Wireless network stops working for no obvious reason

Question

I have been running my Inspiron 8600 w/PRO Wireless LAN 21003A Mini PCI Adaptor for several months (under Windows XP SP2) without difficulty. I'm using a Linksys wireless access point and WPA-PSK/TKIP encryption and a static password.   I've also used the same machine in hotels and it has always detected their Wi-Fi networks.   Several days ago the 8600 lost the ability to detect my network. A different machine in the same room accesses the network with no difficulty. I have attempted to refresh the 8600's network list, have tried deleting and uninstalling the device in the Hardware Manager; upon reboot, the 8600 recognizes and reinstalls the adaptor without error message, but still can't find the network. The properties for my network are still available and correct.   I have no way of telling, but it seems I may have a hardware failure. I'm thinking it would be cheaper and faster to go out and buy a PCMCIA card than to try to negotiate repair of a 2-year-old machine.   Any suggestions? TIA.

kritzberg · Answer

It's not finding any other networks in the neighborhood. It's a residential area -- there might not be any others in range.

I'm using XP's built-in wireless connection software, not Intel's PROSet, so there's no "Radio" function. I have explicitly asked it to search for networks in range, which I presume would enable the Radio-equivalent in XP.

Regarding your note about Private Messages, have I inadvertently posted in the wrong place? I thought I was posting in the forum.

Thanks.

esquire · Answer

How about other networks?  Does it detect other networks in the neighbourhood? Have you turned off the adapter's radio by accident?

kritzberg · Answer

Hooray! (tentative)

I just checked the bios and Wireless had indeed been turned off. Looking at the keyboard, I now see the Fn+F2 combination is clearly (but not obviously!) marked as a wireless control. The machine is now seeing a errant signal from the hotel across the road -- when I get home tonight I'll check out my network there, but the indications are positive.

Thanks for the steer toward the BIOS. That's about the last place I'd have looked.

kritzberg · Answer

Located the Radio function -- it's on. Looked at Wireless Zero Configuration and it's Started.

You mentioned a physical switch. Is it possible that a switch could have been changed and still have the network icon appear?

I guess I'll go to the Dell site and see if I can dig anything up about wireless switches for the 8600.

esquire · Answer

The radio can be turned on and off in the BIOS by a combination of keys.  On my 6000 it is Fn+F2.  It doesn't need to use Intel's WCM to do this.  On other brands, this can be a physical switch and so people often turn it off without realizing - I have come across a few of these cases myself.   You should be able to tell if the radio is off - the wireless indicator on the computer should be off as well.       Sorry about the PM confusion - that's just part of my forum signature - to avoid people sending messages with their questions. Message Edited by esquire on 10-20-2005 02:13 AM

esquire · Answer

Something else to check is Windows built-in Wireless Zero Configuration service to see if it has started.   Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Services Scroll to the bottom where Wireless Zero Configuration is and check its status - it should say Started.

esquire · Answer

Glad it's working again! That's usually the first place I suggest people to look :smileywink:

Since only the radio is turned off and the network adapter is still active, Windows will report the network adapter as functioning in the Device Manager - it can't tell the difference, hence the Wireless Network Connection icon remains in system tray, which probably why many users think their wireless is working but cannot detect any network.

Networking, Internet, & Bluetooth

Wireless network stops working for no obvious reason

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