Unable to find wireless network after reinstalling WinXP

[Idaven]

Hi Guys

Google has kindly sent me here when trying to solve the problem - I can't find the exact same one so I thought I'd post it up and hope someone can help.

As requested in the sticky:

I have two PC's running off a wireless network (cable connection, NTL/Telewest) On the same day, I reformatted one and bought a new HD for the other and reinstalled windows xp pro on both. I then installed all the usual drivers, including the wireless network card (exactly same card in both, used same installation CD) The PC I am sat at instantly scanned for nearby wireless networks, and found mine no problem and let me connect. The other PC simply does not find any nearby wireless networks, and when I try and rescan only does so for a second or so before saying none found. The "problem" pc worked fine on the same network only a few weeks ago.

I've tried rebooting modem/router/pc, disabling all router security, reinstalling all drivers, to no avail.

Modem is Motorola Surfboard SB5100i

Router is Belkin (sigh) F5D7230-4

Wireless adapters: Safecom Wlan SWLPT-54108

Are you using Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) - no idea how to find the answer to this :S

Both PC's running Windows XP SP1

IP address that is working is 192.168.2.2

Running "cmd /k ipconfig" on the PC that isn't connecting says:
Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection: Media Disconnected

Ethernet adapter Wireless Network Connection: Media Disconnected (i'm thinking the problem lies somewhere here ;) )

And no, I could not ping my default gateway.


Thanks in advance,

Ian

[degsy]

Welcome :)

Are the PCs next to each other?
It could just be that the PC cannot find the wirelless signal

As a test you can enter the details manually.
In the Lan connection you can set the IP address and default gateway.
Copy the details from the other PC, but use a different IP address.

Then choose to setup a new wireless connection manually. Enter the SSID and any encryption details.


I've never used that manufacturer before. Are you using their utility?
http://www.safecom.cn/code/product/WLAN/scan-for-wireless/Scanning-for-existing-infastructures.html

[Idaven]

Hi, thanks for the fast reply. Both PC's are in a small appartment, this one is about 2 metres from the router, and the one that isn't working is about 4-5 metres from it. Neither have been moved since the re-install.

How do I enter those details manually in Lan connection?

I tried to set up a new wireless connection but without doing the one above I don't think it will work...i only managed to set it as a preferred network under the advanced settings I got to by clicking the wireless connection icon in the systray...

As for the utility, yes thats the one I'm using and hitting rescan...it seems to scan for about 1 second before saying none found. I have also disabled that and used the WZC and got the same result.

[degsy]

For the windows one you can use the wireless wizard and choose to connect manually. You will then be able to enter the connection details.

[Idaven]

I really shouldn't post this, but i think i've fixed it...did the manual connection thing, then googled "media state disconnected" and followed about half a dozen fixes til i managed to connect.

Will let u know if I have reduced speed etc.

Thanks again for the fast replies :)

[Idaven]

Running "ok"...had one d/c in about 1 hour so far

And my download speed is down to 200k/sec when it used to be 1100k/sec

Speed varying between 24 - 48 Mbs when i mouse over the systray icon, when it used to be a solid 54Mbs.

any ideas?

cheers

[degsy]

What fix did you use?

[Idaven]

I think therein lies the problem, i got a little frantic and tried about 5- fixes, obtained by googling "media state disconnected" which was the root of the problem, and now I can't recall exactly what I did do.

What I do remember is enabling mac filtering on the router, followed by a /ipconfig flushdns command...I then manually changed the settings as you instructed, but this time I used a preferred DNS that I found on the other PC.

A final reboot of this PC (i'm on the one that wasn't working earlier now) and it worked, albeit a lot slower :S