My Wireless Network disappeared - Paladin or anyone else-help?

Question

Hello.  I set up a wireless network on my laptop about 5 months ago.  Everything was fine. I also have a wired desktop and have been using that instead of the wireless laptop for about a month or so.  Today, when I went to log onto my laptop, my network name was no longer listed as an available connection although I saw others listed.  It connected me to someone's elses network, but I want to connect to my own network.   How do I find my network?  Also, I must of did something wrong because I used to be able to click and see all available networks and mine and others were listed.  Now when I right click to see all available networks, I get the message 'Windows cannot configure this wireless network. If you have enabled another program to manage this wireless connection, use that software'.  What did I do to make it say this to not see all available networks?   So, my questions are:   1.  How do I get to see all available networks again?   2.  Most importantly, how do I get to see and use 'my' network again which I already had set up?   I am not a technie so please explain this to me as simply as possible.    Thanks so much!!!!

volcano11 · Answer

Unfortunately, you don't tell us which wireless network card you have, so providing details is impossible. To be able to use the view available wireless networks function you need to stop your wireless network card's utility from managing the wireless network. To do this, open the Utility (it will either be the Dell Wireless Utility or the Intel Proset Utility, depeding on which wireless card you have) and check the box to Let Windows Manage the Wireless Network.

As to why you are not seeing your network, do you have the SSID of the router hidden in your router configuration? If so, this would explain why you are not seeing it. You will have to log into your router configuration utility and enabling broadcasting of the SSID. Again, since you don't say which wireless router you have, providing details is difficult.

Steve

summerishere · Answer

Sorry about that.  My router is Linksys WRT54G.  I don't know what wireless card I have.  My laptop is a Dell B130 just purchased in April of this year. How do I find out what wireless card I have?    Also, when I originally set up my router confirguration I did allow for SSID broadcasting and 'used' to see it.  Since I hadn't logged onto my laptop in about 2 months it is no longer there.   Also, how do I open the Dell Wireless Utility.   Thanks in advance!

summerishere · Answer

Steve, also I see the Dell Wireless WLan Card Utility.  Is that what you want me to open up?  If so, I see a wireless network tab and there is a box for 'Let this Tool Manage Your Wireless Connections'.  That box is already checked.    Thanks again.

volcano11 · Answer

Open Device Manger (right click My Computer, select Properties, click on the Hardware tab, then click on the Device Manager button), then click the + sign next to network adapters. It should tell whether you have an Intel Wireless Card or a Dell Wireless Card.

Do you have any wireless network icons in the system tray (lower right hand corner of the screen)? If so, you can right click that icon and select open Utility. Otherwise, if you have a Dell wireless card, it should be in the All Programs menu (Start > All Programs) under Dell Wireless. If you have the Intel wireless card it will be in the All Programs under Intel.

Steve

volcano11 · Answer

You are replying faster than I can answer.  It looks like you have the Dell Wireless Utility.  Uncheck the box next to 'Let this tool manage...) Steve

summerishere · Answer

I see my networks under the preferred networks under the Wireless Networking Properties Tab, but it has a  red x on it and does not actually show up on my list of availble networks when I click on View All Available Networks.

volcano11 · Answer

It is there because you connected to it at some time in the past.  It is not in the list of avaiiable networks because either it is not currently broadcasting its SSID or is not currently broadcasting at all.  Did you try power cycling the router as I suggested?  If that didn't work, you might consider resetting the router to its default settings.  That will change the SSID back to its default name - Linksys, disable all security, enable SSID broadcasting, and disable any other security settings, but it might get it to work again.   To reset the router, press and hold the reset button on the back of the router for about 10 seconds while the power is on.   Steve

summerishere · Answer

Okay, good I can see a bunch of connections, but mine isn't there.  I know I set it up for SSID broadcast and I used to be able to see it.  So what do I need to do?    Thanks again Steve.

summerishere · Answer

I did try to reset my router as you instructed, but that did not make my wireless connection show on my available network. As I said my network is showing under that preferred listing, but it is showing it with a red x through it.  Also, the setting for this shows that it is open  network authentication and WEP for Data Encryption.  Is that correct?   Also, I am really not sure how to go in and reset the router, if that is what I need to do.  I set that up about 5 months ago and really cannot remember the steps.  I am able to access the router page using the admin password, but have no idea what I need to do next.   Thanks again Steve.

volcano11 · Answer

Try power cycling your router (turn it off wait a few minutes, the turn it on) and see if that fixes it.  Do you have other wireless computers that can see the router? Steve

volcano11 · Answer

Read my last reply.  Fro all of the questions you have in your reply, I already gave an answer! Steve

Networking, Internet, & Bluetooth

My Wireless Network disappeared - Paladin or anyone else-help?

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