See if these odd wireless/networking issues mean anything to you: 1

[newyorkny]

I'm stumped and trying to avoid the obvious fix, which would be to reinstall XP clean or try Win 7.

I have a Dell XPS M2010 "luggable," and the wireless has been quirky for some time (and XP Pro has been getting more and more quirky as I have accumulated a lot of programs over the past year plus). I do not travel with this thing, as it is huge, so I am talking about my home network. I have recently replaced the wireless router, with the same symptoms on the new state-of-the-art router, so networking hardware doesn't seem to be the issue.

After a certain (usually fairly long, but not always) period of time, the wireless connection WILL fail. I will go down to the system tray, and, in odd symptom number one, the wireless icon will no longer be right- or left-clickable. If I hover, in odd symptom two, the popup will no longer say the name of my router, i.e. instead of "Wireless Connection (MyRouter) Speed: 24 mbs (etc)" it will just say "Wireless Connection() Speed 24mbs (etc)".

In odd symptom number three, when I go into start, networking, wireless connection and click on that, the wireless networking window EVENTUALLY comes up, but it takes a good two-to-five minutes. Bizarre.

If I plug in a cable at this stage, I'll get the "Limited or No Connection" yellow triangle, and it seems like the computer cannot get a DHCP lease.

If I disable then re-enable wireless, it gets a "failed to connect error."

My network card driver is up-to-date. I have all SPs and am all updated Windows-wise. I am desperately opposed to re-installing Windows because I have so much software on there that I use that it will be a nightmare to set it all back up, and these days, so much of it is downloaded, so you don't keep the disks handy anymore, do you?

Anyway, I would be most interested in any thoughts on this. I run two other laptops during all these odd outages and they experience no troubles with the wireless.

I have utilized the WinSockFix app with no lasting results. Virus and malware scans are up to date.

Thanks for any help.

NY

 

[BadBigBen]

so you don't keep the disks handy anymore, do you?

Sure do, if the software is important...

a few things come to mind, on those symptoms:

1.) Third party wireless manager... let windows control the wireless...

"Turbulence In The Ether"

http://windowssecrets.com/L060403-03-Turbulence-In-The-Ether

2.) Wireless card is flaky, driver is damaged, etc.... can only suggest to install the latest driver or try a USB WLAN Stick...

3.) instead of using DHCP to get an IP, give it a static IP, and see how it behaves...

4.) throw out the old connection, rerun the Connection Wizard to get access to the internet, local network... sometimes this resets certain settings, and all is well...

5.) do an Inplace Upgrade Install (also called REPAIR INSTALL), this will reset the REG, replaces system files, but will leave all the installed programs and personal data intact... You will have to reapply all the hotfixes and updates again...

How to perform an in-place upgrade (reinstallation) of Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315341

Ben
"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."
How to ask a question, when posting them to a professional forum.
Only ask questions with yes/no answers if you want "yes" or "no"

 

[newyorkny]

Thanks, Ben. I think a repair install is a great next step. I had thought about it but now you have galvanized me. I will let you know how it goes.

If it doesn't work, I may try getting a pc-card Wireless-N card, similar to your suggestion.

 

[AverageJoePC]

I think BadBigBen is right on with his reply. The dell wireless utility is horrible. I have had countless clients have issues with it.

check out dial-a-fix. Its a great little tool. Just check all and run it. It gives you a computer a great tune-up.

I would also recommend running spybot S&D to cleanup spyware and malware that most machines get over time. Make sure you run it in safe mode after installing and updating.

Greg Wilson

http://www.averagejoepc.com

 

[newyorkny]

Joe,

Thanks for the thoughts. I will try DAF. I do use Ashampoo Winoptimizer regularly, so I will see if your program does anything different.

I am right up to date with Spybot.

NY

 

[robmazco]

Malware Bytes is proving to be a useful tool.
I let windows manage wireless on all our dell laptops, their utility is not trustworthy IMO.

 

[linney]

I would also let XP manage my Wireless rather than manufacturer's software. It is one things that XP does very well.

Have you tested your connection via "Safe Mode with Networking"?

It is possible that your built-in Wireless Card (or attached Access Point) is failing.