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General discussion

Lost my notebook wireless network

Mar 21, 2005 4:09AM PST

I'm using a Gateway M520S notebook and 5200S desktop (both purchased within 2 months) I set up the home network with a Linksys wireless G 2.4 mh router and all worked fine until last week. Now, my notebook can't see my network, and is unable to connect to any wireless network. It also is now unable to see any wireless networks in range, even though I am sitting next to my desktop or at work.

I've spoken to both Linksys and Gateway and tried to work out the problem. Finally, Gateway suggests returning the notebook to them as they think it could be a bad wireless card or other bad internal issue that they have to open up the notebook to see.

anything else I should do before I return to Gateway and wait 2 weeks for my notebook to return? Thanks

Discussion is locked

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The only test I can conceive...
Mar 21, 2005 7:04AM PST

is to add a PCMCIA or USB wireless adapter and see if that works. A positive response would eliminate a software problem and point to a failing onboard wireless adapter.

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Gosh, I just found one laying on the floor here...
Mar 22, 2005 11:12AM PST

though it was hard to see unless the light was just right and I was looking from just the right direction Devil No, seriously, did you try removing the wireless network device in Device Manager and then rebooting so that Windows will reinstall the driver? I had a flaky situation like yours shortly after getting one of my laptops, but reinstalling the driver solved the problem. There is also some known flakiness with the WindowsXp Wireless Zero Configuration service, which could have gotten bollixed up somehow. Did you work through the all the wireless network properties stuff with the tech support rep?

Otherwise, I agree with Bob's suggestion - borrow a PC Card or USB device to test your system to be certain there isn't an operating system misconfiguration or something unhappy with the router access point.

dw