Internet access only after connecting to VPN on home network?

[tresstylez]

I have a pretty standard standard LAN setup for internet access at home. Comcast cable internet with cable modem, going to a DLINK wireless router for my wireless/wired network. Direct LAN connections work fine. Wireless access is where my problem is.

On one of my laptops, I can connect to the wireless network for my router fine, but cannot browse the internet. The wierd thing is, it WILL allow me to connect to the internet if I first login to my work VPN. Here are a couple of other odd things:
- Other laptops can connect to the internet wirelessly fine, with no VPN.
- The problematic laptop can connect to ANOTHER random network (with the same wireless adapter) and browse the internet.

Can anyone think of any reason I can only access the internet over my VPN connection when I clearly have a 100% connected wireless signal directly on my home network? I can supply more details if asked, but hopefully its something known or simple to tweak. Thanks in advance for your help.

jg

[Greenstead]

When you are connected to a VPN you are isolated from your local LAN and all its resouces e.g. printers, internet etc. Your internet access is being provided over the VPN by your work LAN. It is the same as sitting in the office, but slower.

Sometimes a work PC/laptop is configured to use only office resources, such as a static IP on the office LAN, or a proxy server to the internet, or company DNS servers. These prevent the PC working on other LANs (though can be mannually overcome).

Your experience to use the laptop successfully on a random wireless network would seem to prove the laptop is not being constrained by an office configuration.

Your reported experiences presents a dilemma with no obvious solution.
Try comparing the laptop wireless connection settings and IE connection settings, with a device on your LAN which does work.