FT Computer Clinic: Wireless problem
 

I'm stuck on what is going on with my laptop and thought I'd ask here for a response.

Last night my laptop (Fujitsu B6110D) running XP Pro, lost the wireless signal. When I selected View Available Wireless Network all that displays is the available computer-to-computer networks. Not one wireless network (secured or unsecured) shows in the list. I have rebooted several times and tried the repair function, turned the wireless off and on, yet nothing seems to work. Any suggestions? Did my wireless card die?

Thanks for any suggestions. I am leaving for a trip on Thursday and won't have time to send it in for repair (if that's necessary) and may have to make a quick purchase of a netbook.

Did a recent Automatic Update affect this? I've been having issues too with XP and I think I just ran an automatic update.

If ad hoc networks are showing up, your wireless radio is okay. Open the Properties sheet for your router in Network Connections, and make sure that both computer-to-computer and access points are enabled.

I did get the pop up for updates last night, but didn't have the time to run them. So nothing was changed last night.

Done and still no change.

By the way PiotrVolkov, welcome to FlyerTalk!

But what showed up when you did this? Anything or nothing?

Is the wireless NIC showing as disabled under Network Connections?

Download Inssider from www.metageek.net - it is free - to use to see if it sees your card and any networks.

Are you sure that your access point or router is still working. Do you have other devices running off of it?

If this ends up being unfixable in the short term, you can buy a USB wireless card for about $40, maybe less. Looks like a USB flash drive. That would at least get you wireless access on your trip.

I don't understand which response you are referring to. Re: the popups, I didn't download them. Re: the properties, I had to add ad hoc networks, because that was not enabled. I will download the Inssider to a thumb drive and try that.

Yes, my iPhone and my other notebook computer (the heavy one) are both working.

I have now brought this computer into the office and it is the same issue on the wireless here.

Go into Device Manager. Uninstall the wifi adapter (do not delete the drivers). Let it re-install automatically or, if it doesn't, select search for new hardware. That usually works for me.

If you are seeing ad-hoc but not infrastructure networks the problem is most likely the setting in the NIC config, not the radio itself or the drivers.

In the network CP right click on the Wireless Network Connection and choose properties. Then click on the Wireless Networks tab. At the bottom there should be a button that says Advanced. Click on it. There are three radio buttons in that dialog. Which one is selected? You want it on one of the top two.

I will try this when I get out of my next meeting.

The top one is currently selected. I changed it from the second button per the suggestion of PiotrVolkov above.

Thank you one and all for your troubleshooting trips.

After I uninstalled the wifi adpter and let it reinstall, I have wifi back! Thanks PTravel!

But darn, I don't get to go out and buy a spiffy new netbook now. :(