www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk

I am currently staying at a friends (snowed out) and she has a Dell Inspiron 1520 running Vista

The Wifi light on the laptop says it is on but it just won't connect. When I hover the mouse over the two little monitors with a red X it says "Connection status: unknown The dependancy service or group failed to start"

I have had a quick look in the Device Manager and there are no question marks on the network adaptors.

This laptop (a better Inspiron) that I am typing on has no problems connecting to wifi. With the troubled laptop I have tried plugging an ethernet cable in but still no joy.

Any ideas?

have you tried pressing F2 the one with the transmitter symbol on it
may work

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/wind ... 210abbcdd4

Hate to be the barer of bad news but...

Although, a system restore sounds like it might work

There are two potentials on this page, have a look.

In both instances, they involves changing the registry.

I'd try the one from Diane first, from MS. If that doesn't work, give the 'techmedics'solution.

Failing that.......

BG

Cheers for the tips - I'll check them out when I am over at hers again (managed to get back home through the snow yesterday)

I spent about 2 hrs yesterday trying to get the missus's new Galaxy Tab connecting to our VM Superhub. In the Superhub page I clicked to connected devices and it showed up as connected. On the Galaxy Tab the WiFi section said it was connected, but trying to browse the web or get her some apps, brought the message "Not connected."
Eventually I found a post on the VM community forum about connecting Xboxes, Wii's and PS3's wirelessly, which involved setting up a guest WiFi account. Did that and suddenly it connects. I've now even set my mobile phone to connect to it.

John,

You shouldn't need to create any additional accounts to connect those devices.

I hope you enabled security on the guest network.......so many guides say "no security for better connectivity" or "choose disable when prompted for security and use MAC filtering". MAC filtering is ineffective and NOT a secure method to protect your wireless network or security.

Got a link to the guide you followed?

As a side note about MAC filtering, for anyone that wants to argue.....I proven the point with someone a while back. They insisted it WAS secure. Took 5 minutes.

- Ran a scanner and got network and MAC address of THEIR computer.
- Cloned the MAC address into my little router (the wireless card doesn't support it on the laptop I had)
- Ran a tool that kicked all connected clients from their network
- Ran it again
- Ran it again
- I finally beat them to the connection

I was on their network, they couldn't get on. Logged onto router and setup security and blocked them.

BG

BillyGoat wrote:...I proven the point with someone a while back. They insisted it WAS secure.

Just wondering.

Was this at some big company in their IT dept?

Do you have a picture of their faces when they could not log on?

Sadly not on that occasion. This was one of those know it all friend situations, so I took up the short task of whipping him into shape. I don't normally care, but he was bleating on about it.....

I've worked at lots of big companies who have similar practises though and not just on guest connections, the whole network. Most have all the kit, but no clue how to use it. Some have very little but work it extremely well. I've even been to some places who leave their company networks wide open when I asked, I was told "it's because there aren't many houses nearby so it's easier to keep it open - people can't remember the password"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I connected my phone and ran a quick sweep, must have been 100+ devices online and there were probably 20 people (so call it 20 computers, 20 phones and a handful of other bits - 50/60 legit). Connection was DOG slow. It's amazing how far wifi can travel.

I find it's good policy to not say any thing and leave them alone or you'd get bogged down at every place you go or get told to mind your own, like an old neighbour.

I protect MYSELF when I go to any of these places. If I'm using my own accounts/webmail/etc, then I'll VPN to home and tunnel out from my house

Oh I wish I was a bit more computer savvy because...

Vienna...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFyWe6W3Y0w


(it's in the lyrics)

BG, I connected her Galaxy wirelessly to the Vm Superhub manually, by entering the network name and password. It said "Now connected to (network name) Tried to access the internet, but every time it came up with a "No Connection" error notification. Logged into the Superhub home page and looked at connected devices. The Galaxy was there and the Superhub assured me it was connected. Kept trying for an hour before searching for advice on the internet. Found the answer inadvertently, set up a guest account on the Superhub and then connected manually to that. Bingo.
Apparently the VM Superhub has problems with certain wireless devices (more like every wireless device) But at least the problems now solved (much to er indoors delight)
BTW, Yes the guest account is secured. (before she bought this tablet, I had the WiFi turned off on the router).

Jolly good, glad you got it sorted.

VM actually released a couple of updates in the not too distant past which have proberbly fixed those issues. They released an update to the wireless card in the router, much the same as you would update a desktop (the SuperCruds firmware) and they also changed the default speed of the hub from 300 to 140 or something for wider compatability.

Such are the joys of wireless and computers.

BillyGoat wrote:..... and tunnel out from my house

Christ, Mrs Goat keeps a bl00dy tight lead on you mate.....

It was awkward getting rid of the soil, as I don't wear trousers....

BillyGoat wrote:Jolly good, glad you got it sorted.

VM actually released a couple of updates in the not too distant past which have proberbly fixed those issues. They released an update to the wireless card in the router, much the same as you would update a desktop (the SuperCruds firmware) and they also changed the default speed of the hub from 300 to 140 or something for wider compatability.

Such are the joys of wireless and computers.

Yes, the last update reduced the wireless speed down to 140, but by accessing the superhub you can change this back to the top speed (which I have done)
Now to find summat which will allow me to re-route web pages to her computer, through the ethernet cable . Is there such a program out there, for Ubuntu ?? If there is,,, Let the fun begin.