Unable to connect to internet

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Thanks in advance for any thoughts you may have.

I have Compaq Presario CQ60-249 laptop that is about 3 or 4 years old.

I have cable internet access via a wireless router which for the past couple years has worked flawlessly.

Please note that I also have a desktop that connect wirelessly and without issue even when  (currently) my laptop won't connect.

I can discover my wireless network and apparently connect to the network but my connection is "limited" and I cannot access the internet wirelessly OR even when I lug in the ethernet cable...... My wife has HP notebook that connects to the same Ethernet cable with no issues.

I have removed all wireless connections and reconnected numerous times, had the OS try its diagnostic program numerous times, shutdown and restarted the cable modem and wireless router many many times.

I've looked in the device manager and do not see "hardware" issues.

One thing I noticed is that connecting to the internet has been getting harder and harder with the laptop for the past few weeks, not nothing helps....

I have no idea what to try, sorry for the long explanation (if your still reading)..

My OS is Vista with all updates loaded I think.

Thanks for your time and any help you could suggest before I go get whacked paying HP for support....

Craig

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi, Craig:

Normally, I would suggest updating the wireless card drivers to the latest version but because you can't access the internet either by wire or wirelessly, it sounds like a corrupt operating system, or virus that has cut off your access to the internet.

The problem is normally when a virus cuts off your access to the internet, it has removed networking files and registry files that you just can't restore.

I like to wipe my PC's every now and then and do a clean restore or install of the operating system to keep things running in tip-top shape.

If you are not averse to performing a system recovery (F11 or use your recovery disks), that is what I would do after backing up any files you wish to reinstall and have the installation files for any programs you want to reinstall.

If you want to try updating the drivers first before resorting to the more draconian suggestion, please post the model (including number) of your wireless adapter.

Vista...32 or 64 bit?

Paul

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Paul,

Thank you and I agree with the periodic cleaning off. I've had mcafee on the laptop for years and pretty religiously update it so I'm alittle leary on the virus possibility but that could definately be it.

Would there be a way to confirm this? Should the device manager show an issue with the network adapter(s)? 

I believe its a 32 bit

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi, Craig:

You could run a virus scan but it may not pick it up, or it may not be a virus.

There could be (and normally isn't) no indication in the device manager that the hardware was not working properly.

So, if you let me know what model wireless adapter is listed in the device manager, I will send you the link to the latest driver for it. See if it makes a difference.

Paul

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Thanks Paul I will do that..