Laptop doesn't see wireless router..why?

[ACWingit]

I have a linksys 4 port/wireless (802.11b) router.
I have 2 computers which I want to access the internet (and my network) wirelessly.

One computer is running windows xp using a wireless adapter connected to the usb port (802.11b)

Another computer is a laptop that has 802.11g wireless capability. It is also running Windows xp.

The computer with the usb adapter is working great. No problems.

However the laptop doesn't even see the that the router exists. The SSID of the router should show up in the available networks window (allowing me to connect to it). It does not show up. I made sure the laptop and the router were both using the same channel.

Is there some magic thing I have to do because I'm trying to use 11g to connect to a 11b router? I thought g was supposed to be backward compatible.

Thanks in advance.

 

[JackMDS]

May be this can Help.

Link to: Wireless - Basic Configuration.

 

[ACWingit]

I have read the web page at the link you sent me to. I still can't get things working. Details follow:

>>Disable all software Firewalls (including Windows ICF) Active Antivirus program or and ant other TCP/IP interceptor...

Done - none were running anyways.

>>Note: It is important to disable all the following Wireless Options in order to establish solid connection.

>>Once you establish a Solid Connection, and can use the Internet/LAN you can start enabling the security setting one at the time.

>>1. Make sure that the drivers are set to infrastructure mode and obtain IP auto.

The client adapter was configured for "Any available network (access point preferred)". Changed it to "Access pont (infrastructure) network only. TCP/IP properties set to obtain IP auto.

>>2. Router's DHCP On. (Static IP will work too if set correctly.)

Router DHCP is enabled.

>>3. Make sure that the Router does not have any MAC or IP filtering on.

I don't think it does.

>>4. Disable WEP on both devices.

Is there a way to disable WEP on the client? How can I disable it when I can't even see the network connection to modify its settings? I disabled it on the router but have no idea where to disable it on the client. But it probably isn't enabled since I never enabled it in the first place.

>>5. Set the SSID and channel of the Router and the Client card to be is same.

Yes, they are the same. I've tried channel 6 and channel 1.

>>At this point if you established a connection and you can surf the Internet and exchange info with other computers on your LAN it is time to attend to Security.

No...at this point I have NOT established a connection!!!! I still see nothing at all in the "available networks" box.

Note: when looking at the properties of the client adapter (CREATIX CTX714 802.11g) it says the device is working properly. I have tried uninstalling the client adapter and reinstalling it but that didn't help. I've also powered off everything (including the router) but that didn't help. The driver for the client adapter is digitally signed.

I'm out of ideas (other than taking the laptop back to Best Buy and telling them it doesn't work).

 

[HKSturboKID]

802.11g is backward compatible, but linksys is kinda picky. Get a 802.11b card for the lappy. They are so cheap now and save you some headaches.