5 steps to fix ... Wireless Troubleshooting

Wireless networks can sometimes work for ages, then suddenly stop. Read more to learn what to do.

The Easiest Steps First

Before you start thinking about the unthinkable, you should go for the simple answers. Believe it or not, they always have the highest success!

If you want Windows to try to correct the problems with your wireless connection, you should click on the connection icon. You will find this on your monitor's right corner near the bottom. Then, navigate to the Support portion of the box you see on the screen, and hit Repair. The connection will be deactivated and then reactivatee as an attempt to make it work again.

Once you've done this, the second step is to just restart the computer. If that doesn't work either, you'll probably need to try something else.

Has Your Wireless Card Come Loose?

If your connection uses a PCMCIA wireless card or USB connector, you can try to check if it's loose. Go ahead and disconnect everything and then reconnect it again. USB devices are really vulnerable to this problem - keep in mind you will need to unplug the USB wire on the PC and network.

If you used an internal PCI wireless card, try these other things before you actually decide to open the computer.

Networks in Your Neighbourhood Changed?

Sometimes, if a new network has been set up close to your home, some interference may be created, which may take preference over your own wireless setup, particularly if the signal is weak in any part of your house.

However, once your computer is connected no one can promise you that your computer will be granted rights - the stronger network could be set up in any variety of odd ways. This could cause your computer to connect to a network that it read as 'better' without you being aware of it, even though it turns out the other connection is of no use to you.

In this case, you should navigate to the 'View Available Wireless Networks' screen and figure out what the connection is. If you don't recognize it, double-click your network from the list provided in order to reconnect. If it works, remember to get remove the incorrect networks' from your list of 'preferred networks', if you want to keep from connecting to them again.

Checking for Sources of Interference

If you discover that your connection works when you place your PC close to the source of the Internet signal, but quits working as you move away, then interference could be the reason.

You should think of any changes that have taken place in your house lately. For example, cordless phones are often the culprit with wireless network interference. Consider equipment, applicances, etc. that emit radio waves as a possible cause. You should try switching each of them off to see if the wireless network perofrmance gets better.

Reset Equipment to Factory Settings

With routers and access points, a good solution could be to log in to their admin control panels (using your browser) and choose the option that restores the factory settings. This will remove all your settings and possibly eliminate the source of the problem, unless there is physical damage.

If nothing works, and your network worked fine before, there's probably a hardware failure on the network somewhere.

For example, someone bumping a USB device, or damaging an antenna on a router. Again, you have to unplug things to find out where the failure is.

Then contact the manufacturer to report the fault, who will replace the item if it's their fault or the equipment is under warranty. Even in the case of non-hardware failures, they will probably still help you to get your network working again so you can say goodbye to 'connected to the access point cannot connect to the internet'.

Check out the top sellers, latest equipment and customer reviews on wireless networking now!

Return to the top of Wireless Troubleshooting: 5 Things to Try.


Return to Intro to Wireless Networking -- What is an Infrared Wireless LAN?