How do I Connect my Laptop to the Wireless Network?

Try this experiment...

Keep your desktop plugged into the net, and get online with it...some web-page

Now get your Windows comp online via wifi...go to some web-page.

Now get your Apple comp online via wifi ... go to some web-page.

Now get your Linux comp online via wifi ... see if it craps out.

If it does, then it could be that your ISP is maxing you out at 3 DHCP sub-net addy's. The way to test this would be...

Do everything like before, but try to hook your Linux comp onto the wifi while only your Desktop is on it, too. Then try adding your Windows laptop, then the Apple.

If the Linux comp can't get on the wifi when it's the only laptop that's powered on and looking for a wifi connection, then it's def your Linux comp's problem. If, however, you can have your desktop, Linux comp and Windows comp on, but the Apple can't get connected...then your ISP is limited you to 3 DHCP addy's.

Now, if both your Apple and Windows comps are off, and your Linux laptop can't hook up, then it could be that your wifi chip in your laptop pooped out. I don't know the commands off hand to check on this...something like ifconfig ifup ifdown...dhcp-release ... dhcp.... i don't know. Get into a commandline and type in "dhcp" then hit tab...it should give you a list of all the commands to use starting with dhcp. The if* commands are used to test and configure the hardware. The dhcp* commands are to ping and request a dymanic IP addy. Those if* commands can give you status of your wifi chip, loopback, ethernet, etc. You'd have to google up more specifics about them, or hopefully someone else can give better info on them.

I did notice that when I installed Ubuntu Netbook Edition 10.04 on my netbook, I had a heck of a time configuring wifi. But that was because my netbook uses a propriatery Broadcom driver, which for some reason UNE didn't come installed with (usually they have the proprietary drivers along with the intall, and the restricted drivers service will ask if you want to activate them, and let you...in my case, i had to physically hardline my netbook to the router with a cable to get ethernet access to the net, then download the damn driver before it could install and get my wifi going)...but even then, I had to fiddle around with the settings.

Be careful in re-typing in WEP keys...I think Linux gives you the option to unmask your key to make sure you're typing in the right length, but double check.

Hopefully someone else can help out more.

i'm afraid this may well be somewhat technical, yet i will do my ultimate: you do no longer say what fashions your router & computer are - that should help! that's achievable that they are the two working, yet no longer making use of an analogous on the spot uncomplicated. The computer (if some years previous) might help basically '802.11B' on an analogous time as the router (& wanadoo adapter) may well be making use of '802.11G'. verify the router's settings properly waiting to be set to apply the two basically 'G' or the two 'B' & 'G' at the same time if it interior reason new. there is likewise '802.11N' that's very new. you haven't any longer mentioned whether the adapter is working with the computer or yet another computer? If it fairly works interior the computer, then evaluate the properties of its settings with those of your outfitted-in on the spot adapter. Is there a on the spot activate the case of the computer? sometimes it is an analogous swap for the two BluTooth & WiFi - verify that that's on! The 'Sony Vaio VGN-SZ2XP' relatively has one like this. What I mentioned approximately 802.11 standards additionally applies to encryption standards. there is WPA (greater moderen, greater shelter) & WEP (older) - be sure that your Sony helps the WPA uncomplicated in the adventure that your router is making use of it.