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My mobile hotspot will connect with one of my laptops, but not the other (and it used to)

Anonymous
2016-11-12T01:32:53+00:00

I have a Apple 5s phone with a mobile hotspot provided by T-mobile. It has worked fine with my laptop for several years. I mostly have used it on my Dell laptop, which is a Latitude E5410 with Windows 7. Just a few days ago, it suddenly refused to connect. I also have an HP laptop with Windows 7, and my phone hotspot works with it just fine. Checking Windows Update, all important updates have been successfully installed. A few optional updates have failed recently. 

I called Windows Support a few days ago. She tried three different things. I'm sorry, I'm not a computer nerd, so I don't exactly remember the first two, but I had to press the Windows key and R at the same time, then type in msconfig. We also tried restoring the settings to an earlier time. Nothing has worked so far.

When I take the computer to a Wi-Fi hotspot, it connects just fine. I'm using it now. 

I don't suppose it's the end of the world since I have the HP laptop, but I'd still like to have phone hot spot connectivity with my Dell. Or at least understand the logical reason why I don't.

I also spoke to T-mobile and Apple support, mostly out of desperation, I guess. After all, I knew the phone hot spot does work with the HP.

Does anyone have any suggestions or theories? Thanks in advance.

Rick

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Internet and connectivity

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  1. LemP 74,925 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2016-11-12T06:26:30+00:00

    You haven't provided sufficient information to begin to diagnose your problem.  You also haven't said what steps you've already tried, so some of the following may simply duplicate your earlier efforts.

    Have you restored the msconfig setting to "Normal startup"?  If not, you should do that.

    When you click on the network icon on your computer (near the time display), do you see your iPhone in the list of available networks?

    Assuming that you do see your iPhone listed, do you get asked to enter a password or does the computer attempt to connect automatically (and then fail to connect)? 

    Open the Network and Sharing Center on your computer (click the network icon near the time display and select "Open Network and Sharing Center)

    Click the link at the top left to "Manage wireless networks"

    Find your iPhone in the list of wireless networks, select it, and click "Remove" then close the Network and Sharing Center.

    Click the network icon near the time display, find your iPhone in the list of available networks, and click Connect.  Carefully enter the password shown in your iPhone (Settings > Personal Hotspot > Wi-Fi password)

    Does it connect?

    If you still can't connect to your iPhone's Hotspot using wifi, can you connect using Bluetooth or when the iPhone is connected to the computer via USB?

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  1. LemP 74,925 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2016-11-12T17:41:05+00:00

    You're welcome.  Thanks for the feedback.

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  2. Anonymous
    2016-11-12T13:07:27+00:00

    Thanks for taking the time to respond to my post. I'll try answer your questions in the order you asked them.

    Yes, the msconfig setting is "Normal Startup.

    Yes, I see the iphone on my list of available networks. It attempts to connects automatically and then fails, without asking for the password.

    I opened the Network and Sharing Center and removed iphone per your instructions. Then I found iphone and put in the password again. 

    That immediately established internet connectivity! My problem is solved. I thank you so much for your help.

    Rick Barbrick

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