New Dell desktop can not connect to wireless network

[zylander]

Ive been trying to help my friend setup his new Dell Inspiron 530 desktop and have been running into problems with the wireless network. The Dell can see all the local wireless networks but can not connect; it gets an error saying that it can not connect and if I click the "diagnose" button, it says that it did not receive any packets from the access point, or something along those lines. When ever I reboot the system, once it gets back into windows, it will successfully connect and be able to go online, but it will load pages incredibly slow, slower than 56k (this is a DSL network). Once I disconnect and then try to reconnect, it will never connect again. The computer is using DHCP, I tried giving the computer a static IP but that didnt help. The router is one of those 2wire dsl modem/4 port router/WAP and there are two other computers one the network that are working just fine. Any ideas? My guess is a faulty network adapter in the dell.

 

[Spivonious]

Do you have any "internet security" programs running? They might be blocking communication with the router.

How close to the wireless router are you? It could be that the antenna in the Dell isn't very good and you're simply too far away. Try it with the laptop a few feet from the router.

Also, do a speed test at http://www.bandwidthplace.com/ and see what your speed really is.

 

[zylander]

No internet security programs running.

The Router is on the floor below the dell in a room directly underneath the room the dell is in.