Macbook Pro (Lion 10.7.3) will not connect to Wi-Fi -- persistant 'connection time-out', and fails.

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Macbook Pro (Lion 10.7.3) will not connect to Wi-Fi -- persistant 'connection time-out', and fails.

I can see this seems to be a common problem, and it is amazing that there seems to be no consensus (that I can find) on what the underlying problem is.

Here are the basics.... I have two Macbook Pro 13's... Pretty much identical setups (Lion 1.7.3 etc.).

One, works flawlessly connecting to Wi-Fi - whether that is my Airport Express, or any other open or closed networks.

The second, will continually refuse to connect -- to the Airport Express or even a wide-open 802.11b network. It will continually pop up the "connection timeout" erorr, and refuse to connect...

Iphones etc all connect perfectly... Even when connecting to the iPhone hotspot - the same error.

This will happed consistently, until I give up. I can leave it for a day (use ethernet), and come back tomorrow, and voila - it will connect. I may be able to use it for a day or several, but once it decides to 'fail', there is virtually nothing I can do to bring it back... it will continue to fail over and over again.

All updates are applied, I've cleaned out all other networks etc from the list. Tried all civilized things that I can.

Thoughts? Anyone have any other insight? Think this could be a hardware issue? I was thinking to yank the wi-fi module from the working notebook to the non-working one as a test...

Thanks,

Brad

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.7.3)

Posted on Apr 28, 2012 7:12 AM

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Answer 1

ds store

Level 7

30,725 points

Apr 28, 2012 7:19 AM in response to BradMac1

Check the time and date and make sure it's updated via Apple's time servers, sounds like your losing your DCHP lease.

run through this links and get back to me

Step by Step to fix your Mac

WiFi security issues, at home and WiFi hotspots

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Answer 2

BradMac1 Author

Level 1

0 points

Apr 28, 2012 4:24 PM in response to ds store

Thanks for the reply, but this doesn't seem to be a DHCP lease or time-server issue - it is not even getting far enough through the connection process to request an IP - it never negotiates a connection at all. Just times-out during what appears to be the handshake process. Both computers are configured the same - same DNS, security, network and other settings, and only occurs on the one computer.

What is the best tool to try to 'log' the connection process? Is that new Lion app (can't remember what it is called - wifi setup tool thing) able to log?

Thanks,

Brad

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Answer 3

Apr 28, 2012 4:32 PM in response to BradMac1

Change your router channel number. Most times this works & is all you have to do.

System Preferences>Network

Click the Assist Me button.

In the next window that pops up, click the Diagnostic button & do the necessary.

See KB Articles: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1401 AirPort troubleshooting guide

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2712 Using network locations in Mac OS X

Manually provided DNS server addresses are higher priority than DHCP's

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1714 Solutions for connecting to the Internet, setting up a small network, and troubleshooting

============================

Also, run the Airport Utility app which is located inside the Utilities folder.

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Answer 4

BradMac1 Author

Level 1

0 points

Apr 28, 2012 5:02 PM in response to Baby-Boomer-USofA

Good suggestion, but the channel isn't the issue either -- this happens on any access point, not just my Airport Express unfortunately.

When I first noticed this happening, I did try chaning the channel manually, as I thought it may have been an interferece issue (lots of networks around), but made no difference. So we can rule that one out.

I will try the diagnostic utility app, see what it suggests. Thanks.

Brad

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