jabattaglia,

When you reinstalled Windows, did you install the notebook system utility and the chipset drivers first? If not, the rest of the drivers will fail to install. How to Download and Install Drivers in the Correct Order

You should be able to start with the notebook system utility and the chipset drivers and install everything in order. Things should start working.

Rick

I honestly could not tell you if I did or not.  I put in the recovery disk and let it do it's thing (loading a fresh copy of Windows XP) and then I put in the drivers CD.  I expected the CD to start installing the drivers on it's own, but quickly realized I had to select each individual driver.  Maybe I missed something there?  I am not really sure what the "netbook system utility" or the "chipset" driver is.  The chipset must be on my drivers CD... is the netbook system utility there also?

Would I need to re-install Windows XP from scratch now or is this something that I can fix easily without the need to re-install Windows XP?

Thanks so much for your help! 

jabattaglia,

using the drivers disk, you should be able to start with the notebook system utility and the chipset drivers and install everything in order. Things should start working.

Rick

Argh, I did exactly what you said and still have the same result in the end.  I'm connected to the Linksys wireless network connection with excellent signal, but the status remains "acquiring network address" and "authenticating".  I just hooked up a wireless printer tonight and had no problems at all.  Any other ideas?    

jabattaglia,

You can try running an ipconfig /all log.

Try powering off your ISP modem/router and your wireless router(if any) wait 30 seconds, then power on the ISP modem/router. Wait 15 seconds, then power on the wireless router(if any)

Try this and also try restarting your computer. If you cannot connect, post the ipconfig /all log back here.

Windows Vista cannot obtain an IP address from certain routers or from certain non-Microsoft DHCP servers

Rick

I powered everything down and started everything back up and still no luck. 

Here is the ipconfig/all log:

Windows IP Configuration

        Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : ashley

        Primary Dns Suffix  . . . . . . . :

        Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Unknown

        IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

        WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

        Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . :

        Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Realtek RTL8102E/RTL8103E Family PCI-E Fast Ethernet NIC

        Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-24-E8-F8-A5-2E

        Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes

        Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

        IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.64

        Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0

        Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.254

        DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.254

        DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.254

        Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Wednesday, September 21, 2011 7:29:25 PM

        Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Thursday, September 22, 2011 7:29:25 PM

Ethernet adapter Wireless Network Connection:

        Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . :

        Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Dell Wireless 1397 WLAN Mini-Card

        Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 70-1A-04-87-02-A4

        Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes

        Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

        IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 0.0.0.0

        Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 0.0.0.0

        Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . :

        DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.255

jabattaglia,

Glad you got it working! :emotion-21: Thanks for posting back.

Take care,

Rick

YAY, it worked and we now have a wireless connection.  Thanks so much for all your help w/this.  :o)