Hi
If the office uses a different type of Network with special logon and
credentials, it would not work as is at home.
First check with the office's IT if you are allowed to add a new
configuration to the laptop.
Configuring a Laptop (or any computer) to connect to more than one Network.
http://www.ezlan.net/faq#fewtcp-ip
Jack (MVP-Networking).

"gray" wrote in message
news:CB14E71D-C286-4B5C-9144-22C9E08DD75B@microsoft.com...
>I have at home a wireless network based on a SpeedStream ADSL
>modem/wireless
> router which was provided and set up by my broadband service provider. I
> have 2 laptops, 1 desktop and 1 printer in various rooms all permanently
> connected wirelessly to the router. There are problems, such as the
> printer's connection being dropped frequently (this connection is
> displayed
> by the router's device management webpage as a Linux connection - which
> may
> be correct) and the Acer laptop is often, but not always, displayed as a
> Linux connection even though it uses only Windows XP Home Edition with SP2
> and all updates. This laptop's connection also gets dropped from time to
> time, but I can live with these problems for now by re-booting the router,
> printer or Acer laptop and re-establishing the connection. My service
> provider is unable to help on any of these issues.
>
> I use WPA-PSK encryption, a type G connection, channel 6 and the domain
> name
> - MSHOME. Quite often the router displays the domain name - WORKGROUP for
> the Acer laptop although it is set on that laptop to MSHOME.
>
> The main problem arises with my office laptop which will not connect.
> This
> is a Hewlett Packard badged Compaq nc6320 with built-in wireless
> networking
> using an Intel(R) Pro/Wireless 3945BG adaptor. The laptop detects the
> wireless service suggesting that the wireless hardware works but, when I
> ask
> it to connect, it does not get past the 'acquiring network address'
> message
> before eventually failing to connect. I have checked Device Manager on
> this
> machine and the wireless network adaptor's properties which displays the
> MAC
> address as - 00:00:00:00:00:00 - which surely must be an error. My first
> question is - is this a hardware error?
>
> The adaptor shows up on Device Manager, but the output from 'ipconfig/all'
> does not list the wireless adaptor. I have also run 'Netdiagnostics'
> which
> again does not display any wireless adaptor on the laptop. I have ensured
> that the wireless key on the keyboard is switched on and the blue light
> displays.
>
> My home network uses the domain name - MSHOME - however, my office laptop
> uses a different name as it was set up primarily for use on the office
> network. Does this matter? Surely not as I should be able to go to any
> internet cafe and connect wirelessly regardless of domain name? Or should
> I
> add another domain name? Can I add another domain name? All other
> settings
> on the office laptop match those I set up for the rest of my home network.
>
> Sorry to ask so many questions.
>
> Regards
>
> Graham Hicks

Thank you, Jack

I believe that the office network does use different logon and credentials,
however, the part-time office IT guy was supposed to have set up the laptop
to use on any number of networks as I travel frequently as part of my job and
my previous office laptop was able to logon anywhere. I can logon to the
wired network in the office where I am currently working, so I thought that
the problem only existed at home where I have a wireless network.

It would appear that he has not set up the new laptop properly. As I
haven't been in my own office for several weeks, I have not been able to get
him to sort it out yet.

The link that you provided gives me a clue as to what to do next and I will
follow through on my return home next week.

Regards

Graham Hicks

"Jack (MVP-Networking)." wrote:

> Hi
> If the office uses a different type of Network with special logon and
> credentials, it would not work as is at home.
> First check with the office's IT if you are allowed to add a new
> configuration to the laptop.
> Configuring a Laptop (or any computer) to connect to more than one Network.
> http://www.ezlan.net/faq#fewtcp-ip
> Jack (MVP-Networking).
>
> "gray" wrote in message
> news:CB14E71D-C286-4B5C-9144-22C9E08DD75B@microsoft.com...
> >I have at home a wireless network based on a SpeedStream ADSL
> >modem/wireless
> > router which was provided and set up by my broadband service provider. I
> > have 2 laptops, 1 desktop and 1 printer in various rooms all permanently
> > connected wirelessly to the router. There are problems, such as the
> > printer's connection being dropped frequently (this connection is
> > displayed
> > by the router's device management webpage as a Linux connection - which
> > may
> > be correct) and the Acer laptop is often, but not always, displayed as a
> > Linux connection even though it uses only Windows XP Home Edition with SP2
> > and all updates. This laptop's connection also gets dropped from time to
> > time, but I can live with these problems for now by re-booting the router,
> > printer or Acer laptop and re-establishing the connection. My service
> > provider is unable to help on any of these issues.
> >
> > I use WPA-PSK encryption, a type G connection, channel 6 and the domain
> > name
> > - MSHOME. Quite often the router displays the domain name - WORKGROUP for
> > the Acer laptop although it is set on that laptop to MSHOME.
> >
> > The main problem arises with my office laptop which will not connect.
> > This
> > is a Hewlett Packard badged Compaq nc6320 with built-in wireless
> > networking
> > using an Intel(R) Pro/Wireless 3945BG adaptor. The laptop detects the
> > wireless service suggesting that the wireless hardware works but, when I
> > ask
> > it to connect, it does not get past the 'acquiring network address'
> > message
> > before eventually failing to connect. I have checked Device Manager on
> > this
> > machine and the wireless network adaptor's properties which displays the
> > MAC
> > address as - 00:00:00:00:00:00 - which surely must be an error. My first
> > question is - is this a hardware error?
> >
> > The adaptor shows up on Device Manager, but the output from 'ipconfig/all'
> > does not list the wireless adaptor. I have also run 'Netdiagnostics'
> > which
> > again does not display any wireless adaptor on the laptop. I have ensured
> > that the wireless key on the keyboard is switched on and the blue light
> > displays.
> >
> > My home network uses the domain name - MSHOME - however, my office laptop
> > uses a different name as it was set up primarily for use on the office
> > network. Does this matter? Surely not as I should be able to go to any
> > internet cafe and connect wirelessly regardless of domain name? Or should
> > I
> > add another domain name? Can I add another domain name? All other
> > settings
> > on the office laptop match those I set up for the rest of my home network.
> >
> > Sorry to ask so many questions.
> >
> > Regards
> >
> > Graham Hicks
>
>
>