Can't acquire network address

[weeber]

I'm hoping someone here can tell me what's going on, because I'm out of ideas. After years of having a wired network in my apartment, I'm going wireless in my new home. I bought a Buffalo wireless G router (WHR-G125). My Centrino Duo laptop is connecting to it just fine, in fact I'm posting this on it. However, my desktop will not connect to it. It gets stuck on "Acquiring Network Address" It's perpetually acquiring, but it detects the network just fine. Here's all the things I've tried.

1. I've tried connecting with WPA security on and with no security activated (wide open).
2. I've tried using an AirLink USB adapter, and when that didn't work I went out an bought a Buffalo wireless PCI card.
3. I've tried using Windows Zero Configuration and the programs that came with the Airlink and Buffalo adapters. The Buffalo program would claim that I'm connected, but kept telling me my IP address was 0.0.0.0, so it was false.
4. I've tried using the Buffalo AOSS system to connect. The adapter sees the router fine, and it says it connects, but the IP address is ties into is 0.0.0.0
5. I've googled this problem and tried various other things I've seen (resetting tcp/ip config, running winsockfix.exe, and installed a couple of windows patches.
6. I've tried manually inputting the IP address and DNS servers. And while it says it's connected to said IP address, it still doesn't have internet access.

So, I'm out of ideas. I've setup wireless networks before, but I don't know why the desktop I've used for years is being so difficult. I'm looking for any ideas, no matter how crazy they seem at this point.

 

[MichaelD]

Do you have the router's wireless security MAC-allow list restricted to just the MAC addy of your laptop? I had this EXACT same problem when a buddy brought his laptop over and I even though I correctly input my SSID and password I could "connect" but not get an IP.

Possibly Windows Firewall is blocking the connection. Possibly any other firewall you have installed on the PC is blocking the connection. I use Symantec Client Firewall and the first time any program tries to get out, I get a popup box saying "Always block/Always allow/Allow this time/etc."

 

[weeber]

MAC filtering was off, and I tried turning off my firewalls.

However, I just got it working, by doing the manual configuration again (manual IP and DNS). But this time, I did more reading and found that you're supposed to set the DNS server as the router address for this router. Before I was trying to use the Comcast DNS server addresses, and I couldn't get it to work.

So it looks like it still won't find an IP address on it's own, but as long as I have it working, I'm happy.

 

[JackMDS]

A Router separates the Internet from you private LAN. Seitting on your computer has to address the Router.

Settings on the Router address the Internet, this true for all Routers.