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Forum Discussion
Reb1
Nov 05, 2016Aspirant
Can't connect new laptop to router WNDR3400v2 – N600 Wireless Dual Band Router
I just bought a new HP notebook laptop, but it won't connect to my router. I have Access Control turned on and I added the MAC address of the laptop, clicked Apply. I know I put in the correct passwo...
- Nov 06, 2016
I just brought this laptop home yesterday, so it has never connected to wifi. It appears there's a driver update available, but it refuses to download. I think this laptop is going back to the store. Not impressed with this HP Notebook.
Thanks for your help.
Reb1
Nov 06, 2016Aspirant
Hi, thanks for replying. Sorry I didn't supply enough info in the question.
I'm trying to connect via wifi using 2.4GHz b/g/n. I get 'Can't connect to this network'.
I checked the connection via ethernet and it works fine, even without adding the MAC address to the allowed list (which is weird, because I have another PC that wouldn't connect via LAN until I added its MAC address).
michaelkenward
Nov 06, 2016Guru - Experienced User
You should not need to worry about mac addresses if you are setting up wifi access. Get it working without security before going down that road.
The message you see does not sound like a password issue. But which password are you using? The one to access the router is not the one you use to access the wifi.
Have you done anything to configure the wifi security? That is where you set the wifi password.
Does the notebook see the SSID?
Start with the easiest, and least secure, way of getting in. When that works, move on to the next. This will narrow down where the issue lies.
To check that the laptop isn't the issue, you can create a "guest network" that lets you in with no passwords or anything. See page 31 of the manual.
- Reb1Nov 06, 2016Aspirant
Wow, pretty crazy.
1. I unchecked 'Turn on Access Control' and applied the setting.
2. I created a Guest Network with Open security (no password).
3. I still got 'Can't connect to this network'.
To answer your questions, I use MAC filtering on my network. Here's what I've been trying.
On the router side:
1. My 2.4 GHZ SSID is set to WPA2-PSK with a strong passphrase.
2. The channel is set to Auto.
ACL
1. I added the wifi MAC address of the laptop in Advanced>Security>Access Control.
2. 'Turn on Access Control' is checked and 'Allow all new devices to connect' is checked.
3. These settings have been applied (clicked Apply).
On the laptop:
1. This new laptop sees the SSID.
2. I entered the passphrase of the SSID, not the router.
3. I always get 'Can't connect to this network'.
I have several other devices connecting to this network using MAC filtering. If this laptop won't connect, could the problem be a faulty wifi adapter, or is a setting somewhere blocking access?
Thanks for your help!
- michaelkenwardNov 06, 2016Guru - Experienced User
Reb1 wrote:I have several other devices connecting to this network using MAC filtering. If this laptop won't connect, could the problem be a faulty wifi adapter, or is a setting somewhere blocking access?
If everything else connects, then I reckon it is a safe bet that the problem lies with the laptop.
We have seen this sort of thing here before.
I would certainly check out the wifi drivers for updates.
Has this laptop ever connected to wifi anywhere?
- Reb1Nov 06, 2016Aspirant
I just brought this laptop home yesterday, so it has never connected to wifi. It appears there's a driver update available, but it refuses to download. I think this laptop is going back to the store. Not impressed with this HP Notebook.
Thanks for your help.