topic Re: Bought a new Laptop, about to send it back !! Frustrated ! in Electronics

Bought a new Laptop, about to send it back !! Frustrated !

Goodie2shoes — Thu, 05 Nov 2020 04:01:04 GMT

Here's my story. I bought the recent HSN TSV HP 15.6" Laptop. I have been trying to set up my WiFi connection for several days, no luck. I have Spectrum and when I put in the password from my router, the Laptop will not connect. I contacted Spectrum, confirmed I was following the correct procedure, went online to HP, can't connect with a live person and the virtual assistance is useless. I called HP, no live person available (tried several times) I even contacted HSN CS to voice my problem and they had no answers. Has anyone ever had a problem of this nature? I even went online and reviewed information about Spectrum routers. This new laptop ask for my credentials /security key when I try to add WiFi but again it says unable to connect. Should I send it back ?? Could it be a problem with the Laptop itself ? HSN will send me another one but I'm not sure I would want it. The one I have now is about 12 years old and works fine, I just wanted to update. Any suggestions ? thanks

Re: Bought a new Laptop, about to send it back !! Frustrated !

Kachina624 — Thu, 05 Nov 2020 04:27:37 GMT

Are you absolutely sure you're using the correct password?

Re: Bought a new Laptop, about to send it back !! Frustrated !

Xivambala — Thu, 05 Nov 2020 04:53:17 GMT

I just purchased a new HP ENVY laptop from Best Buy; actually 2 because the first had problems with overheating. Although I have internet through Comcast, I was given 2 ways to connect. Either enter my password or reset the router. The quickest was the router reset button, and mine works fine.

Re: Bought a new Laptop, about to send it back !! Frustrated !

Goodie2shoes — Thu, 05 Nov 2020 05:17:21 GMT

@Kachina624, yes I am using the correct password, got it directly from the router.

Re: Bought a new Laptop, about to send it back !! Frustrated !

Goodie2shoes — Thu, 05 Nov 2020 05:20:02 GMT

@Xivambala, Spectrum instructed me to reset the router, did it while they were holdiing on the phone so they confirmed it was done correctly.

Re: Bought a new Laptop, about to send it back !! Frustrated !

Mz iMac — Thu, 05 Nov 2020 05:38:28 GMT

@Goodie2shoes Restart the computer

Re: Bought a new Laptop, about to send it back !! Frustrated !

Goodie2shoes — Thu, 05 Nov 2020 05:41:40 GMT

Back to HSN it goes ! I discovered it needs a ethernet cable. I didn't want a laptop that has to be stationary. Learned something new, I need a Laptop that's portable, don't remember that mentioned in the presentation.

Re: Bought a new Laptop, about to send it back !! Frustrated !

Xivambala — Thu, 05 Nov 2020 05:48:22 GMT

@Goodie2shoes wrote:
@Xivambala, Spectrum instructed me to reset the router, did it while they were holdiing on the phone so they confirmed it was done correctly.

@Goodie2shoes:

It's really hard to say without seeing your computer screen. If neither method worked for you, I don't understand why Spectrum would not help you work out the connection problem.

Edited: I see your comment above about the Ethernet cable. I find that odd that you cannot use Wi-Fi.

Re: Bought a new Laptop, about to send it back !! Frustrated !

Pook — Thu, 05 Nov 2020 09:09:15 GMT

@Goodie2shoes Did you create a personal password and forgot you did that. I have Verizon and they recommended naming my WiFi and picking my own password, walked me through the process.

Re: Bought a new Laptop, about to send it back !! Frustrated !

glb613 — Thu, 05 Nov 2020 11:11:40 GMT

@Goodie2shoes wrote:
Back to HSN it goes ! I discovered it needs a ethernet cable. I didn't want a laptop that has to be stationary. Learned something new, I need a Laptop that's portable, don't remember that mentioned in the presentation.

Sorry but, I don't believe it. No company is going to make a notebook/laptop computer which needs to connect via ethernet cable. Since you can't get it connected, it's best to send it back. If the next one you buy doesn't connect, then you'll know it's a password problem.

Re: Bought a new Laptop, about to send it back !! Frustrated !

CalminHeart — Thu, 05 Nov 2020 12:10:43 GMT

Did you call your internet provider? Or HP? If not, do that.

My iPhone 8+ just crashed so I upgraded to iPhone 12. It was a bear to get set up but my internet provider and Apple helped.

Re: Bought a new Laptop, about to send it back !! Frustrated !

FranandZoe — Thu, 05 Nov 2020 13:15:41 GMT

I have my laptop PW and Sec Key written down so when asked I KNOW what they are. However, sometimes when asked for the Sec Key it works by putting in the PW instead. You could try that.

Re: Bought a new Laptop, about to send it back !! Frustrated !

Nuttmeg — Thu, 05 Nov 2020 13:43:26 GMT

@Goodie2shoes

Have you considered buying a iPad 8th generation , 10. 2" 128GB tablet? Amazon has the best price on this device.

An iPad is portable no ethernet cable.

You can find unboxing and reviews on YouTube.

A YouTube channel where the owner reviews only tablets is " My Tablet".

Re: Bought a new Laptop, about to send it back !! Frustrated !

bonnielu — Thu, 05 Nov 2020 13:48:34 GMT

I hear your frustration. I only buy electronics in person. I will not buy online. No real help especially with Covid in full swing.

Suggestions

1. Get outside help... friend... or tech that will come out. Cost you but you will not have this grief.

2. Buy a contract and relly on someone to be available online or in person for a year to see that you are okay.

Re: Bought a new Laptop, about to send it back !! Frustrated !

MKR14 — Thu, 05 Nov 2020 14:19:09 GMT

There is a wi-fi setting that can be turned on and off. Do you have wi-fi wireless off by any chance? I got an HP in 2017 that has an Ethernet port and it usually would automatically adjust to wireless if that is what I was using.

Go into the settings or ask a friend to check it for you. It may an easy fix and you may love it after that.

Re: Bought a new Laptop, about to send it back !! Frustrated !

gardenman — Thu, 05 Nov 2020 14:21:23 GMT

Okay, to clear up a few matters, I suspect the ethernet cable was for Spectrum to troubleshoot the issue for her and not for a "normal" connection. In order for them to log onto her computer and help her, they'd have to be connected in some manner and an ethernet cable to her router would be the easiest way to solve a wifi issue. They could then log into her computer (with her permission) and try to resolve the issue.

Router passwords absolutely have to be entered correctly. Areas where things could go wrong is a "1" or an "I" (that's a capital i, or "l"(small L) look remarkably similar. The same with the number 0 and the letter O. (Even a capital Q can be mistaken for an O or 0.) And some randomly generated passwords used on devices use those letters/numbers which is a pet peeve of mine. (Want to drive a hacker crazy, make your password something like lllIIlllIII, which is a combination of capital I's and small L's. Anyone looking over your shoulder hoping to steal your password will be more than a little confused.)

You also have to pay attention to uppercase or lowercase when entering passwords. If there's any discrepancy, it fails. If you have another device that's connected to your wifi you can often learn the password from that device. There are online step-by-step guides to show you how to do it with a Windows computer that's on wifi and some other devices let you see the password also.

If your router has a button on it labeled WPS that could make your life much easier. (Most newer ones do.) Here's a link to how to use that to set up your new computer.

https://www.digitalcitizen.life/how-connect-windows-10-devices-wireless-networks-using-wps

Re: Bought a new Laptop, about to send it back !! Frustrated !

kare29 — Thu, 05 Nov 2020 16:56:32 GMT

Have you tried this link?

https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c04855309

I just found this online. If this isn't it you may be able to find it on their website.

P.S. Here is another one:

https://www.techwalla.com/articles/how-to-connect-an-hp-wireless-laptop-to-a-network

These came up easily when inquired, maybe this is a common problem.

Re: Bought a new Laptop, about to send it back !! Frustrated !

FranandZoe — Thu, 05 Nov 2020 15:57:03 GMT

@MKR14 wrote:
There is a wi-fi setting that can be turned on and off. Do you have wi-fi wireless off by any chance? I got an HP in 2017 that has an Ethernet port and it usually would automatically adjust to wireless if that is what I was using.
Go into the settings or ask a friend to check it for you. It may an easy fix and you may love it after that.

Good point about WiFi. My Dell laptop has a button for turning it off and on. I've accidentally hit it a few times and wondered what was wrong.

I think most if not all laptops are made to be used wirelessly.

Re: Bought a new Laptop, about to send it back !! Frustrated !

SilleeMee — Thu, 05 Nov 2020 23:30:52 GMT

Unplug the router's power cord from the electrical wall outlet, wait about 15 seconds then plug it back in and wait for it to reboot. Try connecting the laptop again.

Re: Bought a new Laptop, about to send it back !! Frustrated !

Nuttmeg — Thu, 05 Nov 2020 23:50:42 GMT

@Goodie2shoes

You may want to contact you cable company., and have them replace the router.

You need to have a tech come to your home.

People here are talking about passwords. The wireless card may not be any good. It could be the network speed. We are all guessing.

Please contact your cable company. If you have had this router for more than 3 years. It is time for an upgrade.