non-functional wireless

[resonantSoul]

So I have an outdated Micron TransPort Trek 2. It's got a Pentium 2 300MHz and 256 Megs of Ram and it is, effectively even, running windows XP Pro SP2. I recently purchased a Belkin wireless G F5d7010 version 7.000 to attempt to connect to my existing Airnet AWR014G (What I get for using cheap/non-big name hardware I suppose, but you gotta do what you gotta do). As a standard, I'm using WPA-PSK, but I've tried disabling it also. I have managed to effectively use the card by turning off the built-in wireless in my wife's Toshiba Satellite A55-S1064 and putting the belkin in there. When it is in the Micron however, I can occasionally see the network, but any attempt at connection never passes "Waiting for the network". A friend of our has a similar card (It's also a belkin, but I'm unsure of the model/version, but it is still low end) and when she brings her laptop over she can connect. The wireless network setup wizard says that it is unable to create the connection, and I'm running out of ideas. I have even attempted both a netsh and manual reset of winsock to no avail.

I think I've covered pretty much everything, but it's possible I've forgotten something. In fact, I just remembered that I've also disabled window's permission to power manage the card, which did cause the network to appear more often, but still no connection.

Any help anyone can offer is much appreciated. I've concluded that it must be something within the micron, but even the most recent driver for the card haven't helped at all.

Thanks for whatever you can offer, even if it's only reading through, and sorry for the muddled disorganized mess above 

[drmsucks]

Is this a USB adapter? How far from the router is the Micron? What software do you have managing the Belkin adapter - Belkin software or Windows? Is the network on "B" or "G?" Can you 'see' any other networks? Can you connect to them?

Your turn

[resonantSoul]

See, I knew I was forgetting things.

The adapter is an add-in card, not usb. Most testing has been done I'd estimate about 8 feet or so (the router is near the TV out of necessity, and I on the couch). I have tried both the windows zero config as well as the belkin software, similar results on both (windows seems to "see" the network more often). I have managed to "see" one other network once (haven't had the chance to take it anywhere else) but it was a neighbor's secured network, so no connection would have been attempted anyway.

Back to you.

Edit: almost forgot, the airnet router lists itself as g, if it has the capability of switching to b, the method of doing such is beyond my knowledge.

[drmsucks]

When you click on the icon for your wireless in the notification area, what does it say about signal strength and signal quality?

You're awfully close to the router to be having problems. I'm sure that having the router next to the TV is not an ideal location but it must be okay if the other computers can connect.

So, you have the card in a PCMCIA slot? Are you sure that slot works - have you had any other cards in there? Do you have another slot to try it in?

[resonantSoul]

So you see my frustration then? 

The signal strength is excellent, full set of bars. Every now and then instead of the "Wireless network unavailable" balloon, I get the paragraph about how it wasn't able to connect this time and click here to repair, which in turn brings up a box about how it can't connect and offers a repair button. The repair option makes it to "connecting  wireless network" until it times out. (And I've got to tell you, seeing "contact the person who manages your network" can be really irritating when it's yourself).

The Micron has two slots, both offer the same results, but one is directly above the other. The card detects and installs just fine when plugged in. I think I have a modem card somewhere which was given to me with the laptop, but even if I plugged it in I would have no way of testing it's functionality.

[drmsucks]

If you right-click on the wireless adapter icon, can you 'view networks'? Is yours shown?

Two thoughts: a) is MAC address filtering on in the router, if so, turn it off? b) on the Micron, Start>Control Panel>Network Connections>Local Area Connection>General Tab>Properties>click TCP/IP>Properties>General Tab>be sure that Obtain IP Address Automatically is checked.

I would turn off all encryption on the router and card until you get this figured out.

[resonantSoul]

Yep, and it shows automatic when in appears in available wireless networks, but no automatic attempt is made.

I made it to Burger King with it. They've got no security set on it, and results were the same.

MAC filtering is off, and I am set to obtain an IP automatically, but even issuing a static offers no change in results, and seemingly it never makes it to a point where it cares about an IP address.

[drmsucks]

I'm out of ideas - stick around and see if anyone else can help.

[resonantSoul]

Thanks for the attempt anyhow. Frustrating, no?