New Vista laptop will not connect

[nitrojoe]

OK I need help here goes....I have a coble connection running 2 wireless routers one set as a gateway and the other as an access point because I needed the range.....I have been using a XP laptop for 5 years and have had no problem and I have had a desk top running and wired to the gateway set router and everything worked fine.....I replaced the desktop with a new vista laptop and it will connect to the internet only if I turn off the access point router.....when the access point router is turned on there is no connection on the Vista machine wireless or wired and the XP machine works fine....Can anybody help with this problem.....

[johnwill]

Connecting two (or more) SOHO broadband routers together.

Note: The "primary" router can be an actual router, a software gateway like Microsoft Internet Connection Sharing, or a server connection that has the capability to supply more than one IP address using DHCP server capability. No changes are made to the primary "router" configuration.

Configure the IP address of the secondary router(s) to be in the same subnet as the primary router, but out of the range of the DHCP server in the primary router. For instance DHCP server addresses 192.168.0.2 through 192.168.0.100, I'd assign the secondary router 192.168.0.254 as it's IP address, 192.168.0.253 for another router, etc.

Note: Do this first, as you will have to reboot the computer to connect to the router again for the remaining changes.

Disable the DHCP server in the secondary router.

Setup the wireless section just the way you would if it was the primary router, channels, encryption, etc. Note that you should pick a different non-interfering channel for the secondary router.

Connect from the primary router's LAN port to one of the LAN ports on the secondary router. If there is no uplink port and neither of the routers have auto-sensing ports, use a cross-over cable. Leave the WAN port unconnected!

This procedure bypasses the routing function (NAT layer) and configures the router as a switch (or wireless access point for wireless routers).

For reference, here's a link to a Typical example config using a Netgear router

[nitrojoe]

John.....Thanks for the reply...but before I go through that exercise let me tell you one more thing.....Yesterday I decided to swap the laptops....I put the old XP laptop and wired it to the gateway and let the new Vista laptop run the wireless and everything worked fine........How ever I do need the vista laptop to be at the wired work station......

[johnwill]

Without knowing exactly what is configured, it's pretty difficult to say what the exact issue is.

A network diagram and configuration information would be useful. Remember, it's a lot harder at this end of the ASCII!