Sony VAIO PCWA-DE30 User manual

4-676-913-21
Wireless LAN
Converter
PCWA-DE30
Troubleshooting Guide
Leitfaden zur
Fehlerbehebung
Guide de dépannage
www.vaio-link.com

CONTENTS
English -
Troubleshooting Guide . . . . . . . . . . . .page 3
Deutsch -
Leitfaden zur Fehlerbehebung . . . . . .Seite 13
Français -
Guide de dépannage . . . . . . . . . . . . . .page 23
© 2003 Sony Corporation. Printed in Japan. 4-676-913-21

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Troubleshooting Guide

4
Introduction
Case 1 - The Converter is not detected by the Setup Utility
or it is impossible to establish a network connection
Is the Wireless LAN Converter connected correctly to the
computer?
Check the connections between the Wireless LAN Converter and the computer
(3), the Wireless Unit (4) and the Power Unit (1), and the Power Unit (1) and
the power outlet (2).
●When the power is supplied to the Wireless LAN Converter, the STATUS indicator is lit or
flashing. However, if the indicator is set to OFF in the Wireless LAN Converter Setup Page,
the indicator only operates in special cases.
When the Wireless LAN Converter is connected to a computer or other device, the LINK/
ACT indicator flashes. For details about the location of the LINK/ACT indicator, refer to
the Quick Start Guide.
Is the Ethernet device inside the computer enabled?
To check whether the Ethernet device inside the computer is enabled, proceed
as follows:
When using Windows Me:
1Right-click My Computer on your desktop, and click Properties on the
shortcut menu that appears.
2In the System Properties dialog box, click the Device Manager tab.
3Double-click Network adapters to display a list of adapters and verify
that the Ethernet adapter you are using is enabled.
●You can also display detailed information by right-clicking your adapter and clicking
Properties on the shortcut menu that appears.

5
When using Windows 2000, Windows XP:
1Windows 2000: click Start, point to Settings, and click Network and
Dial-up Connections to open the Network and Dial-up Connections
window.
Windows XP: click Start, and then click Control Panel. In Control Panel,
double-click Network connections.
2Right-click the Wireless Network Connection icon to be connected and
click Enable if it is available on the menu.
If the computer connected to the Wireless LAN Converter is
running the Windows XP operating system, is the Internet
Connection Firewall function enabled?
If the Internet Connection Firewall function is enabled, communication
may not be possible.
To check and/or change the settings, proceed as follows:
1Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
2In Control Panel, double-click Network Connections. If Network
Connections does not appear, click Switch to Classic View.
3In the Network Connections windows, right-click the Wireless
Network Connections icon that you want to use, and click Properties.
4Click the Advanced tab and (if selected) deselect the Protect my
computer and network by limiting or preventing access to this
computer from the Internet check box.
5Click OK.
●Make sure that you take appropriate security measures when the Internet Connection
Firewall function is disabled. Except when configuring the Wireless LAN Converter or
the Access Point, it is strongly recommended that you enable the Internet Connection
Firewall function at all times.
When using virus scanning or network security software, is a
personal firewall function enabled?
Virus scanning and network security software sometimes include a function
called a personal firewall designed to prevent illegal access by outside
entities. Depending on the software, the security level of this function maybe
initially set to a high level. If this high security level is in effect, it may be
impossible to connect to a network. In this case, lower the security level to
allow the network connection. For details, refer to the instruction manual and
Help of your software.

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If the computer connected to the Wireless LAN Converter is
running Windows XP, is the Ethernet interface set up to act as a
network bridge?
To confirm that the Ethernet connection is not acting as a network brigde,
proceed as follows:
1Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
2In Control Panel, double-click Network Connections. If Network
Connections does not appear, click Switch to Classic View.
3Confirm that the Ethernet network connection is not acting as a network
bridge.
4If the Ethernet network connection is configured as a network bridge,
right-click the local area connection icon, and click Remove from Bridge.
If Remove from Bridge does not appear on the shortcut menu, the
Ethernet connection is not acting as a network bridge.
Case 2 - I cannot open the Converter Setup Page
Did the IP Address Setup screen appear?
If communication cannot be established with the current IP address of the
computer connected to the Wireless LAN Converter and the IP address of the
Wireless LAN Converter, the IP Address Setup dialog box appears.
If you click Cancel in this dialog box, the Wireless LAN Converter Setup Page
cannot be displayed.
To set up newly the IP address of the Wireless LAN Converter, proceed as
follows:
1Click Start, point to Programs (All Programs in Windows XP), point to
Wireless LAN, an then click Converter Setup to restart the Converter
Setup Utility.
2When the IP Address Setup dialog box appears, verify its contents, and
then click Execute Setup.
The IP address of the Wireless LAN Converter is temporarily changed so
that the computer can open the Wireless LAN Converter Setup Page.
●If the computer connected to the Wireless LAN Converter is also connected to another
network, make sure that the new IP address does not duplicate the address of a device
on that network.
When you turn off or restart the Wireless LAN Converter, the IP address reverts to its
original setting.

7
Case 3 - When starting the Converter Setup Utility, the IP
Address Setup dialog box appears
If communication cannot be established with the current IP address of the
computer connected to the Wireless LAN Converter and the IP address of the
Wireless LAN Converter, the IP Address Setup dialog box appears.
To establish communication, proceed as follows:
1Verify that the IP address of the Wireless LAN Converter is acceptable.
2Click Execute Setup.
The IP address of the Wireless LAN Converter is temporarily changed so
that the computer can open the Wireless LAN Converter Setup Page.
●If the computer connected to the Wireless LAN Converter is also connected to another
network, make sure that the new IP address does not duplicate the address of a device
on that network.
When you turn off or restart the Wireless LAN Converter, the IP address reverts to its
original setting.
Case 4 - I cannot display the Wireless LAN Converter Setup
Page
Is the temporary address assigned to the Wireless LAN Converter
used by another device or computer on the network?
If yes, proceed as follows:
1Disconnect and reconnect the power cord of the Wireless Unit cable to
restart the Wireless LAN Converter.
2Start the Converter Setup Utility.
3In the IP Address Setup dialog box, replace the current Wireless LAN
Converter IP address with an unused address, and then click Execute
Setup.
Is the Web browser of the computer used for the Wireless LAN
Converter setup configured to use a proxy server?
Make sure that no proxy setting is enabled for the IP address of the Wireless
LAN Converter.
●While the proxy server setting is disabled, it may not be possible to display other Web
pages except the Wireless LAN Converter Setup Page.
To disable the proxy settings, proceed as follows:
When using Microsoft Internet Explorer:

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1On the Tools menu, click Internet Options.
The Internet Options dialog box appears.
2On the Connections tab, click LAN Settings.
The Local Area Network (LAN) Settings dialog box appears.
3If the Use a proxy server for your LAN (These settings will not apply
to dial-up or VPN connections) dialog box is selected, clear the check
box and click OK.
When using Netscape:
1Start the Web browser on the computer used for the Wireless LAN
Converter setup.
2On the Edit menu, click Preferences.
3In Category, click Advanced and click the Proxies button.
4Select the Direct connection to the Internet box and click OK.
5When the Wireless LAN Converter setup is complete, return the proxy
setting to its original condition.
Case 5 - I cannot use the Encryption (WEP) key input field
on the Wireless LAN Converter Setup Page
Did you select Enabled under Encryption (WEP)?
The Encryption (WEP) key input field is only available if the Enabled setting
is selected.
To select the Enabled setting, proceed as follows:
1Set Encryption (WEP) to Enabled.
2Select the Key Length.
3Enter the Encryption (WEP) key in the input field.
●The prescribed length of the string depends on the Key Length settings. Check the
indication above the input field.
Case 6 - I cannot communicate with the Access point
although the STATUS indicator is slowly flashing white
Did you enter the Encryption (WEP) key correctly?
Even if the Network Name (SSID) is correct, an incorrect Encryption (WEP) key
prevents communication with the Access Point.
To enter the correct Encryption (WEP) key, proceed as follows:
1Check the Encryption (WEP) key setting of the Access Point.
2Re-enter the correct Encryption (WEP) key of the Wireless LAN Converter.

9
Case 7 - I cannot connect after changing the Access Point
settings
Did you also change the Wireless LAN Converter settings?
If settings such as the Network Name (SSID) and the Encryption (WEP) key are
changed, the Wireless LAN Converter settings must also be changed to match
the new settings. Refer to If You Change the Access Point Settings in the
Quick Start Guide to change the settings of the Wireless LAN Converter.
Case 8 - I cannot connect after enabling the access control
(MAC address filtering) of the Access Point
When setting up the access control of the Access Point, enter this MAC
address. First the Wireless LAN Converter connects with its own address, then
switches to the one of the wireless communication device. Some printers
require that you set both addresses to be able to connect to them.
Case 9 - The time is not correct even after specifying an
NTP server (Time server)
In the Advanced Setup page of the Wireless LAN Converter, set a DNS server.
Case 10 - I cannot communicate with a device other than
the computer used for setup
Did you set up the device correctly for use on a network?
Configure the required settings to enable the device on a network. For details,
refer to the documentation of the device.
Did you connect the device correctly to the Wireless LAN
Converter?
Verify that the connections are established as shown below.

10
Did you wait a few moments when changing the connection
from the computer used for setup to the other device?
After disconnecting the cable from the computer used for setup, do not plug
it immediately into the new device. Wait at least 10 seconds before plugging
it.
●The device information accumulated on the computer takes about 10 seconds to be
added.
Case 11 - I forgot settings or want to reset
Proceed as follows:
1When the Wireless LAN Converter is on, use a paper clip or a similar object
to hold down the reset switch located (1) on the bottom of the Wireless
LAN Converter.
2Release the switch when the STATUS indicator starts to flash red.
The Wireless LAN Converter restarts automatically and all settings revert
to the factory defaults. Configure the Wireless LAN Converter again as
needed.
●Be careful not to press the Quick Setup switch when you reset the Wireless LAN
Converter. Pressing the Quick Setup switch (2) does not reset the Wireless LAN Converter.