Wireless card not working

[jediwarrior]

Hi everyone,
I recently took a wireless card out of a computer that is working fine in the other computer, but when I put it in a different one, I cannot get it to work. Once a card is setup on one computer, is it not possible to use it on another pc?

I was able to install it ok with no problems, but it will not connect. The connect button remains Grayed out.

I am using a linksys 2.4GHz wireless-B card. 802.11b. I'm getting the error 'Failed to connect'.
If anyone has any ideas I would appreciate it, or if you need any other information,I will try to provide it to you.

Thanks,
Jediwarrior

 

[G0AOZ]

You should be able to use the card in any computer. Having said that, you will need to ensure that whatever type of slot is being used, is enabled in the PC. Tell is if it's a USB or PCMCIA device, and what operating system that PC is running. Are you trying to connect to the same AP that this card connected to before, and how close are you to it? If not the same AP, are you sure it's not running 802.11a for example? Any other clients successfully connecting to this AP? Is the AP running DHCP or does it require static addresses from clients? Have you set the WiFi card's IP, Gateway, and Mask etc accordingly?


ROGER.

 

[jediwarrior]

The PC is using Windows ME, and the card is connected into a PCI slot. I followed the directions carefully for the installation. What exactly is the AP you metioned? Sorry, still learning some of the nomenclature for computers. I'm not sure what some of the settings are, so I'll have to put this card back into the other pc and check out what the settings are there.

Any more ideas I will galdly try.

Thanks,

Jediwarrior

 

[jediwarrior]

I have one other question...How can I tell if a slot is working on a pc? Is there a way to change some settings on it what ever they may be?

Thanks,

Jediwarrior

 

[G0AOZ]

ME isn't one of my favourite operating systems, and I've tended to avoid using it! However, that shouldn't stop your WiFi card from working...

AP is an abbreviation for Access Point. This is the wireless device that links into a router or wired network, and transmits and receives signals out to PCs which are not linked by network cables. But maybe you're not linking to an Access Point? Perhaps you're working peer-to-peer? We need more info on what you're trying to connect to...

When your PCI WiFi card was installed in the previous machine, presumably it "talked" successfully to an Access Point or other computer (peer-to-peer). There would have been software on that previous machine which showed signal strength either as a bargraph display or as a percentage. (100% being strongest signal). Is that previous machine in the same room, house, building, etc., as the PC you're now trying to fit the card into, and did it previously show good signal strength? If not, how far away is the AP or remote machine you're trying to connect to?

Unless there's a fault with the motherboard, all PCI slots are normally active. However, it's possible in some BIOSs to manually assign IRQs to specific slots. If an IRQ is already being used by some other device, this may prevent the slot from working correctly. In this instance I'd suggest that the BIOS should be set for automatic assignment of IRQs rather than manual. It is possible a PCI slot could become damaged, say, if a card was removed or inserted whilst the machine was powered up. But there's no easy way to tell if the slot is working other than get a card operating successfully in it! After testing the card back in the previous machine, try inserting it in the "new" machine in a different slot, that's if you have one free.

When the card is plugged into the "new" machine, and it's powered up, does the operating system recognise the WiFi card?


ROGER

 

[jediwarrior]

Wow, you really askeed some powerful questions, so I hope I can give you all the answers you need to know GOAO2.
I don't necessarily like ME either, and I'm going to upgrade it to XP as soon as I can get everything else up and working.
My PCI WIFI card did work goog on the other machine with good to excellent signal strength, and I did try to hook up the WIFI card in the new computer in the same room.
I'm not trying to hook up peer to peer. I have a Linksys router that is sending the wireless signal to the machines. I do have two pc's that do have wireless cards in them and I am trying to remove one and put it in the pc we have been talking about.
Both cards work well in the machines that I originally set them up in. Now in the pc that I am having problems with, it does install it ok and seems to recognize it, it just won't connect. I hope I have given you enough info here to be of more help.
Let me know what you think. I do appreciate all your help.

Thanks,
Jediwarrior

 

[G0AOZ]

I don't have a Linksys card to check out here, but presumably once you've installed the software on the computer, there's a programme to run which allows you to set parameters like SSID, Channel number etc. This should also give you the signal strength meter. I understand that you can't connect to anything, but does the signal strength box come up and is it indicating any received signal from your router? (Your router is a combination device of router and access point).

One question you didn't answer was about the IP address. Are you setting static addresses for the PCs, or is the router running DHCP? Presumably you can see that the Linksys WiFi card is set up ok in Control Panel, under Network. TCP/IP settings ok?

Was the "old" PC running an operating system other than Win ME? Just a thought that perhaps the Linksys driver you're using may not be quite the right one for ME. Perhaps check the Linksys site for another driver?


ROGER.