Wireless Network

[M3akdawg]

I don't even klnow if I will be able to explain this problem correctly, but
here goes...

I have 2 desktop PC's and a laptop at home, which are all on the one
network. My PC (Windows Vista Home Premium) and the laptop (Windows Vista
Home Premium) both connect to the network wirelessly but the other PC
(Windows XP Home Edition) needs an ethernet cable. The other PC (Windows XP
Home Edition) that needs the ethernet cable cannot connect wirelessly so I
bought a Belkin Wireless G USB Network Adapter and installed the software and
drivers for it. When I follow the commands here -
http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-GB/help/baab4f1a-2461-482d-bb2e-c996a197e35f1033.mspx
- To manually add a wireless computer running Windows XP - I can only get as
far as Stage 5. When I go to complete Stage 6 I come on a problem, it asks me
to click the wireless network connection icon... there isn't one. I thought
the Belkin Wireless G USB Network Adapter would allow the other PC (Windows
XP Home Edition) to connect to the network wirelessly?

I was told to come here by the Vista Support Forum.

Any help will be much appreciated.

Cheers, Matt.

 

[Malke]

I don't even klnow if I will be able to explain this problem correctly,
but here goes...

I have 2 desktop PC's and a laptop at home, which are all on the one
network. My PC (Windows Vista Home Premium) and the laptop (Windows Vista
Home Premium) both connect to the network wirelessly but the other PC
(Windows XP Home Edition) needs an ethernet cable. The other PC (Windows
XP Home Edition) that needs the ethernet cable cannot connect wirelessly
so I bought a Belkin Wireless G USB Network Adapter and installed the
software and drivers for it. When I follow the commands here -
http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-GB/help/baab4f1a-2461-482d-bb2e-c996a197e35f1033.mspx
- To manually add a wireless computer running Windows XP - I can only get
as far as Stage 5. When I go to complete Stage 6 I come on a problem, it
asks me to click the wireless network connection icon... there isn't one.
I thought the Belkin Wireless G USB Network Adapter would allow the other
PC (Windows XP Home Edition) to connect to the network wirelessly?

I was told to come here by the Vista Support Forum.

What a great, informative post. Thank you.

You don't need to do any of that to use the XP computer wirelessly. You
installed the Belkin software and drivers already. Start the Belkin
software and it should see your home wireless network. Presumably you've
unplugged the ethernet cable from the back of the computer already. Click
on "connect" and you should be presented with a screen where you can enter
your encryption key/passphrase. Do so and you will connect. Start surfing.

Malke

 

[M3akdawg]

I currently have the ethernet cable plugged in and the Belkin device is not
picking up the wireless network. So if I unplug the cable the Belkin device
should pick up the network?

 

[Malke]

I currently have the ethernet cable plugged in and the Belkin device is
not picking up the wireless network. So if I unplug the cable the Belkin
device should pick up the network?

No, the Belkin adapter should be be active whether the ethernet cable is
connected or not. When you look at available networks using the Belkin
software, do you see any? Exactly which Belkin adapter do you have (model
so I can look it up on Belkin's website)? Where is the computer located in
relation to the wireless router?

Malke

 

[M3akdawg]

I have a Belkin Wireless G USB Network Adapter.

When I click on the Belkin Wireless USBUtility it doesn't display any
networks. The computer is connected to the network, by the ethernet cable,
but the Belkin Wireless Utility says it is'nt.

The Router is in one bedroom, and the computer is another, no more than 10
metres away, on the same level.

 

[Malke]

I have a Belkin Wireless G USB Network Adapter.

When I click on the Belkin Wireless USBUtility it doesn't display any
networks. The computer is connected to the network, by the ethernet cable,
but the Belkin Wireless Utility says it is'nt.

The Router is in one bedroom, and the computer is another, no more than 10
metres away, on the same level.

Are you broadcasting your SSID? You should be and if you are and the other
wireless computers can connect, then the Belkin isn't working. Uninstall
and reinstall it according to the manual. If after you do that it still
doesn't see any wireless networks, contact Belkin tech support.

Malke

 

[M3akdawg]

All I need now is my network key but I don't know where to find it. I type in
my IP address and end up at the routers page but it doesn't tell me my
network key.

 

[M3akdawg]

I have got this kinda sorted out now, but... when I use the Belkin thing it
doesn't find any connections, then when I disable it and start the Windows
Zero Configuration it finds the connections and allows me to connect.
However, when I restart the computer the connection is lost and the computer
uses the Belkin thing to try find the connections which again, it doesnt. I
then have to use the Windows Zero Configuration thing again. Is there any way
of getting around this?

 

[Jack [MVP-Networking]]

Hi
Since you know that it is basically working.
Disable the Belkin Utility and use WZC (if you wish so).
If your Ethernet cable is still connected you can tune it like this.
http://www.ezlan.net/metrics.html
If WZC does not start, http://www.ezlan.net/wzc.html
Jack (MS, MVP-Networking).

 

[M3akdawg]

But I'm going to have to do that each time I turn the PC on. I have to
disable the Belkin Wireless USB Utility thing to use WZC, every time. When I
open the Belkin Wireless USB Utility and select the "Use the Windows XP
Standard Utility" option the Belkin Wireless USB Utility does not let me
apply the changes. Also, when I right click the Belkin Wireless USB Utility
icon in the taskbar there is no disable option, it will however allow me to
disable WZC.

 

[Malke]

But I'm going to have to do that each time I turn the PC on. I have to
disable the Belkin Wireless USB Utility thing to use WZC, every time. When
I open the Belkin Wireless USB Utility and select the "Use the Windows XP
Standard Utility" option the Belkin Wireless USB Utility does not let me
apply the changes. Also, when I right click the Belkin Wireless USB
Utility icon in the taskbar there is no disable option, it will however
allow me to disable WZC.

No, you're not going to need to disable the Belkin wireless utility every
time you restart the computer. All wireless adapters have their own
utilities and you have a choice whether to use it or the one in Windows.
Refer to your manual or contact Belkin tech support. I've installed quite a
few Belkin wireless adapters for people and never use the Belkin utility.
Remove the Belkin utility from Startup.

Malke

 

[M3akdawg]

How do I remove it from startup and replace it with WZC?

 

[M3akdawg]

It's sorted for now, cheers for your help lads.

How do I remove it from startup and replace it with WZC?