ARCHIVED: In Windows XP, how do I troubleshoot wireless networking problems?

Many issues can cause wireless connection problems in Windows XP. This document outlines the most common problems and their solutions.

Unable to access IU pages and resources

If you can access web sites outside of Indiana University but cannot access some IU pages and resources, you are probably connected to the IU Wireless network without a VPN connection. For full, secure access to IU services, use the IU Secure network instead of IU Wireless; see About IU Secure wireless

Resetting TCP/IP and the Winsock Catalog

Occasionally, a computer caches network settings when switching access points or networks. To clear these settings, reset TCP/IP and the Winsock Catalog. For help with TCP/IP, see ARCHIVED: In Windows, how do I reinstall TCP/IP?

To reset the Winsock Catalog:

1. From the Start menu, select Run....
2. In the "Open:" field, type cmd and then click OK.
3. At the command prompt, enter netsh winsock reset.

Driver problems

Follow these steps to troubleshoot driver problems:

1. From the Start menu or desktop, right-click My Computer, and select Manage.
2. Under "Computer Management", click Device Manager.
3. In the right pane, double-click Other devices if possible. If the wireless network adapter is in this folder, the drivers for the network adapter have not been installed.
4. Double-click Network adapters and see if a wireless network adapter is present.
   1. If the wireless network adapter is present, double-click it. Under the General tab, confirm that the device is working properly. If it is not, you will see an error code under "Device Status". You can further troubleshoot the error by searching for the error code at the Microsoft support web site.
   2. If the wireless network adapter is not present under either Network adapters or Other devices, either the problem is with the device or the driver may not be installed.

Configuring Windows XP with the Wireless Zero Configuration

In the Wireless Connection window, if the Wireless Networks tab is available, the driver supports Windows XP Zero Configuration. If the Wireless Networks tab is not available, the network adapter driver does not fully support the Wireless Zero Configuration Service, and you will need to skip to the instructions below to configure Windows XP without using Wireless Zero Configuration.

To configure Windows XP for your wireless network using the Wireless Zero Configuration Service:

1. Right-click Wireless Connection, and select Properties.
2. Under the Wireless Networks tab, under "Available Networks", click your network, and then click Configure. At IU, the SSID should be IU Secure, and the WEP settings (encryption) should be set to Disabled.
3. If your network is not listed as an available network, click Add to manually configure settings for a network. When you save these settings, you can use them automatically when the network is available.

After you configure the settings, you should see the network SSID name in the "Preferred Networks" list. If you see a blue circle, the network has been located; if you see a red "X", there may be a problem with the radio signal, or the configuration may be incorrect. After you complete the configuration steps, the wireless connection should be correctly configured.

If you still are having problems, skip to the instructions below for troubleshooting the signal strength.

Configuring Windows XP without using Wireless Zero Configuration

If you can view the properties for the Wireless Connection icon but you do not see a Wireless Networks tab, the network adapter driver does not fully support the Wireless Zero Configuration service; you must configure Windows XP to use the connection as follows:

1. In the Network Connections folder, right-click Wireless Connection, and then select Properties.
2. Click Configure. From the Advanced tab, configure your wireless network by using the available configuration options. The available options and option names may vary depending on the driver manufacturer:
   • Service-Set Identifier (SSID): At IU, this should be set to IU Secure.
   • Wireless Equivalent Protocol (WEP) or Encryption: Disable WEP.
   • Mode or Network Type: If you have an access point (e.g., you are at IU trying to connect to the IU network), set this option to Infrastructure. If you do not have an access point, and you are connecting computer to computer, set this option to Ad-Hoc.
   • Data Rate: Set this option to Auto or to 11 Mbps.
   • Power Save: For troubleshooting, set Power Save to Off or to Disabled. After the connection works properly, you can change this setting.

     After you configure these options, click OK to save the changes. Test to see if your connection works. If a red "X" is displayed over the connection icon in the Network Connections folder, or if you cannot connect:

3. From the Start menu or the desktop, right-click My Computer, and select Manage.
4. Double-click Services and Applications, and then click Services.
5. In the details pane, right-click Wireless Zero Configuration, and select Properties.
6. Under "Startup type", select Disabled, and then click OK.
7. Close the Computer Management window, and then restart the computer.

By disabling the Wireless Zero Configuration, you should be able to connect to the wireless network.

Signal problems

If you continue to encounter issues when you try to connect to the network, in the Network Connections folder, double-click the Wireless Connection icon to view the connection status. In the connection status, use the signal strength meter to verify the strength of the signal between computers.

If you still have trouble connecting, but the signal strength is good, a different network configuration issue may be preventing communications. To resolve this issue, use standard TCP/IP troubleshooting techniques; see ARCHIVED: In Windows, how do I reinstall TCP/IP?

If you still have trouble connecting, and the signal strength is not good, or no signal is received, try the above steps for configuring Windows XP without using Wireless Zero. If that does not resolve the issue, consult the manufacturer to determine if the wireless network adapter and the access point are working properly.

Information in this document was taken from Microsoft Help and Support article 313242.