Windows 7 - Laptop's built-in wireless makes other computers to disconnect

Asked By Sudarshan Karkada

21-Nov-09 10:53 AM

I have a laptop with built-in wireless which works fine. However,
whenever this laptop is used, all the other computers disconnect from
the wireless router. I have to power cycle the router before all the
computers can communicate with it again.

If I turn off the built-in wireless in the laptop and use a cardbus
wireless adapter, everything works fine.

Any idea what I should try to get the whole wireless family get along
(without having to use a cardbus adapter on the problematic laptop)?

Thank you very much for your insights and time.
__
Sudarshan.

21-Nov-09 10:53 AM

Sorry, forgot to mention that all the computers use Windows XP.

21-Nov-09 11:54 AM

My guess(tm) is that your built in wireless device is duplicating the
MAC address or the IP address of the router.

Have you been playing with spoofing MAC addresses?  If yes, remove the
spoofing program and/or its changes to the network configuration.
Similarly, check the IP address configuration for the built in
wireless device, and make sure you have NOT setup a static IP address
that is the same as the router.  Set it to DHCP.

If you need further help, please supply the maker and model number of
the laptop and wireless router.


--
Jeff Liebermann     jeffl@cruzio.com
150 Felker St #D    http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann     AE6KS    831-336-2558

21-Nov-09 03:46 PM

Are all the wireless computers using the same radio format, like 11b, G, or
N, or is the problem machine using something different than the rest?  Also
check out the method it is using, Adhock or another method with regards to
the rest of the machines.

21-Nov-09 08:46 PM

IMHO you should inform the vendor of the laptop.
They know how to contact maker of the built-in wireless.

--pa

21-Nov-09 09:37 PM

Hi
Which Wireless manger is used in each case? I.e., the vendor's Wireless
software software or Windows Native Wireless  Utility (WZC).
Jack (MS, MVP-Networking)

22-Nov-09 03:51 AM

"Jack [MVP-Networking]" wrote:

24-Nov-09 12:11 PM

In my experience as to 'Wireless' that is quite tricky, unless you know it
well, ...

All of the computers in my household  needs to 'G' form of Adapters that are
slower than 'N' form of Adapter.   This seems to me primarily due to my ISP.
If I'd  use 'N' form of wireless Adapter,  I can not connect at all or
simply other PCs can not get Internet.

In my suggestion, try to ask your ISP whether your Laptop built-in wireless
is compatible to ISP that you are subscribing.
Also, I think that Router and Adapter needs to be same form.  In my case,
the Router is 'G,' then I can not use 'N' form of Adapters.

Because of my inexperience on Wireless and etc., I wasted quite money
purchasing wrong adapters in the past.

24-Nov-09 02:06 PM

Are you using a (free) WiFi router from your ISP? If not, your ISP has
nothing to do with your WiFi.


Most 802.11n adapters are backward compatible with 802.11g and 802.11b
wireless network. They can connect to any a, b, g or n wireless network.


If the ISP does not provide WiFi router, they have nothing to do with your
choice of WiFi network (802.11a/b/g/n)


Not necessarily.


I am almost positive that misconfiguration is causing it. I am using a Linksys
WRT54G router (it is an 802.11g router). 1 desktop and 1 laptop with 802.11n
adapters connect without any problem. In addition to that, I have 1 more
laptop with 802.11g adapter connecting with no issues.

24-Nov-09 03:39 PM

Yes, my ISP has been providing its own Modem/Router combo. that might
control everything we are doing.   Someone suggesting we'd better to get our
own choice, ... but 'compatible' is an issue. Also, we are NOT 'tech-savour'
to tackle  complixities of 'wireless' and etc.  Practically, we got stuck,
but we also appreciate the ISP with which we have a good term, even though
we need to wait for couple of  days tech. to come whenever any issue arises.

Furthermore, the ISP appears to be not always giving  an honest opinion for
our endevour to set-up by our own.  Lease is $5 monthly that does not come
cheap over years, ... but again we do not like to lose a good wireless
connection that we have been enjoying.

24-Nov-09 04:51 PM

Why would they give you an honest opinion and lose $5/month? Ask a
friend/family tech person. I am sure they will be able to give you great
suggestions or even help you with the setup.


That's why they do not want you to get your own router. $60/year to rent
their wireless G router. You can own one for the same amount of money or
less.

25-Nov-09 04:35 AM

Tell Comcast you want to be swapped out for a stand alone modem and a no charge
N wireless router.

http://www.comcast.com/wirelessrouter

there is a link on the page above to do this.



Barb Bowman
MS-MVP
http://www.digitalmediaphile.com
http://digitalmediaphile.wordpress.com

25-Nov-09 10:59 AM

It seems to me that at $5.00/month it would take only 18 months to pay
off the purchase of a 80211n router from then on you are basically
earning $5.00/month.

John

25-Nov-09 01:22 PM

Well,  ..... in the past, I thought about that, ... a kind of stupid to pay
monthly fee.  But, as I stated in my previous post, there is NO single
person in my household is 'tech savvy' to tacke wireless and etc.  in the
case some crisis occurs, ... such as 'not able to get decent connection.'
We, all can tolerate  a bit slower than 'other leading ISP,' but we have NO
patience for 'non-Internet.'  Internet is one of our most enjoyable
entertainments, ... can do inside house.

Aside this, ... if I'd change to 'stand-alone' Barb Bowman' suggesting, ita
tech. service might get 'downgrade,' while its speed gets 'upgrade.'  Then,
we, all are happy about current situation, $5 fee that is not much asking.
Believe me, mojority of tech. guys are very knowlegeable to tackle any
issues we have been having.

25-Nov-09 04:22 PM

~ I have a laptop with built-in wireless which works fine. However,
~ whenever this laptop is used, all the other computers disconnect from
~ the wireless router. I have to power cycle the router before all the
~ computers can communicate with it again.
~
~ If I turn off the built-in wireless in the laptop and use a cardbus
~ wireless adapter, everything works fine.
~
~ Any idea what I should try to get the whole wireless family get along
~ (without having to use a cardbus adapter on the problematic laptop)?
~
~ Thank you very much for your insights and time.
~ __
~ Sudarshan.

My bias is to assume that, if some equipment needs to be power cycled
in order to start working again, this means that there is a bug in that
equipment.

So ... I would upgrade the code in the unspecified wireless router to
the latest.

If that does not work, I would upgrade the code in the unspecified
built-in adapter to the latest.

If that does not work, then you could commence troubleshooting.

Hth,

Aaron