Wireless connection available but unavailable

[Brad Newton]

I'm running XP pro and using an Intel 2011B PCMCIA
card... last week I could connect to my D-Link DI-614+
wireless network (no encryption, advanced 4x mode turned
off) when I was using W2k on the same machine. After the
upgrade the network is detected, and it gives all
appearances of letting me connect after I check
the 'Allow me to connect to the selected wireless
network, even though it is not secure' box.

I've checked to make sure that the zero config service is
running (Thanks Barb Bowman for that tip)... and it is.
On the 'Wireless Networks' tab of the wireless network
connection properties dialog my wireless network shows
up... and it's listed in the 'Preferred Networks' list.
When I go to the configuration dialog for the connection
I've selected "Open" for the Network Authentication
and "Disabled" for data encryption. WEP on the router is
also turned off. The Authentication tab is completely
grayed out.

The drivers for the wireless card are digitally signed,
HCL certified and all that good stuff... but on the
properties dialog for the adapter there's not a tab that
lets me manually enter a SSID. I think there used to be
something here in W2K.... I've tried uninstalling and
reinstalling the drivers... and updating to the non-WHLC
drivers.... nothing changes.

When I upgraded to XP, my company's upgrade package
included McAfee desktop firewall... it was messing up a
lot of other things and was preventing the detection of
any wireless networks. I uninstalled it and now I can
see, but not connect to, networks at home and at work.

Any ideas?

 

[Barb Bowman [MVP-Windows]]

does it work if you use encryption? you REALLY need security on
wireless.

 

[Brad Newton]

Unfortunately I get the same symptoms with encryption
enabled. The little balloon pops up from the tray icon
letting me know that wireless networks are available, I
can select my network from the dialog box (now I have to
enter the key instead of checking the 'connect to this
unsecured network' box), click 'connect' and then the
dialog goes away. About two seconds later I get the same
balloon from the tray letting me know a network is
available...

Any other ideas?

Thanks

 

[Barb Bowman [MVP-Windows]]

are you broadcsting your SSID? does
http://go.msmvps.com/l.aspx?linkid=102 apply to you? have you talked
to your IT department as well?

 

[Brad Newton]

Thanks Barb-
I am broadcasting my SSID, and the advice from my IT
department was to turn off the zero config and use
Intel's PROSet utility to connect. The Intel utility
works - I am able to make and maintain a wireless
connection for hours with no trouble. I would prefer to
stick to the built-in tools with XP, but at this point I
(and my IT department) am stumped.

 

[Barb Bowman [MVP-Windows]]

According to the Google search I just did, this seems to be a common
enough complaint for folks with this particular Intel card. Some have
solved the problem by completely removing the Intel utility, others
have not. On the other hand, I've seen various reports about different
experiences with the DLink 22mbps products where sometimes the older
firmware is more stable with non DLink cards than newer firmware.

Sorry I can't help more.