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If you're experiencing trouble with your network, the first thing you should do is to restart your computer, a network connection, or the router. Next, you should make sure your operating system software is up to date. If restarting and updating the software don't solve the problems, then you need to identify another source. Is a defective access point the culprit, or is the problem on one of your computers?
The following steps help you troubleshoot a bad network connection. Stop following the steps when the problem is solved:
1. Temporarily disable the firewall or Internet security software on the computer that is having connection troubles.
2. Ping the router from the computer that is giving trouble, and also try to ping another computer on the network. Likewise, ping the troublesome computer from another computer on the network.
 | A ping test tells you if the computers are able to connect to each other on the most basic level over the network. To ping a network computer in Windows, determine the IP (Internet Protocol) address of the computer you want to ping, and choose Start --> All Programs --> Accessories --> Command Prompt. At the command prompt, type: ping 192.168.0.1 (substitute this IP address with the address you want to ping). Type Exit at the command prompt and press Enter to close the Command Prompt window. |
3. Make sure that the computer is set to automatically obtain an IP address from the DHCP (Dynamic Host Control Protocol) server in your router/WAP (Wireless Access Point).
4. Restart DHCP on your WAP, and then if necessary reboot the WAP.
5. Make sure each computer on the network has the same workgroup name. In Windows, right-click My Computer and choose Properties.
6. In the resulting System Properties dialog box, click the Computer Name tab (see Figure 1). Each computer on the network should have the same workgroup name.
Figure 1: The System Properties dialog box, Computer Name tab.
7. Update the driver software for the offending network adapter.
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