Connection but no Internet

Hi. I'm having a problem connecting to the Internet through my wireless
network (call it "Sam") on my new HP PC. I did connect easily on day 1, after
setting up the initial connection and filling in the SSID and other fields.
"Sam" (my SSID) was identified as my network, and the wireless connection was
fine. I downloaded all Vista updates.

The next day, I connected an Ethernet cable to the PC to improve the signal
strength, and the problem began. The Ethernet connection didn't work, but a
second network named "Sam 2" was set up, which I removed.

Here's the status now:
The Network and Sharing Center show My PC connected to "Unidentified
Network" (not "Sam"), but with no connection (red X) to the Internet. The
next section of that screen shows Access: local only, followed by two
connections, Local Area Connection and Wireless Network Connection- (Sam).

I have tried all the Vista repair options (get new IP address for Local and
Wireless connections, unplug router) to no avail.

One of the Windows updates I installed was a wireless adapter driver update.
I have not yet tried to roll that back or uninstall it (and the update is not
available to reverse through Update.)

What steps should I take next to resolve this? Work on the wireless adapter?

Why is my SSID (Sam) showing now as ""Unidentified Network"?

I was thinking of reverting to the HP factory system setup recovery and just
starting over. Would this clear up any problems with changes that may have
been made to the adapter or connections?

Thanks very much for your advice.

Rick

Thanks...I read those and other posts and links but no suggestions seem to
correct this. It may be relevant that the Network Center screen shows
Access: "Local only". Followed by the Local Area and Wireless
Connections...to the Unidentified network (the router SSID "Sam")...but no
Internet (red X).

Any other ideas welcome. The "Access: Local only" must mean something, right?

Thanks.
--
Rick


"Robert L [MVP - Networking]" wrote:

> There are many posts about "unidentified network", This post may help,
>
> Vista: unidentified networkThe Network and Sharing center will identify the network as "unidentified network", with limited connectivity. I've checked with motherboard and chipset ...
> http://www.chicagotech.net/netforums/viewtopic.php?p=1377&sid=efd7bb2f...9d78c8f
>
>
> Bob Lin, MS-MVP, MCSE & CNE
> Networking, Internet, Routing, VPN Troubleshooting on http://www.ChicagoTech.net
> How to Setup Windows, Network, VPN & Remote Access on http://www.HowToNetworking.com
> "RickD" <RickD.TakeThisOut@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:7E10EA4D-9352-4999-8689-1050DA80A10D@microsoft.com...
> Hi. I'm having a problem connecting to the Internet through my wireless
> network (call it "Sam") on my new HP PC. I did connect easily on day 1, after
> setting up the initial connection and filling in the SSID and other fields.
> "Sam" (my SSID) was identified as my network, and the wireless connection was
> fine. I downloaded all Vista updates.
>
> The next day, I connected an Ethernet cable to the PC to improve the signal
> strength, and the problem began. The Ethernet connection didn't work, but a
> second network named "Sam 2" was set up, which I removed.
>
> Here's the status now:
> The Network and Sharing Center show My PC connected to "Unidentified
> Network" (not "Sam"), but with no connection (red X) to the Internet. The
> next section of that screen shows Access: local only, followed by two
> connections, Local Area Connection and Wireless Network Connection- (Sam).
>
> I have tried all the Vista repair options (get new IP address for Local and
> Wireless connections, unplug router) to no avail.
>
> One of the Windows updates I installed was a wireless adapter driver update.
> I have not yet tried to roll that back or uninstall it (and the update is not
> available to reverse through Update.)
>
> What steps should I take next to resolve this? Work on the wireless adapter?
>
> Why is my SSID (Sam) showing now as ""Unidentified Network"?
>
> I was thinking of reverting to the HP factory system setup recovery and just
> starting over. Would this clear up any problems with changes that may have
> been made to the adapter or connections?
>
> Thanks very much for your advice.
>
> Rick
>