USB stick detects network, but I can't connect to the internet

Hello everyone, I picked up a new mobile internet dongle today (an Alcatel One Touch Link W800). I’ve been using Verizon Wireless until now, but I recently decided to switch over to T-Mobile US.

Operating system — Windows 8.

So, I followed all the setup instructions for the initial connection, located my network, and successfully connected to it. However, I still can't actually get online; even when I'm connected, it just says "no internet access." It also shows the network status as "limited." According to the help files, this means my PC successfully linked up with the router, but hasn't been assigned a valid IP address. Honestly, even after searching through Google, I can't make heads or tails of what that actually means or where the issue lies. 😁

I thought later on that maybe I should uninstall the old AT&T software, so I did, but that didn't solve anything. When I try to search for links manually, I can find them all, but I can't connect to a single one—it's completely useless.

Where is the probleeeeeeeeeem? I've been Googling this for four hours straight and my level of confusion has reached its absolute peak. 🤷

What do you mean by "found her network and connected to it"? Isn't the Alcatel One Touch Link W800 just a mobile hotspot stick, not a WLAN adapter meant for hooking up to home Wi-Fi?

To get connected to your home network—basically your own modem—you’re going to need a "network password" to type in when you link up. You should give AT&T a call; they can walk you through the rest. I know because I just went through the whole thing myself getting my home internet set up via USB. 🙂