I lost my ability to connect wireless last night and when I called verizon to troubleshoot I was told it was a problem with my system.  I am using my old computer connected with a cable to my DSL modem to temporarily connect.  The problem:

When I go to the box that says "wireless internet connection" that says in it "choose a wireless network" instead of seeing the wireless networks that are in range I get the message "windows cannot configure this wireless connection.  If you have enabled another program to manage this wireless connection use that software."

 

when I click on the icon on the bottom of the screen (looks like bar with waves coming from it) that normally brings me to the wireless internet connection box a different box pops up that says Intel PROset/wireless that does show an available network which I think is my modem - but it is not connecting.  There is a lock symbol beside it - I have added a security code to my modem and this is perhaps why.  What I want to do is get things back to where they were - Use the wireless network connection box display to be connected.  It has worked fine for the past several weeks.  I think that the Intel PRO/wireless thing may be interfering with the Wireless network connection thing.  I do not know too much about computers.  Please help me to get connected using my inspiron again.

 

Inspiron 9300

windows XP media center edition