Need help fixing wireless connection?

Question

I'm having trouble connecting to wireless networks (all of them, not just mine). Windows does not see any networks, although other programs do, and I cannot connect to any network unless I go into preferred networks and manually enter the SSID. Then it sometimes connects, and sometimes just drops all preferred network information it had saved.When it does connect, it still refuses to acknowledge the connection or that there is even a network. I think the problem started yesterday, as it spent the day in an eternal state of "Aquiring Network Address" although I could still browse the web (with no network address it seems).

Other relevant information: Windows XP SP2, no new hardware or software added anytime near the start of the problem.

Any suggestions on how to fix this would be greatly appreciated...

Scanned, rebooted for the 4th time, still doesn't see any networks, although it did automatically connect this time. I have no system restore set, because I really can't spare the space right now. Any other ideas?

Reinstalled the drivers from the recovery disc, still same problem. It's an Atheros AR5005G Wireless Network Adapter in case that helps, on a Toshiba L35-S2161 laptop.

Answer 1

Have you tried "re-installing" the wireless driver? If the driver gets corrupted this will happen.

Since you didn't say what type of adapter I don't know what else to tell you other than re-install whatever driver is for your adapter!

You can try just deleting the adapter from the Device Manager, reboot and let windows reload the driver it has stored (sometimes works) but if it were me I would reload the actual driver, either from the restore cd, the install cd, etc.

If you still have an issue you may just have a bad adapter although that is rare.

Added: well with all you have said, it sounds like the adapter has failed, you may need to replace the card. Its a plug in on the Toshiba. You might try and see if it is "set" into the socket correctly or if the "antenna" has become unplugged (internally, its just a wire that plugs to the card)?

Answer 2

shut down the connection with firewall or unplug from the modem and run malicious software detection tool from windows or use your virus scan this could be an aquired glitch like sasser or a trojan sharing wireless connections in a network mean you can get illnesses OK run several and then check the last setting by running the restore back to a day or two before the glitch avoid the cleaning problem that way just acessaries and restore OK