AT my wits end-please help

Question

I have a destop that is connect via comcast (their modem, and a laptob Dell Inspiron E1505.  My laptop is connected via wireless connection thru D-Link WBR-2310.  My issue is with the laptop.  It has worked fine for a year, unitl now.  When I try to connect the laptop, the bottom right has 2little computer with the X thru them.  When I right click on 'open network connections' I see the following:   1394 Connection Connected 1394 Net Adapter   Local Area Connection Network Cable unplugged Broadban 440x10/100 Intergrated Controller   when I ping devmgmt.msc             I see the same devices, nothing else.   Any ideas where to start? Please be basic,  I am not up to speed with all the lingo   Thanks

Rebel9 · Answer

I don't see anything in your post that indicates a wireless adapter. By chance have you turned it off (Fn + F2)?

golfinds · Answer

Sorry......I am running XP.  TO my knowlege I havent turned anything off.  As far as the device mgr (assuming I get there via start> run> devmgmt.msc.............when I expand network adapters, I see   1394 Net adapter broadcom 440x10/100 integrated controller     I appreciate all feedback.  I am at a total loss here.  Thanks

volcano11 · Answer

Which version of Windows are you running?  Since the wireless adapter does not show up in Network Connections, you should first see if it shows up in Device Manager.  If doesn't show up there either, you need to install the drivers for your wireless network adapter.  In order to do that you need to know which make and model wireless adapter you have in the machine.   Steve

Rebel9 · Answer

There is no adapter with a '?' in Device Manager? What you are seeing in DM is the Firewire adapter (1394) and the integrated Ethernet controller. You can go here (expand the Network section) and download and install the driver for your wireless card, but you first must know which card it is. Do you have your original invoice handy?

golfinds · Answer

I dont have the invoice, but from what I can tell its a Dell wireless WLAN card  4.10.47.3   does that look right?

volcano11 · Answer

And from where are you getting that information?   Steve

golfinds · Answer

From the system info. Here is an update, I found my org config and determined my wireless card is a wireless minicard DW 1390 broadcom. I found my Dell drivers and utilities disk and reinstalled the driver. I can find the file in my C drive, but it still isnt in my Network adapters when I expand it.

Just ran BIOS:

system:

Devices: wi-fi device=none

wireless:

internal wireless:internal wi-fi =enabled

Where do I go from here?? Thanks

Message Edited by golfinds on 01-20-2008 07:26 PM

volcano11 · Answer

Try downloading the drivers from the following site:   http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/download.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=gen&releaseid=R151519&SystemID=INSPIRONI6400/E1505&servicetag=&os=WW1&osl=en&deviceid=8041&devlib=0&typecnt=0&vercnt=3&catid=-1&impid=-1&formatcnt=1&libid=5&fileid=202138   get the file to your E1505 and then run the file and follow the instructions.   Steve

volcano11 · Answer

See if the MiniCard has worked itself loose in the slot by following the instructions in the following document:   http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/ins6400/en/sm/cards.htm#wp1015787   Steve

golfinds · Answer

I downloaded from the suggested link.  Still no additions to my device mgr.  Now I get a pop up:   wlanapi.dll not found bcmwltry.exe unable to locate component

golfinds · Answer

What about the new pop up on the previous screen?  Is that a result of a possible loose card or is that a whole new issue I have to deal with?

volcano11 · Answer

Did you install any software for the d-link router on this machine (none is necessary)? A search with google.com for erros relaed to wlanapi.dll reveals possibilities such as problems with the D-link software and spyware infections.

Steve

Message Edited by volcano11 on 01-21-2008 09:21 PM

golfinds · Answer

No and I have Mcafee that ran a scan and I am clean.

volcano11 · Answer

McAfee is the least reliable product to use as a sypware scanner.  Furthermore, there is no single program that finds all spyware.  You should run several - Spybot Search & Destroy, Ad-Aware, and Windows Defender (all free) for example.   Steve

golfinds · Answer

Steve, we are gaining on it.  I reseated the wreless card and now I can see it under my network adaptors with a yellow exclamation point.  Where do I go from here?    By the way, the pop up is still here (wlanapi.dll). As soon as I get this thing connected I will get the suggested spyware downloads.

Networking, Internet, & Bluetooth

AT my wits end-please help

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