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mayfi944 Author

Level 1

12 points

MacBook won't connect to the internet!!!

I recently switch wireless service at home to At&t.

Since, my computer "connects" to my network, accepts my password, and shows full signal, but when I open Safari, or any other app that requires internet, I just get the "failed to open page because you are not connected to the internet" page.

My roommates connect to use our wireless network with their PC's just fine, and my Mac connects to other wireless service at school and work and works just fine.

I have been on the phone with At&t many times trying to troubleshoot and fix the problem. No success.

Apple charged me $49 to talk to them, with no success.

I HAVE ALREADY TRIED RESTARTING both my Mac and my router, I have reset the router, I have restored original settings in both Safari and my router, I have tried removing the security from our network in order to connect without a password, I have tried re-configuring the router to work with Macs....all no success.

I am very frustrated with the situation as I, like most people, require internet access for both school and work.

Any help, tips, or advice on the situation would be grateful.

Thank you.

MacBook, Mac OS X (10.5.8)

Posted on Jul 10, 2010 9:39 AM

Top-ranking reply

AMelillo

Level 1

4 points

Posted on Feb 21, 2017 3:26 PM

I just purchased a brand new MacBook Pro today and spent my first four hours with it struggling to connect to wifi. After trying every solution I could find, this one finally worked. The solution I found (https://community.bt.com/t5/Connected-Devices-Other/BT-INFINITY-wifi-loss-on-Mac Book-Air-ready-to-quit/m-p/1160960#M7876…) noted that Macs often run in to trouble connecting to wifi when there are identical names assigned to 2.4ghz and 5.0ghz frequency bands.

To fix this problem: access your wireless gateway (For Xfinity users: go to 10.0.0.1 by typing it into the browser of a connected device, enter username: admin pwd: password <-defaults for all xfinity customers) and modify the SSID for the 2.4ghz frequency (e.g., add an 's' to the end of the network name). Then, restart your computer and voila, you should be able to connect. (I still can't access the original network name—the 5ghz frequency—however, I'm able to access the newly named 2.4ghz variation of the network, and it works perfectly).

Hope this saves someone else the headache!

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211 replies

London2

Level 1

0 points

Jan 26, 2012 7:55 AM in response to Sparksparadise

I've got the same problem. Took my Macbook to an Apple Genius Bar a few weeks ago and they had to reinstall everything to get it sorted. Just now, I've been bumped off the internet again, unexpectedly, and am back to the same error messages. Very frustrating. I have a partitioned hard drive and I can connect no problem on the PC side but need to connect on the Mac side. Aaarrrggghh.

Jan 26, 2012 9:16 PM in response to mayfi944

I'm having the same problem here with my MacBook. It's running version 10.5.8 right now. I tried deleting airport and readding, tried deleting the system configuration file and restarting with the trash bin empty. Right now it says I'm connected but I can't access the Internet via safari or Firefox. Checked all my settings and applied them per everyone's instructions. Etc. The past few days this has been happening and if I turned my airport off and back on it would work, but now nothing. Ahhhhh. Please help! Thanks :)

BDAqua

Level 10

245,417 points

Jan 26, 2012 10:02 PM in response to Jessiemarieeee

Feel free to open a new question to get the most helpers on to your exact problem. 🙂

BDAqua

Level 10

245,417 points

Jan 26, 2012 10:02 PM in response to London2

Feel free to open a new question to get the most helpers on to your exact problem. 🙂

Jcoll33

Level 1

0 points

Jan 31, 2012 1:03 PM in response to BDAqua

I am running Mac os x 10.5.8 and am having the same problems as above. Wireless is connected but keeps timing out. Have tried every solution posted on this thread but none have worked. Please help.

BDAqua

Level 10

245,417 points

Jan 31, 2012 1:14 PM in response to Jcoll33

Hi there,

Feel free to open a new question to get the most helpers on to your exact problem.🙂

This tread takes way too long to load & read through, I think you'd be far better off...

https://discussions.apple.com/community/mac_os/mac_os_x_v10.5_leopard

Jan 31, 2012 5:18 PM in response to Jcoll33

I found a solution! I called Apple, and here's their instructions:

Turn off your modem/router.

Turn off your airport wireless connection.

Drag the System Configuration file to the trash (Hard drive > Library > Preferences > at the bottom)

Shut down your computer

After about 3 minutes or so, turn on your modem until it's powered up fully.

On your computer, (do this quickly) hold down Command + Control + R and turn on your computer and immediately start holding down P in addition until you hear a second start up sound, and then let go. It should work perfectly after this! Good luck!!!!

Feb 1, 2012 5:28 AM in response to Rigelface

Might be weird, but deleting the Airport service, clicking Apply and then recreating it just worked. Macbook Pro (2008) suddenly decided to have full wireless connectivity, but Safari, Mail and a couple of menu bar widgets just could not connect. Thanks for the tip.

Feb 1, 2012 10:29 PM in response to dom boonen

Thanks!! it worked and its easy. took me 1 hour to find this help, did a few other things first...like turn off my modem..scary that I might have to call ATT!

nimrodko

Level 1

0 points

Feb 1, 2012 11:51 PM in response to its an addams

My macbook pro showed all green on the ehternet except ISP and Internet were red. I followed your instructions and they seemed to work after I restarted. Thanks!

Feb 9, 2012 8:55 AM in response to mayfi944

I had this problem this morning on my Mac Air and quickly fixed it (thanks to this Post).

I have Symantec Norton 360 on my Mac. During the evening my Norton license expired and at the same time my Internet access dropped. Both wireless and hardwire.

I diabled the Firewall - connection blocking - no effect.

I disabled Norton Confidential and IT WORKED.

I will take a wild stab and say it's an annoying bug. My other Mac didn't have a problem when the Norton service expired so, go figure.

GCarvill

Level 1

8 points

Feb 9, 2012 9:50 AM in response to willnevada

I had a similar problem this morning.

I took the Apple o/s update and could not connect to the Internet after that.

When I read this post, I disabled Norton and could connect again.

I will need to dig into the Norton problem.

elove1

Level 1

0 points

Feb 15, 2012 3:21 PM in response to mayfi944

Hi,

Were you able to fix the issues?

My mac will not connect!! The internet connection icon on top has an exclamation point, I honestly tried everyting, and do not know what to do..

HELPPP!!

GCarvill

Level 1

8 points

Feb 15, 2012 4:05 PM in response to elove1

I was able to fix my problem with both a short term and permanent solution. Short term I disabled norton. Then when I had time I did a full uninstall of norton and then a reinstall.

jyeater

Level 1

0 points

Feb 21, 2012 11:56 AM in response to mayfi944

I don't know if anyone has posted this solution, but it worked for me. Under System Preferences>Network, I clicked Advanced...then clicked the TCP/IP tab. Then I clicked, "Renew DHCP Lease." That did the trick for me.

MacBook won't connect to the internet!!!