Windows – What causes partial connectivity through wireless adapter (no internet, but can see other home network PC)

home-networkinginternet connectionnetwork-adapterwindowswireless-networking

I recently bought an Asus X401A laptop. For some reason, I cannot get internet access on the wireless connection. The wireless connection succeeds and I can see other computers on the network once connected. If I run ipconfig, I get a good IP and the default gateway is right.

Some info that may help:

  • Running Windows 8 (Had the problem when it was Windows 7, but thought upgrading may help)
  • Comcast is my ISP and I'm using the router that they supplied
  • Connecting with an ethernet cable works fine and does allow for internet connectivity.
  • Authentication is WPA2/AES, but tried with no authentication as well
  • The default gateway is 10.0.0.1
  • Network adapter is by RaLink
  • Tried getting latest version of RaLink driver
  • Windows 8 install switched network adapter driver. Now uses Microsoft driver
  • Windows network troubleshooter does not solve the problem (just says default gateway unreachable)
  • Tried to connect at a public wifi hotspot and it worked just fine
  • Have several other devices connected (pc, ipad, ipod, tv, wii, phone, etc…) to the same router with no problem
  • Tried rebooting the router
  • Tried resetting router to defaults
  • Confirmed that there is no mac address filtering enabled
  • When connected, network comes up as unidentified and I'm never given the option to designate the network as a Home network
  • Pinging the default gateway times out
  • Tracert to the gateway IP returns "Destination host unreachable"
  • USB wifi adapter from the same laptop works fine
  • Turned off IPV6 for the adapter
  • Tried manually setting all of the IPV4 configuration (default gateway, dns servers, etc..)

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Best Answer

With all the tests you have done, one has to conclude that your computer's wireless adapter just cannot manage to work with your router. I hope you have tested with the computer in the same room as the router.

If the wireless adapter has any way to set parameters, maybe using a manufacturer utility that came with the computer, then do so. Or such a utility may be available for download on the manufacturer's website.

Otherwise, try changing some parameters on the router, such as channel or security settings. You could also try using some other router and see if this works.

Try also to turn off the Windows firewall, just in case.

If all fails and if the computer is still under warranty, ask the vendor for the wireless adapter to be replaced.

Related Question