Linksys WPC54G & standby mode

Question

Folks,

I have been searching this forum for a solution to my problem but haven't found an answer although I have seen several posts on the same topic.

I use a Linksys wireless network adapter WPC54G on my laptop (Inspiron 8500 running Windows XP Professional SP2). When the laptop has gone to standby mode and is restarted the wireless connection to the network is lost although Windows tells me the communication with the access point (Linksys WRK54G) is fine. At this point repairing the connection or shuting down the network adapter, removing it and reinserting it does not bring the network connection back. The only solution is to reboot.

The network adapter's driver is the latest available from Linksys. Linksys' technical support has got to the point where they are asking me to use a different laptop to confirm the network adapter's behavior. I'll try to do that but this is not too practical...

The laptop has been fully reinstalled, to no avail. It also uses the most recent BIOS version: A06.

In this forum someone pointed to the Windows XP patch KB887742. I have it installed but this does not help.

Anyone here has an idea about what I could try next?

Thanks.

--

PAD

Message Edited by P-A-D on 06-21-2005 09:51 AM

P-A-D · Answer

I just realized that the problem occurs even when I simply remove the network adapter (after shuting it down via the Hardware Removal manager) and re-insert it. So the issue does not seem necessary linked to the laptop's standby (or hibernate, I tried this too) mode.   I checked the BIOS of the Inspiron 8500 and saw nothing relevant to power management options related to the network adapter.   I checked Dell's QuickSet and all power management options seem in order (there is nothing for PCMCIA network cards anyway).   I read a few comments on the Net implying that this is a known problem with no known solution. Anyone has an opinion here?   --   PAD

P-A-D · Answer

It seems that I have solved this problem: I re-installed the whole Linksys product (not only the driver but also the WLAN monitor). I had to setup the wireless connection using Linksys WLAN monitor first, then checked the XP wireless zero configuration box (in the monitor window) so as to let Windows XP take over. Once that has been done the network adapter now restarts correctly after the laptop is waken up from hibernation or from the stand-by mode. I can also shutdown the network adapter, eject it and re-insert it, and the wireless connection is restored with full network functionality.

I just don't know why this specific re-installation fixed the problem...

Now I just have to solve my DHCP issue: the laptop can't get its IP address via DHCP. This is not new. I checked that other laptops can so I am sure the issue is not with the access point. I read somewhere on this forum that this might be an issue with Windows XP itself. Any pointers appreciated.

--
PAD

P-A-D · Answer

For those looking at this thread, I am sad to say that after the re-installation of the Linsys network adapter driver and WLAN monitor things worked fine for a handful of days only, then I got the same issue again with the stand-by mode.   I have a kind of working situation though: I no longer have to reboot the laptop to get the wireless connection back. I just have to re-enter the WEP key. For some reason XP does not seem to remember my 128-bit key... I got to this point after I uninstalled the Linksys product once more and re-installed the driver via Windows' Hardware Additon Wizard.   Unfortunately, at this point I still have no clue regarding why things are so weird with my wireless connection...   --    PAD

P-A-D · Answer

Okay, last news on this problem: I got things to work again after I re-installed (again) all the Linksys package (driver and monitor utility). This time I decided to let the Linksys monitor utility have full control over the network card (i.e. I am no longer using the XP zero config wireless configuration). For three days I can put the laptop in stand-by mode or reboot it and get the wireless connection back when I start/wake up the laptop again. Also I can use DHCP, which I have been unable to do for 6 months.

In some ways I have done a full circle since this is exactly the very original configuration I used until things started to go wrong. I am still unable to explain why I got all these problems. My best bet is that the continuous stream of Windows patches has somehow destabilized the Linksys driver/utility over time. I am also unable to explain why the XP ero config wireless configuration is not properly supported although Linksys' own technical support told me to use this...

Let's see how long this is going to hold...

--
PAD

Networking, Internet, & Bluetooth

Linksys WPC54G & standby mode

Was this post helpful?