Hi, I have brought my dell laptop at work with vista operating system. It connects to internet networks wirelessly. I am trying to connect the work printer to my laptop but am not sure how to start. The printer is a HP laserjet P4015dn. Any advice you can offer? Do I need a CD to connect? Thanks. Tesha.

Hi Anon
Your laptop should come with an Ethernet connection as well as wireless connections, try making a wired connection via your Ethernet port, these are usually more reliable than wireless connections.
When I have experienced these sort of problems it is usually because of a missing driver.
Check that you have the proper drivers for your internet connections installed, these should come on a disk that is supplied with your laptop.
Finally check this link for Microsoft's official network trouble shooter.
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows-vista/troubleshoot-network-connection-problems.

The Dell Latitude E6400 laptop comes with an Intel Core 2 Duo processor for fast computing and an NVIDIA graphics card for video playback, gaming and Web browsing. The laptop has a built in Wi-Fi card, letting you connect to the Internet on-the-go. However, if you're unfamiliar with Dell or the laptop's factory installed Windows Vista operating system, you might not know how to enable to Wi-Fi.

Slide the switch on the side of the laptop toward the front of the laptop. This switch enables Wi-Fi connectivity on the Dell Latitude E6400. When switched into the back position, the Wi-Fi is turned off. Turn on your Dell Latitude E6400 laptop and log into Windows Vista. Click on the Windows "Start" button. Click on "Wireless," located in the Start menu's "Show" list. A list of currently broadcasting wireless networks appears on screen. With your Wi-Fi enabled, you can connect to any of these available networks. Secured networks ask you for a password when you click "Connect," while unsecured networks connect automatically.

hi

go to this link, review
What You Need to Establish a WLAN Connection http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/ins6400/en/om/network.htm#wp1052373

1. Click the Start button, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
   
   
2. Double-click Network Connections.
   
   
3. Right-click the Wireless Network Connection icon, and then click View Available Wireless Networks.
   
   

If the Choose a wireless network window states Windows cannot configure this connection, the wireless network card's configuration utility is managing the wireless network card.
If the Choose a wireless network window states Click an item in the list below to connect to a wireless network in range or to get more information, the Windows XP operating system is managing the wireless network card.

hard to answer your question without knowing what Operating System you have on your PC and laptops connections, eg. LAN, wireless etc.

If you have windows XP you will need to check Network Connections on your laptop to make sure the Internet connection is showing as connected.

Click on Start - Control Panel -- network connections.

Check if Internet gateway is setup

If not go to Internet Options in Control Panel and setup the Internet connection using the right buttons.

I cannot guide you if you have Vista or Win 7.

Check the security settings manually in the wireless conection manger, when you search for wireless networks down bottem left has addvanced options, in here try a few differnt settings and it may sort your problem, i know its been wokring all along but could have chaned some thing there where it shouldnt have automatically. hope this helps in some way.

aoso make sure in network conections , and the wireless conection that the tcp ip settings are all automatic.

Check what is the ipaddress,tried to shut down the laptop and drain flea power.Then check if the laptop can detect wireless connection. Then ping website in command prompt.Try ipconfig /release and then ipconfig /renew. Try connecting wired internet connection to check if issue with operating system or browser or wireless connectivity.

Hi there. You may need to connect to the wireless network manually. What is the operating system running on your computer? If XP, you may follow these. (This is also applicable in other operating system, it may just vary a little) Right click the monitor icon showing on the system tray near the clock. Point the mouse in the icon and it will display the name if it is wireless network connection or network connection. Right click the icon and look for view available wireless network. If it is not showing, look for network connection. Right click and select "open network connection". Right click wireless network connection and select "view available wireless network" . Look for the wireless network you're trying to access or have connection.Highlight and click connect. If encrypted, you need to supply the pass key or security key twice and hit connect. It should allow you now to go online wirelessly. Please remember these, you should be able to go online wired. Make sure that there are other wireless computer connected to the wireless network you're connecting with and can go online wirelessly.

Hope this help :)

Reconfigure your wireless configuration in this laptop and then try connecting it.

You might need to disable the dial-up connection. You might also need to enable the two network connections, sometimes they are disabled upon setup by default? What operating system are you running?

Hello router_lost

I believe you are correct in your assessment that the issue is related to your router. Likely, that issue involves configuration - of your router and/or your laptop computer.

(01) Is the computer that is running Vista connecting to the Internet (via the router) using a wireless network adapter or a wired network adapter?

(02) Assuming that the Vista computer is connecting to the Internet wirelessly, please, tell us the manufacturer, model number and version of your router.

If the Vista computer is connecting "wired" and not "wirelessly" AND you have no other devices on your LAN (home network) that are successfully connecting to the Internet wirelessly through this router, then, it's possible that the router's radio is not enabled. However, if the laptop is "seeing" your router, then, of course, that isn't the case.

(03) Are you sure you are attempting to connect to the correct wireless router from your laptop?

I've seen it quite often where users will think they're connecting (or trying to connect) through their own router when, in fact, the router is a neighbor's (not their own).

(06) You can avoid this possibility by assigning an unique SSID to your wireless radio. In other words, change the SSID (wireless router's "name") to something other than the manufacturer's default SSID. (e.g. Netgear's default is "netgear" and Linksys's default SSID is "linksys", etc.)

It's best, for security purposes, not to assign a revealing SSID (e.g. "TheSmiths" or "2201YourStreetName", etc). Call it "BlueMoon" or whatever you like. Just something unique yet not revealing of your identity or location.

(07) Please, tell us the manufacturer, model number and revision of your router.

(08) Please, tell us the manufacturer, model number and serial number (or service tag) of your laptop computer.

(09) Please, tell us the operating system that is running on your laptop computer.

W/ this information, we'll be able to provide you with specific instructions for correcting your laptop's connectivity problem at home.

(10) Do you know if you have WEP or WPA encryption enabled on the router?

If you do, then you will need to enter either the router's wireless encryption "password phrase" or the hexadecimal key code password in order for the laptop to be allowed to access the Internet. You should only have to do this one time - then your computer will save the information.

If you've been connecting to free networks fine, then you've likely not been required to enter a password phrase or key in order to connect.

Please, post back here w/ answers to the questions I've asked here along with any other questions, comments, and observations you might have. We'll continue to work w/ you on this issue until it's resolved.

Thank you
BJ @:)