How to Troubleshoot Wireless Network Connections in Windows XP
1. Check the HCL to see if there are any drivers for your wireless adapter that are compatible with Windows XP. • If a compatible driver exists, install the updated driver before performing any troubleshooting procedures. • If a compatible driver does not exist, you may be able to use the network adapter, but the configuration and features may be very limited.
2. To determine if the driver you are using recognizes the Windows XP Wireless Zero Configuration service, follow these steps: 1. Click Start, click Run, and then click the Open & rdquo; box Type control.exe. 2. Click <;Network and Internet Connections”. 3. Click “Network Connections, right-click "Wireless Connections", and then click “Properties”.
3. Review the available options. • If you do not see the wireless connection icon in the “Network Connections” folder, or if you cannot view the properties, there is a problem with the driver for the wireless network adapter. To resolve this issue, please see the section "Driver Installation Issues". ?
If you can view the properties of the wireless connection icon, but do not see the Wireless Networks tab, see the & ldquo; do not support the & lsquo; Wireless Zero Configuration & rsquo; driver service & rdquo; a. • If you can view the properties and be able to see and access the Wireless Network tab, see the section “Supporting ‘Wireless Zero Configuration & rsquo;Service Drivers”. • If there is no "authentication" tab in the "Wireless Connection" attribute, make sure the "Wireless Zero Configuration" service is running.
Driver Installation Issues
If you do not see the wireless connection icon in the "Network Connections" folder, or you cannot view the properties of the wireless connection icon, there may be a problem with the driver installation. To resolve this issue, be sure to get the latest available drivers from the device manufacturer, then follow these steps to get to know the source of the problem: 1. Click Start, click Run, and then type devmgmt in the Open ” box. Msc. 2. In “Computer Management", click Device Manager. 3. In the details pane, double-click another device and look for the wireless network adapter. If the adapter can be found in the “other devices" folder, the driver has not been installed. To resolve this issue, obtain the driver from the device manufacturer and install the driver. 4. If the adapter is not found in the “Other Devices" folder, look in the “Network Adapter” folder. 5. When you locate the wireless network adapter, note the make and model of the adapter. 6. In the properties of the wireless network adapter, under “Device Status", verify that this message appears: <;The device is working properly”. 7. If the wireless network adapter is not in the “Network Connections” folder, either the device has a problem or the driver may not be installed. In this case, you will see an error message under <;Device Status". You can search the Microsoft Knowledge Base for information about error codes to resolve this issue. To search the knowledge base, visit the following Microsoft Web site: http://support.microsoft.com/.
Does not support the "Wireless Zero Configuration" service driver
If you can view the properties of the wireless connection icon, but do not see the wireless network tab, this indicates that the network adapter driver does not fully support "wireless" Zero configuration & rdquo; service.
In this case, you may be able to configure Windows XP to use the connection, but the configuration options may vary depending on the network adapter and driver you are using. To work around this issue, try creating a valid connection.
Note: If you are unable to create a valid connection, contact the device manufacturer for advice on how to configure an adapter for Windows XP.
To create a valid connection, perform the following steps:
1. In the "Network Connections" folder, right-click Wireless Connections, and then click Properties. 2. Click Configure, then on the Advanced tab, configure your wireless network with the available configuration options. Available options and option names may vary by driver manufacturer. The following list describes the basic configuration options: • Service Set Identifier (SSID): This setting should match the configuration of your wireless access point or router. If you do not have an access point, the value will be the same on all computers in the wireless network. • Wireless Peer-to-Peer Protocol (WEP) or Encryption: For testing purposes, disable WEP on both the access point and in these properties. • Mode or network type: If you have an access point, set this option to the infrastructure. If you do not have an access point and you want to connect to each computer, set this option to special. • Data Rate: Set this option to Auto or 11 Mbps. • Power Saving: To solve the problem, set the power saving to off or disable. This setting can be changed after the connection is working properly. 3. Once you have configured these options, click OK to save your changes. 4. Test the connection. If a red "X" is displayed on the connection icon in the "Network Connections" folder, or if you are unable to connect, continue troubleshooting. 5. Click Start, click Run, and then type devmgmt.msc in the Open ” box. 6. In "Computer Management", double-click Services and Applications, then click Services. 7. In the details pane, right-click Wireless Zero Configuration and click Properties. 8. In the “Startup Type” box, click Disable, and then click OK. 9. Exit & ldquo;Computer Management& rdquo; and restart your computer.
With this configuration, you can connect to a wireless network if other networks are configured correctly. If the wireless connection icon appears as a valid connection in the notification area, the wireless connection will work. To resolve any remaining issues, use the standard TCP/IP network troubleshooting method.
Support “Wireless Zero Configuration"Service Drivers
If the Wireless Network tab in the Wireless Connection Properties is available, the driver can recognize the wireless network's "Windows XP Zero Configuration" support.
To configure Windows XP for your wireless network, follow these steps: 1. In the "Network Connections" folder, right-click Wireless Connections, and then click Properties. 2. On the Wireless Networks tab, in the Available Networks box, click your network, and then click Configure. 3. In the "Configuration" window, provide the Service Set Identifier (SSID), WEP settings (encryption) used by your network, and the authentication settings necessary for your network. If you are not using a wireless access point or router, set the network mode to special. 4. If your network is not listed as an available network, click Add to manually configure the network settings. After saving these settings, if the network is available, you can use them automatically. 5. After saving this configuration, repeat this process on other computers on the network. 6. After configuring the settings on other computers, you will see the network SSID name in the preferred network list. If you see a blue circle, it means that the network has been found; if you see a red "X", it means that there may be a problem with the radio signal between the workstations on the network or the configuration may be incorrect. Verify that the settings on the network are correct, then move the computer closer to the access point or router, or move closer to other computers on the wireless network.
After completing these configuration steps, the wireless connection will be configured correctly.
If you are having trouble trying to connect to the network, double-click the wireless connection icon in the "Network Connections" folder to see the connection status. In the "Connection Status", there is a signal strength table that can be used to check the signal strength between computers.
Strong Signal If you still have problems connecting, but the signal strength is normal, it may be that other network configuration problems are preventing communication. To work around this issue, use the standard TCP/IP troubleshooting method.
Weak Signals If you still have problems connecting, and the signal strength is not good or you can't receive the signal, please try the steps in the section "Wireless Zero Configuration & rsquo;Service Drivers". If the method described in this section does not resolve the issue, contact the manufacturer to determine if the wireless network adapter and access point are working properly