Geeks of the World, Come Forth! (in Off-topic)

Nope. Not an interesting post. Just me in need of some computer help. For the record, if you figure this out, you're a genius. Because no one else has....

Here is the problem. If you need more information let me know and I'll get it.

I use a network here at GSU. They offer both PCs with internet and wireless access. The password and the username to access both is the same. Now, I -can- access their PCs, and therefore get on the net. But I CANNOT access the wireless network. I DO have a wireless signal. But repeatedly I'm told that either my login or my password is invalid.

First, my login HAS to be correct. GSU handles information completely through it, and I've had no breakdown there.

Secondly, my password HAS to be correct. I've changed it two times (for a total of 3, correct, passwords) and was allowed to log on to PCs with each of them, and not wireless with each of them.

I've tried multiple locations throughout campus (each with a signal, each gave me same password/login invalid message, and each with a seperate server for wireless)

I've called the technology help place, AND used -both- service desks, and spoken to a wireless guy. There are no holds on my name or pass. I wasn't severed from wireless behind the lines, so to speak.

Now, here is what I'm thinking. There must be something wrong with my laptop. But I don't see how that could possibly be. I've went through and deleted all stored cookies, files, passwords, etc. Still no go. I've ran virus protection, and it came through clear, as per usual.

Now, here are a few things to note. My computer runs at around 60% RAM FROM START UP. Which means with nothing happening at all, I'm still using 60% of my RAM. It would be nice if someone could figure that out, or give me a place to look.

Now, here is something crucial. The solution, if the problem is on laptop, needs to be done offline. Until this is fixed, my laptop is cut off from the net.

Ask any questions you wish. I'm willing to give whatever may help. And the 60% thing really bugs me. I don't see how that is possible, with nothing running...

Thanks in advance!

Firewall?
Did the GSU added your MAC address?

And im not planning to add tags because one word is miss spelled.

To gain access to a wireless to a uni I went to you had to set up a seperate connection for it to use. IE you are using wireless, but like a dial connection. You make it under new connection and use their properties.

Yours could be a totally different system, but if your clutching at straws then you could ask that to the technical guys.

Not sure exactly what it's called as it was over a year ago lol :P

Generally speaking trouble logging into a wirelss network where a) you are certain you have the right username b) you are certain you have the right password and c) you are certain you have permission, your trouble is likely with encryption compatability. When there are compatability issues, its generally that either the wireless card is old and the network is new, or the network is old and the wireless card is new.

It has been my experience overall that the problem lies in WEP vs. WPA and whether it is 128 bit or not and whether is password keyed or hex keyed. Generally speaking when I have issues, its usually WPA vs. WEP on the 128 bit key with one asking for hex and one asking for password, and the wireless card does not have the option you need.

There is also and issue of A/B/G wireless singnalling. Generally speaking wireless cards are A/B or B/G, so if you have the first card (A/B) and the network is (G), then it will not connect.

The error messages that are reported back are often flat out wrong or misleading. Generally speaking any error in which a network is detected but it cannot log into it with provided credentials, it assumes you have the username and password wrong, even when it is right and the encryption scheme is wrong.

There now you know toooooooooo much, what to do next!

Forgot to mention this. I've logged on to the system hundreds of times before two days ago when problems started. Neither the system or my computer have changed, settings wise. So it's not do to wireless cards compatability.

You've covered all the things that I would have told you to do.

Not sure if this'll work, but maybe you can use the System Restore back to when it was working?

If you're computer is using 60% of it's total RAM at start up, maybe you need to up the Virtual Memory if you don't have enough RAM to run your Operating System. If you've just upgraded to Vista, and are using a standard laptop without any memory additions, that is probably a big problem...

Yah that is a big change to the problem then. So, what has changed. Computers despite the appearance to the contrary are completely, utterly, and ruthlessly, logical. You say nothing has changed, you are wrong. If you could log in two days ago, and now you cannot something HAS changed. Its the old Sherlock Holmes bit, when you have removed the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, MUST be the truth. If you could log in two days ago, and now your cannot, then something has changed. Could be as simple as spyware/virus. It could be you added a screen saver that is trying to do something stupid. Maybe you said yes to a pop up that asked, like the page cannot be reached would you like to work offline. Something has changed. Do not think otherwise, find what has changed and fix it or change it back.

First you should try logging onto the network using someone else's computer.

If that works, then you know the problem is with the laptop.

If that doesn't work, you need to try logging on using your laptop with someone else's account.

If that works, then you know the problem is with your account no matter what anyone tells you. You've had enough tech people in your account that by now one of them could have easily created a problem by messing up.

What's left would be a problem with your laptop...

Well, are you running windows? XP? Vista?
If you have a system restore point from before those two days, restore to that point. If not, then how long have you been using the laptop with the same installation of windows? It might be time to reinstall windows, especially if you tend to install/uninstall lots of programs. Something could have easily become broken that would take hours and hours of investigating.

So there's a few more things you can do that would help people help you.

Umm... I've been scanning with anti-virus etc, and it's coming back clear. I'll try Khardin's idea.

Khardin's ideas are great for narrowing down where the problem lies.

Just so you know there is a "new" kind of spyware that can infect your TCP/IP stack directly. Basically it hides there and runs from there, can be HARD to spot and hard to get rid of. Hijack this will something show them as BHO: which makes them easier to find and destroy. There is also one messing around with the DLL "root" kit, basically the links that hold one file dependant on another. Anyway, both should be detectable using Spybot search and destroy, although it cannot always get rid of them.

Well... It's not my laptop, nor any of it's settings. A friend just logged on, no problem. It MUST be somethig on their end.