5 steps to fix ... Wireless Troubleshooting
Wireless networks can sometimes work for ages, then suddenly stop.
Read more to learn what to do.
The Easiest Steps FirstBefore you start thinking about the unthinkable, you should go for the simple
answers. Believe it or not, they always have the highest success!
If you want Windows to try to correct the problems with your wireless
connection, you should click on the connection icon. You will find
this on your monitor's right corner near the bottom. Then, navigate
to the Support portion of the box you see on the screen, and hit Repair.
The connection will be deactivated and then reactivatee as an attempt
to make it work again.
Once you've done this, the second step is to just restart the computer.
If that doesn't work either, you'll probably need to try something
else.
Has Your Wireless Card Come Loose?
If your connection uses a PCMCIA wireless card or USB connector, you can try to
check if it's loose. Go ahead and disconnect everything and then reconnect
it again. USB devices are really vulnerable to this problem - keep
in mind you will need to unplug the USB wire on the PC and network.
If you used an internal PCI wireless card, try these other things
before you actually decide to open the computer.
Networks in Your Neighbourhood Changed?
Sometimes, if a new network has been set up close to your home, some interference
may be created, which may take preference over your own wireless setup,
particularly if the signal is weak in any part of your house.
However, once your computer is connected no one can promise you that
your computer will be granted rights - the stronger network could
be set up in any variety of odd ways. This could cause your computer
to connect to a network that it read as 'better' without you being
aware of it, even though it turns out the other connection is of no
use to you.
In this case, you should navigate to the 'View Available Wireless
Networks' screen and figure out what the connection is. If you don't
recognize it, double-click your network from the list provided in
order to reconnect. If it works, remember to get remove the incorrect
networks' from your list of 'preferred networks', if you want to keep
from connecting to them again.
Checking for Sources of Interference
If you discover that your connection works when you place your PC close to the
source of the Internet signal, but quits working as you move away,
then interference could be the reason.
You should think of any changes that have taken place in your house
lately. For example, cordless phones are often the culprit with wireless
network interference. Consider equipment, applicances, etc. that emit
radio waves as a possible cause. You should try switching each of
them off to see if the wireless network perofrmance gets better.
Reset Equipment to Factory Settings
With routers and access points, a good solution could be to log in to their
admin control panels (using your browser) and choose the option
that restores the factory settings. This will remove all your settings
and possibly eliminate the source of the problem, unless there is
physical damage.
If nothing works, and your network worked fine before, there's probably
a hardware failure on the network somewhere.
For example, someone bumping a USB device, or damaging an antenna
on a router. Again, you have to unplug things to find out where
the failure is.
Then contact the manufacturer to report the fault, who will replace
the item if it's their fault or the equipment is under warranty.
Even in the case of non-hardware failures, they will probably still
help you to get your network working again so you can say goodbye
to 'connected to the access point cannot connect to the internet'.
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