Wireless Problems between Linksys WRT54G Router and Sony Vaio VGN-FE870E/H Laptop

I recently bought a new Sony Vaio VGN-FE870E/H Laptop with Windows
Vista Home Premium Edition installed. I've since had an issue
connecting to wireless networks that use a Linksys WRT54G router. I
use this router at home and two of my friends do also. Everytime I
connect my laptop to these routers the router drops the Internet
connection and resets itself and it does this every 4-5 mins. However,
I do not have this problem on other wireless networks (school, hotels,
etc.). Also, other laptops that use XP/Mac connect to these routers
without any problems. My laptop is the one causing the conflict.

I've tried everything I could think of. I called Linksys many times
and they tell me this router as been tested an is compatible with
Vista. I also called Sony and troubleshooted many things and they
claim the problem to be with the router.

Can anyone help?

You may want to use static IP instead of DHCP.

sorry, you are replying to a very old post and I don't see where you
posted your original issue.

I have exactly the same problem with Vista, a Vaio VGN-SZ4MN/B and a Linksys WRT54G router (with latest Linksys firmware. The XP PCs on my home network work fine on the wireless network (which uses key-based WEP security), including another Vaio portable that I have. So there clearly is a comapatibilty problem between the Linksys router, Microsoft Vista and my Sony Vaio. Any suggestions welcome. -

Don't be too quick to blame Vista. I have a similar problem (router wouldn't issue an IP address under DHCP) on my Vaio with 3 different Linksys routers (both wired and wireless,) but worked fine on non-Linksys routers. I installed SuSE Linux 10.2 on the Vaio, with the same results. I'm thinking Sony has some setting hidden in BIOS that is messing with us.

ofarrell.michael, S Malin, and Tyler:

Differences in the networking stack between XP and Vista have exposed a lot
of router bugs which were hitherto hidden.

Vista uses UPnP much more heavily than XP ever did, and we've found that a
lot of routers have suboptimal UPnP implementations, causing them to crash.

1. Does this happen on both a wired connection to the router AND a wireless
connection?

2. when Vista "loses" connection, does it come back automatically, or do you
have to reboot your router? Do the other xp machines also lose
connectivity?

3. If ONLY the vista machine loses connectivity, then there is an issue with
your vista machine. Make sure your drivers are all up to date. If
wireless, make sure you have the latest drivers for your card. Go to
linksys' website and verifiy that what you've got is the latest.

4. While you're there, make sure you have the latest firmware for your
router. We found a lot of bugs in router firmware during development, and
the vendors posted a lot of firmware updates.

5. Then, try running the router tool at
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/usi...d/default.mspx, and see if it
passes the tests.

If we can narrow the issue down to your router, that is, that when Vista
loses connectivity ALL the machines (xp too) lose connectivity, then there
are some things worth trying:

A possible solution worth trying is to turn of UPnP. This can be done on
the router (you would have to log onto the routers config page, find out
where it has the UPnP on/off switch, and turn it off) or from the machine
itself.

You can also try disabling window scaling.

So, please try these out:

1. Go to the webtool, and when the test is finished, click on the "view
detailed report" link, and copy that data off & save it.
2. turn off UPnP, either on the router or on the vista machine:
from an elevated command prompt,type the following:
a. sc config SSDPSRV start= disabled
b. net stop ssdpsrv <or> reboot the system
3. Try your test again. If it still fails after some perioed of time, turn
off Window Scaling:
From an elevated command prompt, type the following:
a. netsh in tcp set gl auto=di
<no reboot required>

(original post by KarlF)


I'm sorry you're experiencing trouble.
"Tyler Olson" wrote:

> Don't be too quick to blame Vista. I have a similar problem (router wouldn't issue an IP address under DHCP) on my Vaio with 3 different Linksys routers (both wired and wireless,) but worked fine on non-Linksys routers. I installed SuSE Linux 10.2 on the Vaio, with the same results. I'm thinking Sony has some setting hidden in BIOS that is messing with us.
>
> EggHeadCafe.com - .NET Developer Portal of Choice
> http://www.eggheadcafe.com
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[GeekyIdiot]

I have a similar problem, but it's confusing too. i was visiting my relatives, when i got my new Sony Vaio, with Vista-of course- when i connected to thier network, i had no problems. and they use the Linksys too. im not too sure which model, but i had no problems. when i got back, and tried to connect to my home network,(Linksys WRT54G) it a) wouldn't show up, or b) refused to connect. i really need to use the internet, and im sick of using the computer im on now. somebody tell me anything! as long as it might help me.

[backslider65]

This may not be just a Vista problem. I have a Sony laptop with XP that also loses connectivity with Linksys routers all the time. I use a Netgear at home without any problems & have used other brands as well. I have lost my connection with three different Linksys routers (all model WRT54G). I have had to wire into the routers to network in all cases. I'm at work now & don't have my laptop with me. I'll post the laptop model later.

I'll try some of the suggestions made earlier to see if I can narrow down the source of the problem (& hopefully solve it!).

[philipjcooper]

I had the same problem..

I solved the problem be disabling ip 6 and disabling Upnp on the router configuration screen 192.168.1.1 and goto the Administration Tab on click disable.

regards

[edwardhjt]

I had the same problem..

I solved the problem be disabling ip 6 and disabling Upnp on the router configuration screen 192.168.1.1 and goto the Administration Tab on click disable.

regards

It worked for me,and saved me a great deal of trouble.Wanted to share this so others would benefit.

I use:VGN-CS16g and the WT54G Linksys Router

I have the WRT54G v 3 router and recently bought a new HP HDX with
windows vista x64 and had trouble staying connected to the internet. My
Dell running XP and Mac computer both stay connect without any problems.

I can confirm that Linksys WRT54G lower editions do not work with
Windows Vista. I changed numerous setting on computer and router,
downloaded firmware, driver, and tried every trick I could find posted
on forums to no avail. About 10 hours were spent with both Linksys
technical support and HP HDX technical support and Vista technical
support to fix the problem. Discovered this version is incompatable
(although it says compatable on Linksys web site) with Windows Vista.

Linksys tried to charge me $30 to talk to their "special technical
support" or $30 to get an extended warranty to try some "other things".
I ended up just using their online tech guys and was much happier with
their service/help - alas the "other things" did not work. Time was
lost but didn't have to pay more money for nothing.

Decided to leave Linksys after the ordeal and looking for a new router.
If you've tried everything including the help on this post - you are
not alone.

As far as I know the only way to disable IPV6 is go to your network adapter
properties and uncheck the box

[nicks]

Where can I find the area to disable ip6? I found the Upnp. Thanks!

[themattconnolly]

I have a 54G v6.0, with the latest firmware (v1.02.5 build 002, Jan. 9, 2008). My Sony VAIO (VGN-NS140E) had difficulties from the very beginning. I tried disabling IP6 and messing with the router DHCP settings, but to no avail. I was really hoping the latest firmware would fix the problem, since Linksys notes:

Firmware 1.02.2
- Resolves issue of working with DHCP relay agent.
- Resolves interoperability issue with WAP54G (repeater mode).
- Resolves issue with UPnP.

I was able to have some success when I dropped the network from G to B. I no longer lose connectivity, although I do have occasional trouble getting connected. I often have to wait to get connected before I do anything, or else I have to restart in order to get a connection.

I used to have an XP laptop that never had any issues with wireless connectivity, so this is very frustrating. The router doesn't seem to have anything wrong with it, and neither does the laptop. My desktop that connects to the router is still XP, and I'm probably just going to wait for Windows 7 to upgrade my desktop and router.

what wireless card is in the Sony? Do you have the latest driver for
it? What kind of security are you using on the router? (at least
WPA, right? If this is the Intel 5100 wireless, you need to use
WPA/WPA2.

Actually, I have my security set to WEP (after reading enough that would
lead me to believe anything I transmit can be decrypted, even if it's
WPA). I will change it and see what happens.

I do have an Intel 5100, and I don't have the latest firmware (I did
when I got the laptop). I'll upgrade that too and post back.

[WinstonGa]

This issue is larger than Windows vista. I just purchased two new laptops, an MSI and a Lenovo - Different wireless adapters, different operating systems, 4 different routers - Office, coffee shop, son and daughter's homes. All routers would kill all connections, including wired. disabled UPnP on all 4 routers and all problems went away on all 4 networks. Not sure why UPnP is not functioning but it seems to be tied to the wireless on the new laptops. If I connected the new laptops with a cable, everything worked ok. If I tried to connect via wireless all crashed. I reset everything and tried it again to reproduce the problem and solution. Disabling UPnP in the routers was indeed the fix. Two liknsys routers, one d-link, and I forget the make of the other one at the moment. Hope this helps those who run into this problem.

[Barbique00]

Thanks for the tip...so glad I found your posts...worked like a charm! Disabled the ip6 and unchecked upnp.