lost wireless connection
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From: Jo-Anne on 10 Dec 2009 00:25 "Lem" <lemp40(a)unknownhost> wrote in message news:%23kTBFYVeKHA.5224(a)TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl... > Jo-Anne wrote: >> "Danny Kile" <kiledanny(a)NOSPAMnetscape.net> wrote in message >> news:O0uQUiSeKHA.4112(a)TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl... >>> Jo-Anne wrote: >>>> "Danny Kile"<kiledanny(a)NOSPAMnetscape.net> wrote in message >>>> news:epVM$lHeKHA.1824(a)TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl... >>>>> Jo-Anne wrote: >>>>>> "Danny Kile"<kiledanny(a)NOSPAMnetscape.net> wrote in message >>>>>> news:%23jvFdrGeKHA.4112(a)TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl... >>>>>>> Jo-Anne wrote: >>>>>>>> My new Toshiba netbook running WinXP SP3 arrived yesterday. I >>>>>>>> "connected" >>>>>>>> it >>>>>>>> to my wireless router by clicking on the wireless connection icon >>>>>>>> in >>>>>>>> the >>>>>>>> system tray, picking my network from the ones available, and typing >>>>>>>> in >>>>>>>> my >>>>>>>> key. It worked fine yesterday and this morning. Suddenly, this >>>>>>>> afternoon, >>>>>>>> I >>>>>>>> can't get connected to anything. When I hover the cursor over the >>>>>>>> icon, >>>>>>>> I >>>>>>>> am >>>>>>>> told "Wireless connection unavailable." >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> My desktop computer and my other laptop are working fine. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> I phoned my ISP and was told there could be some interference and I >>>>>>>> should >>>>>>>> bring in the router and the netbook to have something changed (the >>>>>>>> channel >>>>>>>> maybe?). >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Is there anything I can try on my own rather than taking everything >>>>>>>> to >>>>>>>> the >>>>>>>> shop? Could I have done something to screw up the connection in the >>>>>>>> course >>>>>>>> of setting up something else? Is there any chance that one of the >>>>>>>> automatic >>>>>>>> updates could have done something? (I downloaded and installed all >>>>>>>> of >>>>>>>> the >>>>>>>> high-priority Windows updates this morning.) >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Thank you! >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Jo-Anne >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>> You stated that you desktop and other laptop are working, but you >>>>>>> did >>>>>>> not >>>>>>> say that they are connected wirelessly or through Ethernet cable. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Put your mouse back over the wireless network icon and right click, >>>>>>> then >>>>>>> left click "View Available Wireless Networks". Are there any >>>>>>> wireless >>>>>>> networks listed, the one you connected to earlier or perhaps a >>>>>>> neighbors, >>>>>>> anything at all? If not click Refresh Network List, and see if that >>>>>>> get >>>>>>> you anything. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> On some netbook and laptops there is a physical switch for turning >>>>>>> off >>>>>>> the >>>>>>> wireless network adapter radio, and on some there is a key >>>>>>> combination >>>>>>> to >>>>>>> do this, you would need to check you owners manual for this. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Please post the make and model of the netbook. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Danny >>>>>> Thank you, Danny! I've been thinking it's probably something I did. I >>>>>> was >>>>>> playing with the FN key. The computer didn't come with a manual, and >>>>>> I've >>>>>> only now located one online for the series. >>>>>> >>>>>> What I bought is the Toshiba Mini NB205-N310. It has Bluetooth, and >>>>>> I'm >>>>>> unfamiliar with that. I suspect I should print out the entire >>>>>> 207-page >>>>>> manual for reference. I just found something in the manual about >>>>>> using >>>>>> the >>>>>> FN key + F8 to enable and disable the optional wireless devices >>>>>> installed >>>>>> in >>>>>> the computer. But so far it hasn't worked to change anything. >>>>>> >>>>>> My desktop computer is connected physically to the wireless router. >>>>>> My >>>>>> other >>>>>> laptop is connected wirelessly to the router. I can't choose a >>>>>> wireless >>>>>> network on the netbook; when I right-click on the icon, where I'd >>>>>> normally >>>>>> get a list of networks, what I get instead is "Windows cannot >>>>>> configure >>>>>> this >>>>>> wireless connection. If you have enabled another problem to configure >>>>>> this >>>>>> wireless connection, use that software." >>>>>> >>>>>> Any idea of what I should try next? >>>>>> >>>>>> Thank you again! >>>>>> >>>>>> Jo-Anne >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>> The FN key + F8 will turn the radio on/off. >>>>> >>>>> When the Wireless antenna is ON, the wireless indicator light will >>>>> be lit. Be sure it is on. >>>>> >>>>> The message "Windows cannot configure this wireless connection. If you >>>>> have enabled another program to configure this wireless connection, >>>>> use >>>>> that software." For this you need to mouse over the other Icons on the >>>>> task bar, this would be down by the clock. Look for an icon indicating >>>>> the >>>>> wireless adapter. You may need to use this to configure the >>>>> connection. >>>>> However, I prefer to use this utility to tell windows to use the >>>>> Windows >>>>> Wireless Utility and not use the Network Adapter Utility. It would >>>>> seem >>>>> that somehow the switch was made from the Windows Utility to the >>>>> Vendors >>>>> Adapter Utility. >>>>> >>>>> Danny, >>>> Fixed--so far. Today I called Toshiba support, and the tech person said >>>> to >>>> do a System Restore to before I had downloaded all the Windows Updates >>>> (47 >>>> of them). He was sure they were at fault--and he said, remarkably, that >>>> I >>>> shouldn't download any Windows Updates in the future. I told him he was >>>> crazy (I did it politely). Doing a Restore did restore my connectivity. >>>> At >>>> that point, I started installing the updates, 5 at a time. I finally >>>> finished installing all of them, and I still have my wireless >>>> connection. >>>> Any idea of what I could have done yesterday that disabled it? >>>> >>>> Thank you! >>>> >>>> Jo-Anne >>>> >>>> >>> Well, I am glad for you that you are now up and running. Yes, I would >>> agree with you that the Toshiba Tech was crazy, you should keep you PC >>> up to date. It looks to me that something had changed your Network >>> Adapter Software from the Windows software to the Toshiba software. >>> >>> What I was going to have you do is set it so the Windows Software >>> controlled you Wireless Network Connection. To do that you would do the >>> following. Right click on My Computer then Left click on Manage. In the >>> Computer Management Window that open in the left column, Left click on >>> the plus sign next to Services and Applications to expand it. Then left >>> click on Service. Now this window usually comes up rather small so >>> expand it. Now on the right side of this window is a list of all the >>> services, scroll down to the very bottom. Now near the bottom look for a >>> service called "Wireless Zero Configuration". Now double click on the >>> Wireless Zero Configuration service to open the properties box. Now look >>> at the center of the window and find Startup Type and set this to >>> Automatic. Now just below that you will see Service Status click on the >>> Start button to start it. >>> >>> Now this is all mute because you are up and running already. However, if >>> you feel adventurous feel free to explore. You could go in and create a >>> restore point first that way you can do a system restore if need be. >>> >>> Happy Computing, >>> >>> Danny >>> >>> >> Thank you, Danny! I think you're exactly right that somehow I set up >> Toshiba's program to handle wireless and then didn't know what to do with >> it. (There were some pretty weird visuals on my screen.) When I'm feeling >> less stressed--and after I get Outlook Express up and running, which >> probably means doing something to set up my network--I'll go through the >> steps you've outlined. In fact, I'm printing the information right now. >> >> Thank you again! >> >> Jo-Anne > > Just to add a bit to Danny's advice ... the issue isn't just making sure > that Windows Wireless Zero Configuration service is started and set to > automatic, but *also* making sure that the Toshiba wireless configuration > utility is not running. > > Some people like the non-Windows wireless utility because it often has > features that Windows doesn't include. For example, if I recall correctly, > the Toshiba utility has a screen that shows all of the available wireless > networks as icons located on a series of concentric circles, to > graphically indicate the relative signal strength. On the other hand, > although Windows wireless zero configuration may not have as many bells > and whistles, it generally works well for the functions it does have. > > Typically, manufacturer-specific wireless utilities have an option > somewhere that says, in effect, "let Windows do it." This should be > explained somewhere in your user's guide. You don't have to print it all > out; use the search function to search for "wireless." Or just > right-click on all the icons in the notification area (near the clock) > until you find one that sounds like a wireless configuration utility and > then find its "options" or "settings" menu. > > -- > Lem > > Apollo 11 - 40 years ago: > http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/apollo/40th/index.html Thank you, Lem! That's a very clear explanation. I know I must have started using the Toshiba utility because I did get the concentric circles--but I lost my wireless connection somehow. I'm almost afraid to click on the utility again in any way--but I'll do that after I check the manual, so I can make sure I set up the Windows version. Simplicity means a lot to me. I don't need all the bells and whistles. Jo-Anne |