im trying to network my ower and my laptop via a network everywhere wireless router. they both run xp home. the internet works on the tower but it is hooked up to the router via a cable. the laptop is hooked up via wireless. the laptop recognizes the network but it does not recognize the tower on the network and it does not connect to the internet. i had all of this working fine b4 but i had to reinstall windows on the laptop and then everything went screwy. any help would be appreciated. i dont have a signature... oh wait i guess thats a signature

Make sure your laptop is in the same work group as ur pc is.

work group has nothing to do with the issue at hand.

Well Brian. If your so intuitive about the work group.. why didnt u answer his question. Maybe I read it wrong huh? Listo. There are many possible reason why your internet is not working on your wireless. First, What wireless card do you use? linksys, netgear ect?? You shouldnt use there program to run the wireless (only the driver) and use the windows xp wireless zero config. (by default this service is started) This will prevent any confliction between xp and 3rd party software. Second do you have sp1 or service pack 2? The wireless configuration is a little bit different in both. Right click Network places on your desktop> Properties> Right click your wireless connection> properties> Wireless Networks (tab)> go to prefered networks, if you do not see your network in there lets try to add it in> Add> type in your SSID> Any data encrytion of you have any if not change data encryption to disable After that go back to the General tab and double click TCP/IP, Make sure its selected to Obtain an ip address automatically and obtain DNS automatically. that is ur basic diagnostic of a wireless network. any other problems just ask

1. i dont know what type of card i have it is an internal wireless connection. In device manager its listed as "WirelessLAN PRISM3 IEEE802.11b WM168 USB Module" and i did use the win XP setup. 2. I have SP2 installed forgot to mention that the second time i wrote my post. 3. It already says im connected to my network but it doesnt see my pc and it wont access the internet 4. There is no TCP/IP settings on the general tab for my wireless network connection but there is on the Network Bridge and when i double click on that it is already set to get them automatically. i dont have a signature... oh wait i guess thats a signature

Also when i click on "View available wireless connections" my network comes up and in the top right hand corner it says "Not connected (STAR)" but the only option is to diconnect. and it also says "This network requires a network key. You are currently connected to this network. To di connect from this network, click Disconnect below." I dont understand how i can be connected and not connected at the same time. i dont have a signature... oh wait i guess thats a signature

I answer enought questions, the question at hand, had nothing to do workgroups, but a wireless problem.