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Thread ID: 97921 2009-03-04 07:56:00 School Networking Problems Blam (54) Press F1
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753381 2009-03-04 07:56:00 I currently attend a school that uses laptops full time as a replacement for textbooks/exercise books.

As a PAL tutor, I, along with a team of other experienced students aid the computer technicians at our school in maintaining students laptops and fixing them.

Anyways-we have a school wide wireless network, which recently users have had problems connecting to listed below

a) Does not auto connect to this network, even when fully configured to, student has to manually connect, but does not always work, as sometimes, b) happens. Also, students connect fine to their home network, so it is obviously the networks problem

b) When connected-says network is "unauthenticated" and internet does not work

c) A more serious problem has arisen recently with the new model of school laptop, the laptop sees NO wireless networks
Currently the only fix for this is to reinstall the wireless adapter, which is a pain for the student, as most do not know their home network key, which complicates the whole process.....
This problem is most probably related to the computer itself and not the network, but I am still unsure what. The drivers can't be corrupted every month can they?:p

Could a network professional/anybody know what may be causing any of these problems or have suitable advice?

I am seeking advice on this problem as the last resort, as the network issues at our school have excelled to an absolutely absurd point-half the students at the school are spending 15 minutes-maybe more, on connecting or trying to connect to the network. The point of using laptops is to learn effectively. Spending a quarter of the lesson trying to connecting to the network and accessing the internet is not exactly effective or smart.

Thanks in Advance for any help/advice given

Blam
Blam (54)
753382 2009-03-04 07:59:00 What version of windows and service pack are on the laptops??

If Windows is installed?
Speedy Gonzales (78)
753383 2009-03-04 08:03:00 Some vista business/some XP pro

Some with Vista Sp1, others just Vista.

Most XP are SP2 or SP3

Its unlikely SPs are related to the problem, but it does seem like XP doesn't seem to have any problems conencting or any of those problems listed above.

Just Vista.:(
Blam (54)
753384 2009-03-04 08:11:00 Any of these apply ? (www.chicagotech.net)

This may help (support.microsoft.com)

Dont know if SP1 has it in it, but there's a hotfix up the top
Speedy Gonzales (78)
753385 2009-03-04 08:13:00 WHat brand/model laptops? pctek (84)
753386 2009-03-04 08:15:00 First maybe not so obvious question - What if anything has changed (no matter how small - or what may seem to have no effect) - this could be something in the buildings, alterations, additions, someone relocated / Moved something - some new machine purchased Eg: photo copier / Printer.

If one or two laptops were affected that could be from outside sources, Eg internet infections - but to affect every one I would suggest its either a router/ Assess point problem.
wainuitech (129)
753387 2009-03-04 08:16:00 Nope, first one doesn't, and I've even tried changing the power mode of the wireless adapter in device manager

Second one doesn't apply either-problem happens to those even with SP1.
Blam (54)
753388 2009-03-04 08:19:00 Brand/Model of Laptops:Most laptops are Toshiba M500e(Special version of M500 for education use), A600e(same story), M500 and M300

The ones with problems are the M500/M500e and A600e, they are the ones with vista

WT-Nothing has been altered so far that may have affected this. We have many access points throughout the school, and the problems above happen in most areas of the school.
Blam (54)
753389 2009-03-04 08:29:00 Are the Vista laptops using ipv4 or ipv6??

Kill / disable ipv6 if its enabled
Speedy Gonzales (78)
753390 2009-03-04 08:33:00 I think I've already tried that before, read it somewhere on the web, but I'll try it tomorrow anyways.

Thanks for all the suggestions so far guys:thumbs::)
Blam (54)
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