Laptop will connect to phone (internet) but won't actually work?

Hi all,

Wasn't sure if this was best suited here or on the phones forum but figured I'd try here first and see what happens.



Pretty much, I have a Sony Vaio NS20E/S. I had it out and about the other day and my brother (who has a samsung phone, the model of which escapes me) turned his phone's 'portable hotspot' on. I turned Wifi on, on the laptop (the Vaio) and I was online, using the laptop in about 30 seconds.

So he eventually went off, and I figured I'd just do the same on my own phone (also a Samsung, but mine is the Galaxy mini. I don't know what my brother's is but I think it's a newer phone than mine. Not sure if this makes any difference or not but I just thought I'd mention it).

Anyway, the laptop will acknowledge that my phone is there as an internet source, it will tell me it's receiving a 5 bar signal and it brings up the name etc. that I've put on the phone. When password protected, it will also ask me to enter the password.

However, despite the laptop clearly knowing there's a source there, and telling me it's connected to it, whenever I go to a website, we'll say boards.ie, I get the timed out page over and over (it simply will not connect to any websites).

I've spent the best part of an hour today trying to figure it out, playing with settings on both the phone and laptop and have gotten nowhere with it. Extremely frustrating.


Was wondering if anyone would have any idea what could be the issue here? I tried Googling around to no avail. Both phones are Android, incase it matters.


Cheers to anyone able to offer any advice on this.

thund3rbird_

1 - can you access the internet directly on the phone?
2 - as above while the hotspot is enabled?
3 - can you access the internet via usb tethering?

while the hotspot is enabled can you swipe down the screen > settings > more > tethering & portable hotspot > take a sceenshot & post it here?

btw, what OS is on each device?

thund3rbird_

thund3rbird_ wrote: »

1 - can you access the internet directly on the phone?
2 - as above while the hotspot is enabled?
3 - can you access the internet via usb tethering?

while the hotspot is enabled can you swipe down the screen > settings > more > tethering & portable hotspot > take a sceenshot & post it here?

btw, what OS is on each device?

Hey Thun3rbird,

I can use internet on the phone itself without issue regardless of whether the hotspot is on or off.

I've tried USB tethering but for some reason the laptop wants an install disc for the phone or it won't acknowledge it (I don't really recall this being an issue with the desktop. As far as I recall it was plug and play, really).

For example, this means I can't transfer files to/from the phone, either.


Phone is android. In the 'about phone' section it says 'Android Version: 2.2.1'. Not sure if that's what you meant by OS?


I'm not sure how to take a screencap on the phone itself. Presumably I need a particular app to do this? (I'll google one).

There's really not much to show though. I only get 3 options in that menu screen.

1. Ability to turn USB Tethering on or off
2 Turn on or off 'Mobile AP' (presumably this means access point?)
3. Mobile AP Settings

When I click into settings, i get two options again. First is to turn it on/off, second is so configure it (underlined with AndroidAP WPA2 PSK portable Wi-Fi hotspot).

Click into that and I have three options to fill in (that are already filled in).

Network SSID: AndroidAP
Security: WPA2 PSK
Password: (This is already filled in, obviously).


Not sure if that's any good to you? It's driving me mad.

Cheers for the help.

thund3rbird_

hi kkv


to take a screenshot on android - hold the home & power buttons for about 3 seconds

I'm not sure what mobile operator you are with but vodafone have instructions here on tethering:
http://deviceguides.vodafone.ie/web/samsung-galaxy-mini/customise/wi-fi/use-your-phone-as-wi-fi-hotspot/

I suspect it might be the network settings on the laptop? Vista by any chance??

have you got the wireless card on the laptop set to a static IP or have you specified DNS servers?

if not, try -
disable wifi on laptop
enable hotspot on phone & change wifi network name & password
enable wifi on laptop & try to connect to the 'new' hotspot

when you connect you should be asked to set a location - try setting it as home

also, check the firewall settings on the laptop

Soundman

thund3rbird_ wrote: »

hi kkv


to take a screenshot on android - hold the home & power buttons for about 3 seconds

Not necessarily. I have an HTC running Android 4.* and to take a screenshot it is POWER + Volume Down.

Hi all,

Sorry for the delay in getting back to you. I've tried renaming the phone/hotspot, to no avail. I'm actually just giving up now. I've gone through everything, and it's just annoying me too much at this stage. Feckin' phone (and/or laptop :P )!


I do appreciate the help offered though. I gave them a shot, but it just doesn't seem to be working. Think I'll just buy the same phone my brother has if I need the net for a prolonged period in future

mordeith

Soundman wrote: »

Not necessarily. I have an HTC running Android 4.* and to take a screenshot it is POWER + Volume Down.

That's an additional method. The home and power option works as well.

dyer

ive a galaxy mini as well but ive never gotten tethering to work on it with the standard OS, ive the phone rooted and have it flashed with cyanogenmod/gingerbread atm. i use an app from the play store called wi-fi tether and it does the job, phone has to be rooted to use it though, you may find another wifi app in the play store that suits your needs if that sounds like too much hassle.

Noob Friendly Tutorial|Root your Galaxy Mini/Pop|GingerBread|
WiFi Tether for Root Users