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General discussion

Belkin Wireless USB software stopped working on Win 2000

Jun 1, 2005 2:13AM PDT

I succesfully set up a Belkin 7050 Wireless usb adapter on my Windows 2000 pro PC and connected it to my wireless network fine. For some reason the Belkin Monitor software suddenly stopped functioning so the PC no longer sees the usb adapter and I can't connect to my router. I've tried uninstalling and reinstalling many times with no success. On installation everything looks ok until it runs the Belkin wireless monitor which just seems to unload straight away. I don't get any error messages to indicate a problem but it just doesn't see the adapter when I plug it in. I would assume a hardware fault if the wireless monitor wqas running.
I was running the latest virus software with daily updates up until it stopped working. Any ideas as to what might cause this?

Discussion is locked

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2 reasons I run into all the time.
Jun 1, 2005 2:38AM PDT

1. The motherboard or USB drivers are out of date, not installed or the ports died.

2. The USB device was dropped and is now dead.

Bob

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Neither unfortunately
Jun 1, 2005 7:29PM PDT

The Adapter was working initially so it's not the motherboard or drivers. I'm sure the adapter is still ok it's the software that's not running. On originally installing it, the Belkin wireless monitor starts to run and then it asks you to plug in the device. The Belkin wireless monitor now doesn't load properly as I can see it starting in the task bar then disappearing. Without the software running the adapter is not detected. I just don't understand why it should suddenly stop working. I'm uptodate on virus software so I don't think it's that.

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Lightbulbs do that too.
Jun 1, 2005 8:56PM PDT

You didn't convince me that the device is working.

Bob

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Not if you buy energy saving ones with a 10 year guarantee
Jun 2, 2005 1:51AM PDT

Ok, we can't definately say the device is still working although I'm 99% sure it is however, the software is installed before you plug in the device and as it finishes, the Belkin wireless monitor loads and it's icon appears in the system tray. It's after that that it asks you to plug the thing in. That's what should happen but, it doesn't anymore. It was fine until the Belkin monitor stopped loading properly on boot up, I can see it starting to load because it appears briefly in the taskbar then nothing, no system tray icon. Without the monitor software running the device is not seen. As I said, I've since then uninstalled/reinstalled a few times with no success although I never get any error messages.

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If this was mine.
Jun 2, 2005 1:56AM PDT

I'd test it on another machine.

I'd also apply (again) the latest Service Pack for Windows 2000, run Windows update and maybe the WINSOCKFIX you use to repair spyware/malware damage that is too rampant. I'd also double check and install the motherboard drivers.

After all that the latest drivers for said device and if not, go get something else.

Bob

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more details
Jun 2, 2005 2:15AM PDT

I'm using the latest Belkin driver software.

Can't update Win 2000 as I can't get online cos me wireless is broke, doh! (I can only get online at work for the moment)

Now for ome more details, I was originally going to install the adapter on a Windows XP machine (not the same one) with no success at all it gave me the same erors I am now getting here but, having bought 2 of the same adapters I tried the second to no avail until I saw that the second one had a part no of 7050a written on the back of it instead of just 7050 although they are both sold as a standard Belkin 7050 wireless USB adapter. Using the software that came with the 7050a it worked perfectly for the Windows XP machine.

Thinking that the first adapter was probably dead I tried to install it on my home Windows 2000 pc and low and behold it worked up until this latest failure.

Whats WINSOCKFIX? Sounds interesting, I was leaning more towards some sort of malware prob but without internet access at home it's difficult for me to get any updated software to check for it.

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A link about Winsockfix.
Jun 2, 2005 2:36AM PDT
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ah, now we are getting to the root of the problem...
Jun 2, 2005 2:38AM PDT
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close but no cigar
Jun 3, 2005 1:53AM PDT

I had spotted that thread before posting this message and took the details of the fix. Although the errant registry entries were there but getting rid of them didn't solve the problem unfortunately.

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I own an WUSB-11.
Jun 3, 2005 2:15AM PDT

And it was flighty on the install too. You had to perform the install dance perfectly or you got to dive into the registry.

In fact, at this point its either a dead part, flakey USB, you have it on some hub, you have multiple registry entries or its dead.

-> I'd unplug it and reboot. Then uninstall it and reboot. Finally I'd dive into regedit and manually delete the matching linksys or dlink entries. Some in the LEGACY area will not delete, so leave those.

Now begin the install again.

-> If you didn't update or reinstall the motherboard drivers then you may have passed up an easy issue.

Bob

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Edit that to note...
Jun 3, 2005 2:15AM PDT

The Belkin registry entries.

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and to add...
Jun 3, 2005 2:25AM PDT

because the root of the problem with these particular items is that they look the same, have the same basic model number on the package, etc. but are two very different pieces of hardware that can only be distinguished by a close reading of the tiny label on the bottom - be very careful that you have the proper driver CD for the exact piece you are holding in your hand. Then follow the install sequence to the letter after having fully uninstalled any previous attempts and manually deleted the remaining registry entries.

dw

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And the winner is...
Jun 5, 2005 10:16PM PDT

I thought it was something to do with the registy entries as each time I had uninstalled it and cleaned the registry, there were always a couple of Belkin things left behind that couldn't be deleted.
Winsockfix has solved the problem. After I ran it the wifi adapter installed without a hitch.
Thanks for the link.

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I would look for the latest software....
Jun 1, 2005 10:15PM PDT

from Belkins website. Often times an updated version will fix some inexplicable problem. Then I might load it into another machine, to eliminate any unseen problems in the PC as the source of the issue.

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Same suggestion for the motherboard.
Jun 1, 2005 10:34PM PDT

Motherboard driver packages seem to trip up people. Even seasoned owners were never told about these drivers.

Bob

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Latest software
Jun 2, 2005 1:56AM PDT

I got the latest driver software from Belkin but it was exactly the same.

I didn't think of the motherboard drivers because it was working fine originally and they haven't changed since before it was working.

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That's a common response. Here's mine.
Jun 2, 2005 2:04AM PDT

Microsoft updates can make subtle changes. You may be passing up a cure.

Bob