How to establish wireless connectivity with Gateway LT4004U netbook?

[7beauties]

This unit is out of warranty and any help from Acer (who owns Gateway) has to be for a fee. We have a Verizon Actiontec M1424WR wireless modem. Out Netbook can detect it, but won't connect to it. We got it because it's wireless and don't want to be tethered by an ethernet cable. If anyone can help I'd be very grateful. Thank you.

 

[Smoove910]

what do you mean 'can't connect'? I'm assuming you see your network when the netbook detects... what happens when you enter your network password?

Is that wireless modem also a router? Does it have DHCP capabilities? If so, what is the range of #'s your DHCP is assigning?

 

[JackMDS]

Try to connect first with the security of the Router Off.

 

[7beauties]

I appreciate your replies, Smoove and Jack. I believe the Actiontec M1424WR Modem is also a router. When I attempt to establish a network connection it clearly sees our modem's SSID and all bars are green. I click on the "connect" button and after a little while of "connecting" it either reverts to "connect" as if nothing had happened, or it will say "Windows cannot connect..." I'm never prompted for a password. Gateway's built-in guide is threadbare. Thank you for all your help.

 

[mammador]

Can you connect on other devices (phones, for instance)?

It could be something specific to the laptop (the NIC is faulty or needs the correct driver). Is the router assigning an IP to it properly?

 

[Smoove910]

Are you letting Windows control your wireless connections, or do you have a third party program controlling it?

 

[7beauties]

The Gateway netbook does connect to the internet if I hook it to the modem via an ethernet cable. I downloaded all the latest Windows updates. I didn't think to check "What's my IP," though. I was hoping that Windows is smart enough to figure out what driver updates it needed, including its NIC. I'm not using any third party program to attempt wireless connectivity. When I did this for my work laptop there were a few more steps involved, but I succeeded. The netbook's procedure is much simpler - which I welcome - but futile. I almost chose to restore the netbook to its factory defaults but didn't because we might not have its Microsoft Windows 7 installation disk. Should I contact Verizon's technical support? Thank you for all your help.