computer stuck "identifying network"

hi there, I got directed here from the spybot forums after they helped me get rid of some malware. I've got a problem with my network adaptor (i think). Quite often, it will either randomly disconnect me from the internet, or fail to connect in the first place. I've opened up network sharing centre, and it's connected to the network, but then won't connect further on to the internet, and it just says "identifying network" in the status. When I open up the windows diagnostics, occasionally it sorts itself out by finding a new IP adress for the network adaptor. But quite often it won't do anything, reporting that it can't communicate with the DNS server. I know its not a problem with the network, because my hosuemate's laptops will be connected to the internet while mine is doing this. It also does it on every network I try to use. It's nothing to do with the signal quality, because it even happens when its got perfect signal, and when i'm in the same room as the router. Is there anything I can do? Joe

hi there,

I got directed here from the spybot forums after they helped me get rid of some malware.

I've got a problem with my network adaptor (i think). Quite often, it will either randomly disconnect me from the internet, or fail to connect in the first place. I've opened up network sharing centre, and it's connected to the network, but then won't connect further on to the internet, and it just says "identifying network" in the status.

When I open up the windows diagnostics, occasionally it sorts itself out by finding a new IP adress for the network adaptor. But quite often it won't do anything, reporting that it can't communicate with the DNS server.

I know its not a problem with the network, because my hosuemate's laptops will be connected to the internet while mine is doing this. It also does it on every network I try to use. It's nothing to do with the signal quality, because it even happens when its got perfect signal, and when i'm in the same room as the router.

Is there anything I can do?

Joe

Joe, could you provide the link from the spybot forum so a tech who will work with you can read over what was done, Thanks.

Jimbo1

yeah sure thing.

to be honest, it didn't really have anything to do with that - i just asked for some advice on what would be the best thing to do about the network problem at the end of the process of removing the malware. as far as i'm aware they two are unconnected - the network problem has been happenning for absolutely ages but i'v just been putting up with it… the fatalistic outlook of "its a computer… they dont work sometimes" sums it up.

http://forums.spybot.info/showthread.php?t=61534

there''s the link anyway, it might shed some light

thanks for the reply!

joe

Hi, 2 things to do to start with: 1 Plug in a cat 5e Ethernet cable from your computer's network port to one of the 4 compatible sockets marked on the back of your router. then in network connections enable your wired network adapter. Reboot your machine, check that your wired network adapter is still enabled…can you access the Internet this way? 2 Next have a look in Device Manager, look at your network adapters,( click on the +sign at the left for details) Do any have a yellow or red marks against them? If you right click the wireless network card, what are the properties? post back with the answers and we will advise the next step. Please confirm: a, you are running on Vista with SP2, b, the make and model of your computer and modem/router c, the type of encryption you are using for the wireless signal WEP, WPA, WPA2 etc d if your router is broadcasting its SSID or if you have supressed this e if you have tried a borrowed USB network adapter and if so with what result Regards paws

hi, sorry - i'm really busy at the moment, as you may have seen from the spybot forums thread. I'll need to reply to your questions in a couple of days, when i've got more time at home to check it all. I know it works when I plug in an ethernet cable, because i do that sometimes in the evenings in the hope I might get a speedier connection… I want to make it clear that the majority of the time, I can connect wirelessly to the internet. The problem I'm encountering isn't that I can never connect, but that I randomly get disconnected and can't reconnect, and sometimes I can't connect in the first place. I'll reply in a day or so with the answers to your questions thanks joe

hi again, had a bit of time to get back home for a while. at the moment, its working fine. there are no yellow or red markers against the network adaptors, and the wireless properties says "woring properly". the computer is a dell inspiron 6400, the modem/router is a combined one - netgear wireless N cable gateway (VMDG280). I'm not sure how to check the encryption or whether its broadcasting the SSID, and I don't have anyone I could borrow a USB network adaptor from. sorry it wasn't that helpful!

I want to make it clear that the majority of the time, I can connect wirelessly to the internet. The problem I'm encountering isn't that I can never connect, but that I randomly get disconnected and can't reconnect, and sometimes I can't connect in the first place.

That being the case try borrowing a USB network adapter and install it and see if that helps
Regards
paws

thanks, i'll try that - if the problem persists I'll start another topic joe

Joe, if the problem happens again, please continue in this thread. Makes it a lot easier to see what has already been tried. Thanks

ok sure, I thought this thread might be closed after a while. just an update, I still haven't been able to borrow a USB adaptor, and I'm still randomly getting disconnected. Again, it disconnects me from the internet but I'm still connected to the network. when I go through network and sharing center to network diagnostics, it usually works when I click on "get new IP settings for the wireless network adaptor", but occasionally doesn't joe