No Networks Found

22 Jan 2009 4:10 PM

OldButStillLearning

I was having problems with my XP, so I decided to wipe it all out, reformat
the hard drive and start fresh.
After installing XP Pro and then applying SP 3, I wanted to test my wireless
connection. When I looked but I could find no evidence that XP even
recognized that I had a wireless device. I then downloaded the Intel Proset
Wireless software and installed and then I went to HP web site and downloaded
a Broadcom 802.11 wireless adapter driver for the hardware device.
Now when I go to "My Network Places" I see links there for wireless and when
I view wireless networks, it does not find any, but it should. This appears
to me to be the Microsoft version of the software which handles the wireless
connection, I can find no evidence of the intel Proset Wireless drivers,
nothing shows in system tray and nothing in the list of installed programs.
There definitely is a wireless network which it should see, but it does not.
Where do I go from here?

22 Jan 2009 4:30 PM

pickwth

On Jan 22, 4:10 pm, OldButStillLearning
<OldButStillLearn***@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
Show quoteHide quote

> I was having problems with my XP, so I decided to wipe it all out, reformat
> the hard drive and start fresh.
> After installing XP Pro and then applying SP 3, I wanted to test my wireless
> connection. When I looked but I could find no evidence that XP even
> recognized that I had a wireless device. I then downloaded the Intel Proset
> Wireless software and installed and then I went to HP web site and downloaded
> a Broadcom 802.11 wireless adapter driver for the hardware device.
> Now when I go to "My Network Places" I see links there for wireless and when
> I view wireless networks, it does not find any, but it should. This appears
> to me to be the Microsoft version of the software which handles the wireless
> connection, I can find no evidence of the intel Proset Wireless drivers,
> nothing shows in system tray and nothing in the list of installed programs.
> There definitely is a wireless network which it should see, but it does not.
> Where do I go from here?

1. If your Wireless adapter is a Broadcom, you do not need / should
remove the Intel Proset software.

2. so long as the drivers are installed correctly (check in Device
manager) you do not need any third party software to control Wireless
networking, as Windows does it for you. Go to Control Panel /
Administrative Tools / Services and check that the Wireless Zero
Configuration service is running and is set to start automatically.

3. Some laptop computers have a switch on them which can physically
turn off the wireless card. Check if yours is one of them. Also check
your keyboard function keys - if there is a little picture of a
wireless mast on one of them (possibly F4) then that and the Fn key
can be used together to toggle on and off the wireless.

Alister

22 Jan 2009 4:45 PM

OldButStillLearning

Hey, thanks for the quick reply.

HP web site has the Intel Proset to install for the machine, so I guess
there is some reason that they were suggesting that it be loaded....but as I
said, I installed, but could not find it anywhere.

Turns out that the machine has a toggle switch which turns on/off the
wireless connection and that was turned off. This was not my machine, it was
my daughters, so I was not really familiar with it. Turned it on, and
networks were found!!!!

Thanks so much for your help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!