Wireless malfunction
kell, Tue Mar 28 2006, 06:11PMI'm posting this to ask for help.
Since the last couple of days my Toshiba laptop won't connect wirelessly. (I'm using the public library computer to make this posting.)
I have Windows XP/SP2 and an Orinoco Silver wireless card that plugs into the PCMCIA slot.
I've tried quite a few wireless networks around town over the last two days and I always get the "limited or no connectivity" message at networks that always used to connect with ease.
I'm kind of at a loss, because really I'm not all that computer savvy. When there's a problem I need to solve I often have to use a help line or go on a newsgroup or forum to get the answer, but now my internet access is going to be severely limited, which makes it all the more difficult.
Re: Wireless malfunction
Desmogod, Wed Mar 29 2006, 12:44AM
Have you removed and reseated the PCMCIA card?
Can you get ahold of another wireless card to try?
Desmogod, Wed Mar 29 2006, 12:44AM
Have you removed and reseated the PCMCIA card?
Can you get ahold of another wireless card to try?
Re: Wireless malfunction
..., Wed Mar 29 2006, 03:49AM
Judging by the fact that you are getting the limited connectivity error, I am pretty sure it is software...
Did you do anything around when it stopped working (like within one reboot)? Like windows update, etc
Also, you can try rolling back the driver. Go to control panel->system->hardware->device manager. From there poke around until you find your wireless card. Double click on it, go to driver and click 'roll back driver'.
Looking on the manufacture site can also give an update.
Have you run the network setup wizard after it died? Sometimes windows decides to change settings on its own
If you right click on the picture of a computer next to the clock that represents your wifi connection and select repair (when connected to the network) that can fix it...
Good luck!
..., Wed Mar 29 2006, 03:49AM
Judging by the fact that you are getting the limited connectivity error, I am pretty sure it is software...
Did you do anything around when it stopped working (like within one reboot)? Like windows update, etc
Also, you can try rolling back the driver. Go to control panel->system->hardware->device manager. From there poke around until you find your wireless card. Double click on it, go to driver and click 'roll back driver'.
Looking on the manufacture site can also give an update.
Have you run the network setup wizard after it died? Sometimes windows decides to change settings on its own
If you right click on the picture of a computer next to the clock that represents your wifi connection and select repair (when connected to the network) that can fix it...
Good luck!
Re: Wireless malfunction
Hellmark, Wed Mar 29 2006, 05:22AM
In XP, goto the control panel, and then pull up the wireless config. Somewhere should be a button to see about repairing the connection. I am not a windows user, so don't remember exactly, but I have had the same problem in the past, and that fixed it.
Hellmark, Wed Mar 29 2006, 05:22AM
In XP, goto the control panel, and then pull up the wireless config. Somewhere should be a button to see about repairing the connection. I am not a windows user, so don't remember exactly, but I have had the same problem in the past, and that fixed it.
Re: Wireless malfunction
kell, Wed Mar 29 2006, 03:41PM
I tried reseating the card and I tried the repair thing.
I didn't do the rollback.
This morning... drumroll...
I took out the recovery disk and reformatted the computer.
Now I have an operating system that's about three years old,
and of course the wirless card doesn't work.
kell, Wed Mar 29 2006, 03:41PM
I tried reseating the card and I tried the repair thing.
I didn't do the rollback.
This morning... drumroll...
I took out the recovery disk and reformatted the computer.
Now I have an operating system that's about three years old,
and of course the wirless card doesn't work.
Re: Wireless malfunction
Quantum Singularity, Wed Mar 29 2006, 05:05PM
I have seen the same error message many times on computers and have had different problems causing them. Usually it is driver / windoze problems. First 2 things I try before resorting to something drastic like a reformat is to reboot the computer in safe mode with networking support and see if it works, and uninstalling service pack 2. I have seen SP2 cause problems with this enough times I dont recommend using it unless there is a specific reason to do so.
Quantum Singularity, Wed Mar 29 2006, 05:05PM
I have seen the same error message many times on computers and have had different problems causing them. Usually it is driver / windoze problems. First 2 things I try before resorting to something drastic like a reformat is to reboot the computer in safe mode with networking support and see if it works, and uninstalling service pack 2. I have seen SP2 cause problems with this enough times I dont recommend using it unless there is a specific reason to do so.
Re: Wireless malfunction
Bjørn, Wed Mar 29 2006, 05:21PM
I have wireless cards from three different manufacturers and they all have bad firmware, bad drivers and dubious hardware. It takes a significant amount of black magic to get a connection even with identical hardware and drivers at both ends.
My advice is to drop all forms of encrytion until the conenction works reliably. The drivers for my cards tend to get quite confused by encryption if the settings are not 100% correct.
Bjørn, Wed Mar 29 2006, 05:21PM
I have wireless cards from three different manufacturers and they all have bad firmware, bad drivers and dubious hardware. It takes a significant amount of black magic to get a connection even with identical hardware and drivers at both ends.
My advice is to drop all forms of encrytion until the conenction works reliably. The drivers for my cards tend to get quite confused by encryption if the settings are not 100% correct.
Re: Wireless malfunction
kell, Wed Mar 29 2006, 07:56PM
I posted a reply a few minutes ago but it hasn't appeared.
This is what I finally did:
I went to the neighborhood computer shop, where I had a choice of buying the driver for my Orinoco card for 5 bucks or upgrading to a g card for about $30. I went with the g card. It works now.
Next I have to get the windows upgrades of the last three years that are not on my computer anymore. What's the best way to do that?
Of course, I should switch to Linux, but that's for another thread.
kell, Wed Mar 29 2006, 07:56PM
I posted a reply a few minutes ago but it hasn't appeared.
This is what I finally did:
I went to the neighborhood computer shop, where I had a choice of buying the driver for my Orinoco card for 5 bucks or upgrading to a g card for about $30. I went with the g card. It works now.
Next I have to get the windows upgrades of the last three years that are not on my computer anymore. What's the best way to do that?
Of course, I should switch to Linux, but that's for another thread.
Re: Wireless malfunction
Bjørn, Wed Mar 29 2006, 09:49PM
Go to http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com, grab something to drink and something to read and click yes on everything.
That is usually the simlpest method to upgrade a single machine since you don't have to dig around to get the files.
Bjørn, Wed Mar 29 2006, 09:49PM
Go to http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com, grab something to drink and something to read and click yes on everything.
That is usually the simlpest method to upgrade a single machine since you don't have to dig around to get the files.
Re: Wireless malfunction
..., Wed Mar 29 2006, 11:18PM
what speed can you download at? Usually the updates come in 3 sets, the pre sp2, sp2, and the recent ones. It was about 200mb when I did it 3 days ago; not too bad for any broadband but if you are on dialup it will take forever... Does the library have wifi by any chance? You should be able to complete the upgrades in 2-3 hours...
..., Wed Mar 29 2006, 11:18PM
what speed can you download at? Usually the updates come in 3 sets, the pre sp2, sp2, and the recent ones. It was about 200mb when I did it 3 days ago; not too bad for any broadband but if you are on dialup it will take forever... Does the library have wifi by any chance? You should be able to complete the upgrades in 2-3 hours...
Re: Wireless malfunction
kell, Thu Mar 30 2006, 08:31PM
Went to the microsoft website. They say there are two versions of SP2; single user and IT professional. When I looked for the single user version, it sent me to Autmatic Update for a list of about 40 upgrades, 9 Megs. I have no idea whether this is SP2 or simply the latest upgrades, so I went back and downloaded the professional version. The download went ok, but the setup wizard didn't. It aborted, did some uninstalling and the last message it gave me said the upgrade was incomplete, windows might not run correctly. Thanks, microsoft.
I guess I will go back and get the automatic updates, whatever they are.
Why do I feel like Microsoft and its products belong in the trashcan.
Here's a link to a thread I started about it in a windows newgroup:
kell, Thu Mar 30 2006, 08:31PM
Went to the microsoft website. They say there are two versions of SP2; single user and IT professional. When I looked for the single user version, it sent me to Autmatic Update for a list of about 40 upgrades, 9 Megs. I have no idea whether this is SP2 or simply the latest upgrades, so I went back and downloaded the professional version. The download went ok, but the setup wizard didn't. It aborted, did some uninstalling and the last message it gave me said the upgrade was incomplete, windows might not run correctly. Thanks, microsoft.
I guess I will go back and get the automatic updates, whatever they are.
Why do I feel like Microsoft and its products belong in the trashcan.
Here's a link to a thread I started about it in a windows newgroup:
Re: Wireless malfunction
krenshala, Sun Apr 16 2006, 03:50PM
If you get the limited or no connectivity problem with the wireless card again, do the following:
1) check the wireless card manager (software for the card where you configure connections, or in XP Control Panel > Network Connections > right click the wireless card > Status) and see if you are getting a wireless connection.
2) if you are getting a wireless connection, make sure you are getting an IP address (ipconfig from a DOS prompt, or the Support tab of the status window above in XP).
Normally, when I see a wireless card with "limited or no connectivity" it has a wireless connection but no IP address. If that is the case it is a Windows network problem and not a problem with the wireless card.
If you don't have a wireless connection, check to see if the computer can see the wireless network you want to be connected to. If it can see it, its probably a configuration problem (maybe the router changed?). If you can't see it then start checking the card. The most reliable steps I've found (for just about any computer hardware, actually) are: uninstall software, remove from device manager, power down, remove card, power up, install software for card, install card, test.
krenshala, Sun Apr 16 2006, 03:50PM
If you get the limited or no connectivity problem with the wireless card again, do the following:
1) check the wireless card manager (software for the card where you configure connections, or in XP Control Panel > Network Connections > right click the wireless card > Status) and see if you are getting a wireless connection.
2) if you are getting a wireless connection, make sure you are getting an IP address (ipconfig from a DOS prompt, or the Support tab of the status window above in XP).
Normally, when I see a wireless card with "limited or no connectivity" it has a wireless connection but no IP address. If that is the case it is a Windows network problem and not a problem with the wireless card.
If you don't have a wireless connection, check to see if the computer can see the wireless network you want to be connected to. If it can see it, its probably a configuration problem (maybe the router changed?). If you can't see it then start checking the card. The most reliable steps I've found (for just about any computer hardware, actually) are: uninstall software, remove from device manager, power down, remove card, power up, install software for card, install card, test.
Re: Wireless malfunction
kell, Sun Apr 16 2006, 04:31PM
I finally found out how to get sp2 to install.
My problem stemmed from the fact that I allowed Automatic Update to do its thing, which meant installing a bunch of updates before it got around to installing sp2. Those updates mucked something up.
So I went back and did the recovery again, then IMMEDIATELY installed sp2 from the CD. As a precaution, I did this in safe mode but I bet it would work from a standard Windows boot. The point is: avoid any automatic updates, just install sp2 right away after a recovery.
kell, Sun Apr 16 2006, 04:31PM
I finally found out how to get sp2 to install.
My problem stemmed from the fact that I allowed Automatic Update to do its thing, which meant installing a bunch of updates before it got around to installing sp2. Those updates mucked something up.
So I went back and did the recovery again, then IMMEDIATELY installed sp2 from the CD. As a precaution, I did this in safe mode but I bet it would work from a standard Windows boot. The point is: avoid any automatic updates, just install sp2 right away after a recovery.
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