This can happen if you don't have the proper default-gateway set. You'll be
connected, but your packets won't make it out of the house. Go to the
command box (start, run, cmd) and type ipconfig /all. You should see an ip
address and the gateway, along with DNS stuff and so forth. Also check your
wireless settings to be sure you are getting a DHCP address (start, settings,
network connections, right-click the wireless, then highlight TCP/IP and
click Properties in the lower right corner of the dialogue box. "Obtain an
IP address automatically" should be selected). Note that I'm using the
"classic" start menu properties. If you have the Start, All Programs version
going and can't find the above on your own, just right-click the Start button
and change it to Classic to follow this. You can always change it back.
Other troubleshooting hints: bring that command box up and ping your
gateway. If you are getting a connection, you will see something like this:
Pinging 192.168.1.1 with 32 bytes of data:
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time=3ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time=1ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time=1ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time=1ms TTL=64
Ping statistics for 192.168.1.1:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 1ms, Maximum = 3ms, Average = 1ms
If your request times out, you aren't reaching it. That means the problem
can be with your wireless router (if you have DHCP working as in the above
example).
Questions:
1. Are you only trying to connect from home?
2. If not, then do you have the same problem everywhere?
3. Has this laptop's wireless worked in the past, and was that before Vista?
Lemme know.
JJ