Hey cazsss--
Was it ever working correctly? You could try a restore point if so and you
have one before it stopped working.
Is there a light that comes on (something like a green lite) when the switch
is on?
Try your laptop at different
locations and of course make sure the switch is on. I don't know what
stores you have access to but walking your laptop into several of them
without formally paying a technician for a session is the way I'd go there.
Whatever your card/adapter is, I guarantee you there are detailed
illustrated instructions on more than one website if you just google for
them.
In the search box above start button type cmd>when cmd pops up right click
it and select "run as admin">and at the command prompt type without quotes
"ipconfig /release" then type "ipconfig /renew" (space is after ipconfig).
This will make the laptop try to pull an IP address.
Does your card show up in device manager when you hit the Windows key +R and
type devmgmt.msc in the run box?
Type services.msc in the run box and see if there is a wireless zero
configuration service and highlight it>right click it and set it automatic
and start it.
Make sure the card is configured correctly.
I want you to follow this MSKB to reset your TCP/IP stack:
How to reset Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/299357
Either right click the Network icon in your notification area (lower right
by the clock) or go to control panel and click Network and Sharing Center
and both view the map and click the hyperlink on the left for "diagnose and
repair."
Also run SFC which can fix many things on a Windows box:
***SFC as a Remedy***:
SFC or System File Checker is a bit like the spare tire in your car or a
backup battery I suppose. In Vista of course, they have changed it somewhat
and come up with a new name--Redmond stands for name it something different
twice a year and now it's part of WRP or Windows Resource Protection. It
scans protected resources including thousands of files, libraries, critical
folders, and essential registry keys, and it replaces those that are
corrupted with intact ones. It fixes a lot of problems in Windows XP, OE,
Windows Vista, Win Mail, IE6, and on Vista or if it is installed on XP, IE7.
It protects these things from changes by any source including
administrators, by keeping a spare of most of them.
How to Run SFC:
Type "cmd" into the Search box above the Start Button>and when cmd comes up
at the top of the Start menu>right click cmd and click "run as Admin" and
when the cmd prompt comes up at the cmd prompt type "sfc /scannow" no quotes
and let it run. This may fix things quite a bit. It replaces corrupt files
with intact ones, if you're not familiar with it.
Just strolling into a Best Buy's or a Fry's type store close to you and
having someone knowledgable take a look unless you can corner a friend
familiar with laptops would be the way I'd go there.
Also on any IE window, go to Tools>Internet Options>Connections tab and
check the settings at the settings button and the lan settings button or get
someone in the store to do this who knows them and see if things are
correctly set there.
Good luck,
CH
