Wireless Internet problem

[chesney]

Hi,

I have broadband via virgin media and a wireless router (Netgear) but am having trouble with connecting a new hp laptop (with vista).

I have had the router for 3 years and it has worked perfectly with my old laptop and I connected a friends latop which runs on vista and it worked fine. I have added my new laptop but when I turn it on the icon on the taskbar usually says:
"currently connected, identifying Netgear, Access limited connectivity". It appears that the pc is trying to connect but after some time it breaks the connection, but the pc shows that my network is available with a very good signal. sometimes it the icon says:
"currently connected to an unidentified network with access limited connectivity".

I try the diagnose and repair and usually get one of the repair options:
"Automatically get new IP settings for network adaptor" or
"Reset network adaptor"

Sometimes these work and the internet works fine for while before it goes again. I have connected the laptop direct to the router via cable and it seems to work ok and another laptop seems to work ok wireless and can't see any difference in the setup between the two.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

[Annabell]

Hi chesney

The LT you are having a problem with first the browser can you duplicate the security settings to the same as the LT that connects OK via wireless also clean MRUs if no change please post back.

[chesney]

Thanks for the reply,

I think i've sorted it. I looked at the security settings and found no difference between the 2 laptops. yesterday I turned on windows firewall and used that instead of norton's firewall and I connected to the network straight away. However, today the connection went again and found that norton's firewall had reactivated itself so I uninstalled norton's completely and now I have connection no problems. I tried to add the network to the safe and trusted section in norton but it had no effect.

[Annabell]

Hi chesney

What version of Norton do you have ? and did you use the Norton removal tool ?, Norton can still cause problems after you remove via add & remove.

[chesney]

Not sure it came preinstalled on the laptop which I bought only recently, and I went into control panel, programmes and features and uninstalled it there. From what i've read norton seems to be more trouble than its worth.

[Annabell]

Yes it is (but thats only my opinion) some swear by it, you will need to download the removal too (made by Norton / Symantec) and run it, also if you are relying on Windows for a firewall there are better free ones i can suggest if you like ?

Norton removal tool > Here please do read the instructions with the download.

[chesney]

Thanks, I have been looking at different antivirus and firewall software and i'm not sure what to go for.

[Annabell]

For your Laptop i would suggest Zone Alarm Firewall it has a small footprint "does not hog system resources its a good powerful Firewall".
Antivirus you could use AVG free or Avast free each are compatible with Vista. (all free)

Zone Alarm Firewall

AVG free

Avast

Soz for the delay dog going loopy LoL

[chesney]

Thanks for the advice, I will look into them.