[dknadler]

Okay, I recently purchased a Netgear WG511T for my laptop (running WindowsXP Pro). Did the install just fine, and configured my IP, DNS, Gateway, etc. Was able to connect to my Access Point just fine. Proceeded to blissfully surf my mind away for most of the weekend.

Then comes Sunday afternoon/evening. Inexplicably, I can no longer connect to my Access Point. I've made no modifications to my settings, nor has my landlord made any modifications to the Access Point / Router. The netgear wireless configuration utility sees the AP, it just refuses to actually connect to it. WEP has not been enabled, nor has it ever been. My landlord, with his laptop and netgear wireless card, are still able to connect just fine.

I tried everything I could possibly think of, including multiple reinstallations, etc -- still the same thing: wireless connection unavailable. What's even more confusing is that I can connect to other wireless networks in my neighborhood (but the signal strength is so low that I can't actually make use of it).

As an aside, this is the THIRD wireless card that I've purchased. Two were for my desktop, and this 3rd one is for my laptap. In each case, it's been exactly the same situation: works great for a couple days, then it refuses to work beyond that.

Does anyone have any ideas, however remote, for rectifying this problem? It's one of the most frustrating computer related things I've had to deal with in awhile -- and it vexxes me to no end.

Thanks in advance,
dk

[dknadler]

One other thing I should mention: I know, at some point, while I was still connected, I went to windowsupdate.com and downloaded all the deficient critical updates. I suspect that my connection was "lost" shortly after doing this. Is it possible that some of the SP2 and/or XP Critical Updates caused this problem?

-dk

[Abhi255]

Well this is very much possible that these updates are causing this problem.The first suggestion is to remove these from your computer (updates as well as SP2), then try.This happens due to the problem of compatibility of these updates with wireless.

[dknadler]

Update: yesterday I spend a good deal of time reading the wireless toubleshooting sections at the netgear site. I print off several documents and download their "beta" drivers (which, apparently, address some issues with SP2 and WinXP).

Anyway, I get home, fire up my laptop and... lo and behold... it connects just fine. Connects fine for the rest of the day. Connected fine before coming into work this morning.

In short: I have no idea what's going on.