computer people, wireless not working, need help

[orangecounty1 10+ year member]

ok i usually don't have to ask about stuff like this, but i cannot get this one working...a friend of mine has a Compaq presario c500 laptop. had XP on it when i got it, but was all screwed up (virus' etc) so he decided just to reformat. i couldnt do a restore becuase the factory restore partition is vista which he didnt want, so i installed xp. everything works, all drivers are installed, but its gotta be the wrong wireless one. it shows its installed fine, the wireless networks are recognized, but when i go to connect, it either says its out of range, or itll just say "validating network" or something of that sort, and the little gold ball will just stay spinning around on the network icon in the system tray, and never connect.

now, thats if the network is protected. if its an unsecured network, itll connect fine. i tethered to my phone and it works. if i encrypt the wireless tether on my phone, itll say its out of range and not connect.

what the fk? i've never encountered this before. any help will be appreciated, i've tried muliple different drivers and searched online and cant find a solution. im about to boot it up now, so ill post the wireless card hardware ID in a minute.

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[Kangaroux 5,000+ posts]

you tried release/renew in the command prompt?

 

[subzero 5,000+ posts]

so is your computer picking up any signals?

 

[orangecounty1 10+ year member]

it see's all the wireless networks in range, yes.

 

[orangecounty1 10+ year member]

you tried release/renew in the command prompt?

no, but i dont see how that would help. its not just one network, its any wireless network with a password it WONT connect to, but will connect to any unsecured network. so its not just like my friends home network that hes having an issue with, so i dont think release/renew would do anything.

 

[Kangaroux 5,000+ posts]

no, but i dont see how that would help. its not just one network, its any wireless network with a password it WONT connect to, but will connect to any unsecured network. so its not just like my friends home network that hes having an issue with, so i dont think release/renew would do anything.

i've had a couple instances where there was some setting that got changed for my network connection and it didn't allow me to connect

 

[subzero 5,000+ posts]

Then reset the modem and start a new setup.

 

[Kangaroux 5,000+ posts]

Then reset the modem and start a new setup.

you talking to me or the OP? when i say a network setting got changed i meant in the preferences for my comp not the modem/router

 

[subzero 5,000+ posts]

no, but i dont see how that would help. its not just one network, its any wireless network with a password it WONT connect to, but will connect to any unsecured network. so its not just like my friends home network that hes having an issue with, so i dont think release/renew would do anything.

been there doen all that. You need to reset the modem and enter new pw and all that jazz. The apply pw to computer when it prompts you for it at time of aquiring connection. Sounds like your virus attacked the modem. I had to do this to my wireless modem a few times. then I went out and bought Kaspersky... no issues since.

 

[orangecounty1 10+ year member]

its any network not just his home network!!

this sounds like what's happening. and microsoft's "work around" doesnt work!

You cannot connect to a wireless network access point that uses shared authentication from a Windows XP-based computer or a Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005-based Tablet PC

 

[subzero 5,000+ posts]

like I said, been there done that. no issues since. A few times before I had to complete reinstall my os. But this last time worked good. I just restricted alot of stuff that went back on.

 

[orangecounty1 10+ year member]

so you're suggesting a reformat? its a fresh install with a disc i've used probably for over 100 installed lol

 

[wickedwitt 10+ year member]

its any network not just his home network!!
this sounds like what's happening. and microsoft's "work around" doesnt work!

You cannot connect to a wireless network access point that uses shared authentication from a Windows XP-based computer or a Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005-based Tablet PC

This is correct, Tablets from 05 can only support no authentication networks and/or enterprise mode. They weren't designed for shared key because MS didn't see the use in them bouncing from wifi to wifi when they were built.

 

[orangecounty1 10+ year member]

this laptop was working fine with the wireless and XP installed previously.

ive installed XP on NUMEROUS laptops, from very old ones, to new ones, and never had a problem connecting to any secured network. why is this issue all of a sudden coming up?

 

[orangecounty1 10+ year member]

anyone else?