Linksys WPC54g on an Ispiron 8100 works, sorta'-HELP!

[RASTex]

Inspiron 8100, PIII-1.0GHz, 512Mb, 30 Gb HDD (20 free).

No other PC-Cards are installed (Modem and NIC are Mini-PCI.)

Free memory after boot-up: Physical: 350 MB
Page file: 1371 MB

Norton SystemWorks 2003 Virus protection and Script Blocking running.

I had a BESR41; which I have changed out for a WRT54G. It worked flawlessly as a wired router to four computers. It's connected to a Motorola cable modem.

After trying a number of times and searching both the Linksys site and the internet, I got the Linksys WPC54G Wireless Router to work in its wireless mode, ... UNTIL I REBOOTED!

Now I have waited through an excruciatingly long reboot (20Xs normal) and then waited about 45 MINUTES and the WLAN Monitor has FINALLY appeared again in the "Systray" and the wireless connection is working flawlessly again. Before waiting for 45 minutes for the card to start up, everything is running EXTREMELY slow, even with the amount of memory I have available. Once it starts working wireless, everything is back to normal!

The hang-up appears early in the boot. For example: If I have an improper shut down, the Scandisk takes about 15 minutes, instead of the usual two minutes.

The hang-up (via Task Manager) appears to be a program called "Vanguard", which only appeared AFTER I installed the WPC54G software and hardware. It's like something is waiting (a loooooong time) for a timeout.

The Device Manger shows WPC54G is working just fine.

Remove the WPC54G and the internal NIC works just great, wired to the WRT54G.

I have a TI PC-4451. CardBus Controller and have applied the Linksys Knowledge Base patch, which apparently is SUPPOSED to fix an inherent problem with the TI controller and the WPC54G. It DID NOT fix it!

I have found over 50 “REAL” PROBLEMS on the internet with this card and compatibility with Ti controllers, XP, etc.

I have tried everything I know how do and I have had a PC and been working on PCs since 1982. That's what's so frustrating about this!

WHAT'S GOING ON?

THANKS
BOB

 

[kennz]

There is no Vanguard software package that came with the wpc54g adapter. Run spybot or adaware to check if it filters that.

 

[RASTex]

HAVE ALREADY SCANNED FOR VIRUSES, TROJANS, ADWARE, ETC.

VANGUARD.EXE, IN FACT, IS THE WLAN CARD UTILITY FOR THE WPC54G. IT IS LOCATED IN THE LINKSYS FOLDER AND IS LOADED VIA THE REGISTRY.

HERE'S THE INFO ON WHAT IT IS (TAKEN FROM THE VANGUARD.EXE FILE.):

Comments: IEEE802.11b WLAN Card Utility
Company Name: Wireless Manufacturer
File Description: IEEE802.11b WLAN Card Utility
FileVersion: 3.0.6.2478
Internal Name: WLPCCfg.EXE
Legal Copyright: Copyright (C) 2002 All rights reserved
Legal Trademarks:
Original Filename: WLPCCfg.EXE
Private Build
Product Name: IEEE802.11b WLAN Card Utility
Product Version 3.0.6.247
Special Build: VarFileInfo Translation

 

[bcastner]

RASTex,

Just to be clear.

. Yes, one can find Vanguard. But for an XP machine you should be using the native Wireless zero service. And with the Hotfix rollup:

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=...odtechnol/winxppro/proddocs/eventtriggers.asp

. Be very carefull, as you adapter is not "S", but the original WPC54G, or the second version. But not "S".