can't connect to public wireless

i have a dell inspiron e1505 laptop. it's about 3.5 years old now. here's some more info:



here's my problem: recently i've noticed that i can't connect to public or non-protected wi-fi connections. i can connect to passworded connections at home and at work just fine.

this is what happens when i try to connect to the internet at a coffee shop i go to:





i've connected to non-protected connections before. i should probably say before i had to reinstall windows on my computer. earlier this year i had to reinstall windows on my computer because my computer basically crashed. i thought i had installed all the drivers and other tools needed for my computer, but maybe i missed something for the wireless?

here's some info on my wireless:

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if i've missed any info to get started, let me know. i have more screen shots of the issues i've had so i can post those. i'll be going to the coffee shop wednesday evening so any trouble shooting that needs to be done at that location will have to be done then.

thanks!

 

It would appear that you are using a wizard for protected connections to connect to an unprotected one. I have never seen that before on my version of XP but If you simply click on the wireless icon on the taskbar and then view wireless connections. You should be able to connect without any wizard.

Have you tried just entering nothing when prompted for a password?

 

it's not a wizard. that window is what comes up when i click the wireless icon in my start bar.


the promt doesn't allow you to continue without entering an 8-digit sequence of numbers that makes up the "device password."

 

The first set of attachments that you posted clearly showed a wizard used to connect you to a secured account.

The current screenshot shows only secured networks and no unsecured ones.

 

As BeeCeeBee says you are using something other than Windows to try and connect to the internet.
Click Start, Connect to wireless connection and then select the one you would like and insert the key

 

For info.....the Intel Pro Connection Manager is standard software on Dell laptops of that era.

Have you tried creating a new Profile for that wireless network, creating it manually means you can define the SSID, and the no security option.

The other way to go is disable the Intel connection software and use Windows Wireless Zero Config to connect. There's an option to do that within the Intel software.

 

The issue with having another software that controls the Internet connection is unnecessary, windows will do it just as well

 

Have you run the windows network setup wizard?

 

this is what happens when i try to use windows wireless zero configuration:



it happens at work, at home, and at the coffee shop.

the "wizard" that pops up with my intel wireless is what happens when i double click on the connection i want. what used to happen when i double clicked on a public wireless was it would just connect to the network without asking for any keys. from the time i got my computer, i've connected to wireless connections all over the place (hotels, coffee shops, random home networks, etc). i noticed that i started having this problem after i reinstalled windows on my computer.

 

You need to give Windows permission to connect to networks, it looks like the Intel software still has control.

Click on the Change Advanced Settings on the the left hand side.

There should be 3 tabs available, one which has a tick box to allow Windows to configure your networks. Tick it and Apply.

If only two tabs are available, go back to the Intel icon in the tray, and I think from memory, right click over it, and there is an option to allow Windows to configure your networks.

It looks something like this - Use Windows to Manage Wi-Fi

[attachment=73:2/7/7/9/81.attach]

 

i went to dell's website and downloaded and installed all the drivers that were shipped with my computer (according to my service tag). i tried connecting to the wifi near my work using the intel software (barnes & noble's AT&T wifi) and it worked. my next step will be to try the coffee shop's internet again. if i can't connect through the intel, i will also try using windows to connect while i'm there.

 

Just a thought but the problem might not be with your PC, do you have anyfriends there that have PC's with them, if so do they have any connection issues

 

unfortunately, it seems like it's just me with the problem. when i first had the issue, i asked one of the employees and he said that i was the first he'd heard of having a problem with the internet. several people had their computers at the coffee shop and we online.

 

It seems to me that there may be a conflict still between your dell software and windows. There have been a number of suggestions in the above software. May I suggest you give us a run down on where you stand and what you have tried. I know this seems like starting over but it does appear that under some circumstances you can connect to the internet and actually get somewhere.

Exactly where and when can you connect and where are you having the problems. It is just that this thread seems to be getting a bit confusing to follow.

 

my main two points of connection are at home and at work. both are protected with passwords and i connect to both with intel.

i tried connecting at a friend's house a month or two ago, non-protected wireless, couldn't connect. it asked for a device password. my friend connected to the internet wirelessly just fine on her computer. i believe she also has a dell, not sure what model though.

i tried connecting at the coffee shop. they have a non-protected wireless connection too. i couldn't connect. people use the internet there and the employee said he's never heard of anyone complaining about getting to the internet. i want to say that i have connected to the internet here before, specifically before i reinstalled windows.

today, i tried connecting to another friend's wireless and intel asked me for a device password. the only thing different with this connection is that it IS protected. i used windows to connect and i got to the internet (i'm connected to this connection now).

a couple nights ago, i connected to barnes & noble's at&t free wi-fi with intel, no problems.

these are examples of connections that i can be sure of the information. i've connected to tons of other wireless over the 3.5 years i've had my computer. this is the first time i've had a problem connecting to wi-fi, especially non-protected wifi. i feel like this issue may have something to do with me reinstalling windows on my computer.