Laptop will not connect to home network with wifi, but will connect to other networks via wifi

nuttyhazel
nuttyhazel Member Posts: 15 Troubleshooter
edited October 2023 in 2020 Archives
Please can you help, I am a novice at this. My Acer laptop stopped connecting to our home network (Talk Talk) using wifi. My laptop is registering the network and that of our neighbours (they all appear on the list of available networks). When It turn off our network my laptop registers that the network is no longer available. I am able to connect to home network with ethernet cable, and I can connect to my work's wifi. Other devices belonging to my family (phones and laptops and playstation) will all connect to our home network via wifi except for my laptop. I have tried uninstalling and reinstalling the wireless driver, turning off windows firewall and various other things that I can't even remember over the last couple of ideas. PLease can anyone help......driving me nuts! Thank you inadvance
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Answers

  • JackE
    JackE ACE Posts: 44,868 Trailblazer
    Open DeviceManager. Click network adapters folder. Right click wifi properties. Click 'advanced' tab. Click 'preferred band'. Change from 'no preference' to 2.4GHz band. If still no connection, try 5GHz band. Jack E/NJ

    Jack E/NJ

  • nuttyhazel
    nuttyhazel Member Posts: 15 Troubleshooter
    Hi Jack E/NJ, unfortunately neither worked. I am assuming I didn't have to restart computer after changing the 'preferred band'?
  • JackE
    JackE ACE Posts: 44,868 Trailblazer
    You must actually shutdown the computer. Then turn it back on. Jack E/NJ

    Jack E/NJ

  • nuttyhazel
    nuttyhazel Member Posts: 15 Troubleshooter
    I've tried both bandwiths and restarted laptop after each - still no joy. Any other ideas?
  • JackE
    JackE ACE Posts: 44,868 Trailblazer
    >>>Other devices belonging to my family (phones and laptops and playstation)>>>

    Do you have another Windows laptop that connects OK? If not, do you know how to check the Channel number that your router is set to if not automatic? Jack E/NJ

    Jack E/NJ

  • nuttyhazel
    nuttyhazel Member Posts: 15 Troubleshooter
    Hi - Yes, we have other windows laptops that connect to the wifi Ok. I am using one of them now. I know how to long into the router if needed.
  • JackE
    JackE ACE Posts: 44,868 Trailblazer
    Open DeviceManager on another laptop that connects. Click the network adapter folder again. Right click wifi properties. Click advanced tab. Click wireless mode. What channel do you get? Example "12  -  11a/b/g/n/ac". Jack E/NJ

    Jack E/NJ

  • nuttyhazel
    nuttyhazel Member Posts: 15 Troubleshooter
    6.802.11a/b/g

  • JackE
    JackE ACE Posts: 44,868 Trailblazer
    OK. Try channel 6  as the wireless mode on the laptop that won't connect. Also change the preferred band back to 'no preference'.  Jack E/NJ

    Jack E/NJ

  • nuttyhazel
    nuttyhazel Member Posts: 15 Troubleshooter
    Hi- I changed channel 06-11a (it was the only option with a 6) and put preferred band to 'no preference' and restarted. Still no joy. 
  • JackE
    JackE ACE Posts: 44,868 Trailblazer
    Open DeviceManager again. Click network adapters. Right click on the wifi adapter. Uninstall the adapter. Exit Device Manager without trying to reinstall anything. Shut down Windows normally. Turn machine back on. Jack E/NJ

    Jack E/NJ

  • nuttyhazel
    nuttyhazel Member Posts: 15 Troubleshooter
    Tried it three times - still says 'unable to connect to this network'
  • nuttyhazel
    nuttyhazel Member Posts: 15 Troubleshooter
    Checked wifi still working - laptop will connect to BT wi-fi hotspot

  • JackE
    JackE ACE Posts: 44,868 Trailblazer
    Check Device Manager wifi again. How many channels are available in the wireless mode dropdown? Jack E/NJ

    Jack E/NJ

  • nuttyhazel
    nuttyhazel Member Posts: 15 Troubleshooter
    Wireless mode options: 01-11b, 02-11g, 03-11b/g, 04-11g/n, 05-11b/g/n, 06-11a, 07-11a/n, 08-11a/b/g/n, 09-11a/g/n,10-11a/n/ac, 11-11a/g/n/ac, 12-11 a/b/n/ac
  • JackE
    JackE ACE Posts: 44,868 Trailblazer
    How strong is the signal? Jack E/NJ

    Jack E/NJ

  • nuttyhazel
    nuttyhazel Member Posts: 15 Troubleshooter
    Strong - all bars are lit up
  • JackE
    JackE ACE Posts: 44,868 Trailblazer
    Have you run thru the troubleshooter yet by right clicking the wifi tray icon? Jack E/NJ

    Jack E/NJ

  • nuttyhazel
    nuttyhazel Member Posts: 15 Troubleshooter
    Yes, several times. Just run it again. It says 'you have no preferred wireless networks'. SO I select my network and try to login - and it says 'unable to connect to this network'. When I connect to BTWi-fi  and run the troubleshooter there is no problem - wireless adaptor is working. If I open up 'network connections' in the control panel I can 'see' the wireless go from 'not connected' to 'connected' when I use the open BTwif-fi. 
  • JackE
    JackE ACE Posts: 44,868 Trailblazer
    Yes, your hardware is fine. It appears that the router login security settings  somehow got changed. Enter 'security' in the Windows start menu. Click Window security. Post a screenshot of result if possible. Jack E/NJ

    Jack E/NJ