I have to plugged it in right? So I'm trying to get up a wireless network using a Linksys WRT54G Wireless Router (which Virgin Media tell me shouldn't have any problems).

To get this to work (on their suggestion), I simply unplug the ethernet cable that was going from my modem to my laptop into the router, so it's going from the modem to the router (into the internet port), and then use another ethernet cable from the router to my computer (I done this just to work as a channel so I could set the router up by going to the IP).

The Internet, wireless and port lights come on (green), as they should do. So I'm confident the internet is passing into the router as it should. However, my network connection on my laptop is constantly saying 'Identifying'. I know my laptop/wireless works, as I often use it elsewhere.

I am using Windows Vista home, and I have the connection set to obtain IP/DNS automatically. The connection is using IPV4 and IPV6 (which I do not know too much about).

Any help would be much appreciated, and if you have any questions, I will try and answer them the best I can. But I would class my 'knowledge' as beginner when it comes to networking.

Many thanks,
Sam

Something I forgot, is that I have previously used this laptop with a wireless network at my previous home. So perhaps it's stuck looking for that connection or something?

Many thanks
Sam

I am a little confused whether it's the wireless or wired part you're having trouble with.  First, test the wired part:

1.  Disconnect everything & shut laptop down
2.  Remove the power plugs from router and modem. leave them close by but disconnected
3.  Connect the laptop to the router's Port 1
4.  Connect from the router's WAN port to the modem; both connections should use cable that has CAT5 or CAT5E or CAT6 printed on them.
5.  Connect the modem's power plug
6.  Connect the router's power plug
7.  Turn on the laptop

Is it working? Go to Start==>Run type cmd then ipconfig.  It should be 192.168.1.X

Now, disconnect the cable at both ends.  In Network Connections (or whatever it's called in Vista), right click the Local Area Network and disable it.  Right-click the wireless adapter and select Enable (if not enabled) then right-click and select Repair Connection.  This should do it.

If not, reboot the laptop and double click the wireless icon in the tray, choose "Search for wireless Networks" or the like.  When you find yours (probably called Linksys) click "Connect".

If the WRT54G was used it might have been configured with security, there's a RESET switch on the back, depress and hold the recessed button for a few seconds to reset to factory defaults.

Once it's up and running you need to follow the instructions to secure the wireless network.  If you're still having problems try a post in forum1583: Microsoft: Windows Vista

Best of luck!  

Tony

Users helping Users...

Tony's right on the wired part, but for the record... power down the modem for 10 seconds, then power up with the router plugged in to the WAN port.  
The problem stems from the computer's network card MAC address being held in the modem.  When you power it down, it drops this address and wants to accept a new one.  When you plug in the router, it grabs that address and will allow it to communicate with the internet.
It is a common problem for those just switching over to a router for the first time, or those switching computers on the single modem connection.
Remember, any device plugged into the modem becomes the only device that can communicate with it, until the power is removed and the new device is plugged in.

cckens

"Not always my best shot, but I hit the target now and then"
-me

Hey I have a similar problem...I have a airlink wireless usb router and everytime I try to connect to the net it say limited or no connectivity but i have 3-4 bars of signal. I am connecting from my toshiba laptop to a mac osx tiger. I have uninstalled norton antivirus software and tried repairing the connection but nothing works. When i try to repair it says ip not found. This has worked in the past but I stopped using it for awhile and now it won't work. Please help.
Mike