Wireless Networks and XP

I have a Toshiba Satellite Pro laptop running XP Pro and it has worked
with wireless networks quite happily but is normally on the end of a
wired router at home.

This was until a couple of months ago when I finally got around to
changing over to wireless.

I get this:
http://www.sweller.dynalias.org/images/wnd/wnd.jpg

which leads to this
http://www.sweller.dynalias.org/images/wnd/wnd2.jpg

It simultaneously detects the network and shows a little red cross in the
first picture.

The hardware seems happy enough (I've reinstalled the drivers, no change):
http://www.sweller.dynalias.org/images/wnd/wnd3.jpg

So the Toshiba has to stay wired. The other XP laptops/phones/ipods etc
can all see the wireless router and work quite happily.

What could the problem be, any solutions?

 

Is your wireless SSID being transmitted? What sort of encryption are you
using on the WLAN?

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I've had some odd problems with Toshiba laptops with Atheros wireless
chipsets being unable to see some routers, especially my Cisco, while
seeing my neighbours' connection fine,but sorry, I've never found an
answer to that. Other Atheros devices, like my 3Com card are OK, as are
Intel wireless. I think it just happens that some are incompatible
sometimes.

I'd try removing the toshiba configfree if present, remove the wireless
drivers (rebooting after each step), and then put them back, using the
setup program for the drivers rather than letting windows use the .inf
to install. If that's what you've done, sorry, no new ideas, but if
anyone else has a suggestion, I'd be interested.

 

I had a similar problem a few weeks ago and this fixed it:

1.Start -> Run (or Windows key+R)
2.Type in services.msc then Click the OK button
3.Scroll down towards bottom of list and double-click Wireless Zero
Configuration
4.Stop the service
5.Set startup type to Manual
6.Select OK
7.Reboot p.c.

--
Richard

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The SSID is being broadcast (other devices can see it) and the encryption
is WPA-PSK [TKIP]

The laptop used to be able see the neighbours networks (which are visible
to my phone).

 

Well it's not that then! I'd go for the zero conf option that others
have suggested.

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Triumph Sprint ST 1050: It's blue, see.
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I get this:
http://www.sweller.dynalias.org/images/wnd/wnd4.jpg

 

I get this:
http://www.sweller.dynalias.org/images/wnd/wnd4.jpg

 

Ok, does the Toshiba wireless s/w have a setup app included so that you
can manually configure the connection?

--
Richard

XJ900S
BOTAFOT #138, YTC#18, OMF#12

Email-remove insult to reply

 

Disable the on board wireless and go buy a slot in belkin wireless card.

 

Why Belkin - I have a Netgear router, wouldn't the same manufacturer's
card be better?

 

It shouldn't make any difference - it's all a cross-manufacturer standard.

Belkin have a reputation for cheap-and-cheerful stuff that doesn't always
play right. Having said that, I've got a Belkin router at home which has
been surprisingly reliable.

 

This won't be the most helpful of replies, but Pat had exactly the
same setup and I had trouble connecting wirelessly to our home
network. I googled a bit and IIRC the answer was to do with the Zero
Wireless Configuration and possibly a registry setting. You may need
to do the same.

 

We had a similar problem with the on board wireless in a Medion laptop.
The Belkin card worked perfectly.

 

Yes, and it can see the network (and all my neighbours) but I can't get
it to connect.

 

So you need to start the zero conf service, follwoing the instructions.
You *may* have to remove the Toshiba software as well.

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Triumph Sprint ST 1050: It's blue, see.
www.cuore-sportivo.co.uk

 

OK - I had same problem with a Toshiba NB100 Netbook when I
re-installed XP after I realised the poor bugger didn't have enough
resources to run Win7 Ulitmate.

I cannot remember the exact process I went through, but that error
display has the clue. The Toshiba software (Atheros) is trying to
control the wireess. I've found it easier to just let Windows do it.
Disable any Atheros and follow those instructions on the error windows
as to how to put control back to Windows. It's less fucking around in
the long run unless you have bought an Atheros driver specifically.
Mine is working fine here once I just went back to Windows control. It
was working before very well until I snotted the drive and replaced
all the drivers, then the Atheros got very picky about what it was
going to let onboard and even the Toshiba re-install didn't seem to
work well after that. Just let Windows handle it.

Kev

 

Well, some of the shonky off-brand shite might not play nicely, but I've
never had a problem with mixing brands.

Yes, there's proprietary extensions - Netgear's 108Mbps - that's single-
brand, but anything that claims to be 802.11b/g/n should play perfectly
well with anything else.

 

I recently tried to add an Asus Netbook to my network. I had no joy and then
found that my main laptop wouldn't link either (even though it had been fine
for a year or more). Both devices were seeing the network but would not link
up. The solution was that somehow my Lynksys router had mysteriously
switched to channel 6 - when I changed it to channel 9 everything suddenly
worked.

Hth.

 

sweller took a blunt brush and painted...

I suspect Toshiba have installed their own WiFi manager software.

Either use that to configure and control the connection, or find the option
in the Toshiba software that lets Windows control the WiFi connection, or
uninstall the Toshiba WiFi software.

Doing the latter may also uninstall the drivers, so make sure you're
connected to the net via wired LAN as Windows will need to go re-install the
WiFi drivers (but not the Toshiba WiFi control app).

Last resort is to uninstall all the Toshiba WiFi crap, post the VEN_ and DEV_
(vendor and device) codes for the WiFi chipset (from device manager) and
someone here can identify the WiFi chipset and point you to the correct
drivers.