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Forum Discussion
Win11 "Can't connect to this network" error
I just switched over to fiber from ATT DSL (used their Pace modem/router). I bought a Nighthawk BE9300 to sue with our new service. I have connected three very new HP laptops, phones, tv's etc. with no issues at all.
I have a HP Pavilion laptop that is a few years old. It has the Realtek RTL8821CE wifi card. I cannot connect top the Nighthawk. It shows up in the list of networks, but when I click on it and enter the password, I get an error "Cannot connect to this network." I've Googled and tried everything I could find, but to no avail. I am still able to connect to the old router with no issues.
Any ideas on what could be wrong or what I could be missing? Any help would be appreciated.
Oh, at one point, I tried the WPS button and and I received a message stating that windows was unable to get all the information and to enter the password instead.
Very frustrating!
Anyway, thanks for any help.
15 Replies
USB stick option is nice in that I don't have to tear open the laptop.
These new WiFi modules are SO easy to replace. What is the model number of the HP Pavilion laptop?
I'm not sure. It is out in my shop. It is probably 4 years old or so? Can't remember. I remembered today that I had to send it back immediately after I received it because wifi didn't work. Interesting. It has been temperamental over the years.
I have changed the cards out (batteries and drives too) in our older Pavilions. Not too bad. I was thinking though, that the USB stick might be a better option. This laptop is a shop laptop. Said shop is a small building out back. I have been using an extender to get the signal out there (with the ATT Pacer router). My hope is that with the external antennas, I can eliminate the extender in the middle. I'll see what happens.
I tried to replace a internal wifi card on my pavilion g6 from 2012. Won't let me. LOL. Said card was not supported at the BIOS screen and it had to be removed. I guess laptop is just too old. LOL. So will end up finding a USB adapter for it though the old wifi card still works, just up to N mode supporting is all. Some laptops can be particular and specific on what can be upgraded. Unless desktop PCs. :o)
when I try to connect to the network, there is an option to push the button on the router.
So cool. I love this Forum. Learn something new every day!
Hmmm. Thanks for the input. Much appreciated. I may try adding a 5g guest network to see if I can connect to that.
Another bit of info....My HP 8610 printer will not connect either.
Thanks again.
If anything works, I'll post it!
I looked up the specs on the printer. It is 2.4G only. I setup a guest 2.4 network with the WPA2 security and it connected. But then I can't print to it because it is on a different network from our laptops. So, I guess I need to just plug it in and move on.
Thanks.
Just FYI, if this printer is the Officejet Pro 8610, then this printer is about 10 years old. Came out way prior to WPA3. Is supporting of WPA2. However be aware that some older generation wifi devices, though they don't support WPA3, Seem to have issues if a router has mixed WPA2 and WPA3 on the signal. WPA3 on the signal seems to cause problems for devices trying to connect with using WPA2 and are not supporting of WPA3. I've seen this with some older routers that have wifi client bridge mode. They won't connect to the wireless SSID with WPA3 in the mix and only connect if WPA2 is the only mode on the signal.
I see last FW update for the printer back in 2021.
Also has ethernet support so this maybe the best way to get the printer connected and use ethernet over Wifi station. Can use WiFi Direct for mobile devices when needed though.
Good Luck.
Make sure the security is set to WPA2+WPA3.
I have a HP Pavilion laptop that is a few years old.
What OS are you using? Win 11? Or something else?
I am using Win 11 and I keep it updated. The card drivers are that latest (which are several years old).
That realtek adapter was known for issues connecting to AX (wifi 6) networks. I can't imagine going to BE (wifi 7) improved that any. You might try updating to a different wifi card in the laptop or even just getting a usb dongle that works with AX or BE
Thanks. I did look at the options. I saw a card on Amazon for $26 that might work. I may try that.
I tried the WPS button
How cool. I have never seen a laptop with a WPS button.
My Windows computers have a Network Troubleshooter feature. What does that report about the WiFi adapter connection?
This Realtek adapter is a WiFi5 device. As long as the security is not set to WPA3 (which WiFi5 does not support), this adapter should be able to connect to the 2.4G and 5G WiFi channels of the RS300 router. It cannot connect to the 6G WiFi channel because it does not support 6G.
Ha! No button on the laptop. But when I try to connect to the network, there is an option to push the button on the router. I tried that, but windows said it couldn't get all the information and to enter the password instead.
