Wireless Network Suddenly Stopped

Question

I'm on a Dell Dimention 8300 running on XP. A few weeks ago my roommate and I got a cable modem connection with wireless router up and running. I have an Intel Pro/100 network card and a USB Linksys wireless - B adaptor. It was going fine for a couple of weeks, then suddenly one afternoon everything disconnected from the internet and I got an error from my network card icon in my task bar: a network cable is unplugged. My roommate's computer was not on at that moment and her connection is still fine. Her laptop even works fine in my room. Nothing was changed on the router - her laptop is the admin and nothing was changed there either. I have tried powering off the entire modem/router and rebooting it.

I have read many posts on these boards and tried several things. I have tried setting the network card link speed to several settings. It looks like it works for a moment, then the red X and cable unplugged msg is back.

I had installed zonealarm about a week before, but it was working for a week with it up so that shouldnt' be it. I have tried scanning with spybot (updated by dial-up modem) - nothing. I have scanned for viruses with McAfee (udated) nothing. I have tried some of the other programs I saw recommended here, but I am not computer literate enough to know what the reports mean.

Someone please help me, this is SO frustrating.

phantomco · Answer

I'm assuming that the error is on the wireless card and not the Intel NIC. Have you tried to uninstall and re-install the wireless software? (You really need to follow the install instructions when you do)

The other possibility would be a hardware failure on the wireless card. I've seen a few of those, more than you see on a NIC.

Mary G · Answer

Disable Zone Alarm and any firewall software while you try to figure this out. Uncheck ZA's Run at Startup, then reboot and see if the Network connects. While ZA is in "learning mode" the settings that worked before might change. I found that with my wireless network with the wireless base station built in firewall, I don't need ZA. My computer passes all the security checks at www.grc.com.

Check out Zone Alarm's site for more info: http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/support/techNote_9.jsp Only ZA Pro works with Internet Connection Sharing.

Message Edited by Mary G on 05-21-2004 05:53 PM

Asire · Answer

Tried both, no luck.

I really don't know what to do with this, I can't think a hardware problem would occer after 2 weeks of use w/o any extreme conditions.

I will try connecting it up to the cable directly later when I have time to move my monitor.

Mary G · Answer

Check all the cable connections first and try the Networking troubleshooter.

phantomco · Answer

Don't rule out hardware; I've seen brand new hardware fail in minutes, days, or weeks.  Once you rule out the other things, go back to the wireless hardware manufacturer and have them walk you through troubleshooting.

Asire · Answer

I moved my computer down to the cable modem and plugged it in directly.  It's working just fine - so that means my network card is fine, right?  And my router is fine because my roommate is having no problems.  I guess I will go buy a new USB adaptor tonight, but that seems ridiculous since it worked for 2-3 weeks just fine.

Networking, Internet, & Bluetooth

Wireless Network Suddenly Stopped

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