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.

Note: If you are a student, faculty member, or staff member at Indiana University Bloomington or IUPUI, use the IU Secure network for wireless access. For help, see What is IU Secure? If you are visiting IU, instead see At IUB and IUPUI, what is a Network Access account, and how do I get one?

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 What is IU Secure?

Driver compatibility

Windows XP supports the 802.11b protocol for wireless networking with the Wireless Zero Configuration service. The wireless network adapter must be compatible with Windows XP.

First determine if the driver you're using recognizes the Windows XP Wireless Zero Configuration Service:

1. If you are using the XP default Start menu, from the Start menu, select Control Panel. Then double-click Network Connections.

   If you are using the XP Classic Start menu, from the Start menu, select Settings, and then Control Panel. Then click or double-click Network Connections to open the Network Connections window.

2. Right-click Wireless Connection, and select Properties. If you do not see a Wireless Connection icon in the Network Connections window, and your wireless network adapter (i.e., the physical card) is properly connected, or if you cannot view the properties, the problem is with the driver for the wireless network adapter.

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 working properly, 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, follow these steps:

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 Wireless , 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 by following these steps:

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 Wireless .
   • 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, follow these steps:

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. If you cannot, consider TCP/IP troubleshooting techniques.

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.

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 the Microsoft knowledge base article 313242.

You can search Microsoft's knowledge base at:

Also see:

• The basics of VPN at IU
• At IU, how do I configure my Windows wireless network card?
• In Windows XP, how do I make a VPN connection to the IU network?
• What are some IP addresses that might indicate I have a network problem?