Wi Fi problem

[maltaron]

I have a Toshiba Satellite Pro 4600 laptop. This was working with wifi to a BT Home Hub with no problems. As the computer was beginning to get slow I did a complete hard disk format amd reinstalled XP. Now the wi fi link is playing up. The signal strength is excellent. When I check the wireless connection properties and enter the key (10 characters) I can then connect. However, after a few minutes the connection drops out. Rechecking the properties shows the key has reduced to 8 characters. Enter the correct key and the whole problem repeats. Any one any ideas? TIA

 

[EddieM]

when you say it drops to 8 characters, do you mean 8 undisplayed character eg. dots?

Your best bet I think would be to hook up via an ethernet cable, and try to update to the latest drivers for your BT Home hub.

 

[maltaron]

Thyanks for your reply. Yes it is 8 black dots. My other laptop and my PDA both connect with no problems, so the hub is OK.

 

[EddieM]

The dropping to 8 dots is a red herring think as this is just a way of obfusticating the password. Does it drop out after the same amount of time or is it random? Have you tried updating the drivers on your laptop?

 

[maltaron]

Thanks for further info. Dropout time appears to be the same and yes, I have downloaded drivers from Toshiba and installed them.

 

[EddieM]

does it drop the connection when hardwired (ethernet) to the router?

 

[maltaron]

No, OK on ethernet

 

[EddieM]

Hmmm, well the problem seems to be at the laptop end rather than a problem with your router. Have you tried a windows update?

 

[johnnypanic]

Have you any antivirus / firewall software installed, e.g. norton / mcafee?

If so, disable this and see if the problem still occurs.

 

[Goldberg]

I have a Toshiba Satellite Pro 4600 laptop. This was working with wifi to a BT Home Hub with no problems......I did a complete hard disk format amd reinstalled XP.

Have you still got the box that the laptop came in?

 

[MarkBarl]

From memory, the SP4600 needed an update from the Toshiba web site for the wireless card to be able to use better than 64bit WEP encryption.

Have a look at this page clicky Select archived files as the product type and then select your model etc.