Network icon says not connected but I am

I have a fairly new dell laptop inspiron 1720 with wireless interne
connection. A couple of days ago I noticed the little network icon o
the bottom right of the task bar had a strange little blue blob on it
If I hold the mouse over it, it says 'you are currently not connected t
any networks'. If I right click and then click 'connect to a network'
that box shows that I am indeed connected and to the proper network
When I first start my laptop the small network icon says that I am
connected to the proper network but 'local access only', and after a fe
seconds that goes away and I get the above message
I tried going into the 'connect to a network' box and disconnecting th
proper network, then reconnecting but that did nothing
I am able to access the internet, my email and everything else. I di
nothing new to my laptop, no programs or anything. This is just a
annoying little bug that I would like to fix if anyone knows how. Than
you kindly.:confused

 

did you change the SSID of YOUR router from the default or is it
still as is when you set it up?

--

Barb Bowman
MS-MVP
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/meetexperts/bowman.mspx
http://blogs.digitalmediaphile.com/barb/

 

Hi Barb
No, I haven't changed the SSID or anything else. One other thing, I'v
noticed in other similar posts is that most people have a red x overto
the network icon - but I don't have that, just a blue blobby thin
overtop the icon......Juli

 

well, you could be connected to someone else's SSID that has the
same name. what IS the name of the wireless network you are
connected to?

if it is something like Linksys/Default/Netgear etc. you need to
change it.

--

Barb Bowman
MS-MVP
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/meetexperts/bowman.mspx
http://blogs.digitalmediaphile.com/barb/

 

The name I gave it is 'nimmer'. I really doubt anyone else is using
that.

 

you had posted that you did NOT change the name.. which is why I
made the suggestion.

are you using the Dell wireless utility? try disabling it and use
only Windows to manage your wireless. does this change anything?

--

Barb Bowman
MS-MVP
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/meetexperts/bowman.mspx
http://blogs.digitalmediaphile.com/barb/

 

Sorry, I didn't understand. I haven't changed the name since I set it
up 3 months ago. I have other computers here connected to nimmer and
that's always been the name of the network.
How do I disable Dell Wireless and use Windows wireless? Thanks.

 

is there an icon for it in the system tray? if you right click it,
is there a disable setting?

--

Barb Bowman
MS-MVP
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/meetexperts/bowman.mspx
http://blogs.digitalmediaphile.com/barb/

 

No icon. Just the 2 little computers with:
"connect to a network
turn off notification of new networks
diagnose and repair
network and sharing center"
And btw, today there is a red x over the 2 little computers but I'm
still connected.

 

you might want to try the Dell support forums at this point.

--

Barb Bowman
MS-MVP
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/meetexperts/bowman.mspx
http://blogs.digitalmediaphile.com/barb/

 

Barb

This problem is not related to Dell or any other specific manufacturer.
I have a Toshiba laptop and approx. 3 weeks ago, I started experiencing
the same problem. It is a VISTA issue and needs to be seriously
addressed by Microsoft.

 

was there a driver update for your NIC at that time?

--

Barb Bowman
MS-MVP
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/meetexperts/bowman.mspx
http://blogs.digitalmediaphile.com/barb/
http://digitalmediaphile.wordpress.com

 

Hi Barb,

Not at that time. However, after the incident I tried all related
drivers, new and old, from Intel (Intel Pro/Wireless 3945 adapter) and
from Toshiba. Nothing worked.

 

one way of pinning down if this was caused by a windows update is to
use system restore and go back to a point in time before the problem
started, then apply the updates one at a time to see if it was an
update that caused the issue.

it is also possible that a 3rd part update created the problem. do
you have Norton or McAfee or anything similar that hooks into
networking functions?

--

Barb Bowman
MS-MVP
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/meetexperts/bowman.mspx
http://blogs.digitalmediaphile.com/barb/
http://digitalmediaphile.wordpress.com

 

No I don't have any of those. I have been using Avast for over 2 years.
I tried the Restore solution but it did not work either.

Thank you for your help.

 

what wireless router are you connecting TO? can you try power
cycling it and rebooting your computer ?

--

Barb Bowman
MS-MVP
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/meetexperts/bowman.mspx
http://blogs.digitalmediaphile.com/barb/
http://digitalmediaphile.wordpress.com

 

The router is Actiontec MI424WR (Verizon FiOS). I have rebooted and
recycled it and also rebooted the laptop, but that did not solve the
problem. I will try again this morning. I have also talked to Verizon
tec people but they offered no help and said it has nothing to do with
the router. I have the latest router firmware.

 

Barb

I recycled the router and rebooted as you suggested. After browsing fo
15 minutes or so, same issue re-surfaced. By the way, I have 2 othe
computers connected to the router, both are running XP SP3. One i
connected via Ethernet and the other via WiFi. Neither have this issue
I did try disconnecting the XP machines to see if it makes a difference
it did not. This leasds me to believe it is a Vista issue

 

is there more than one NIC in this computer?

the only thing I've found remotely resembling this involves having
two NICs connected:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/947041

--

Barb Bowman
MS-MVP
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/meetexperts/bowman.mspx
http://blogs.digitalmediaphile.com/barb/
http://digitalmediaphile.wordpress.com

 

Barb

I am connecting with the built-in WiFi adapter (Pro/Wireless 3945ABG)
Laptop has the usual built-in Ethernet adapter and built-in Bluetoot
adapter both unplugged. Notebook also has a built-in 56K dialup mode
which is disconnected. By the way, I disabled the WiFi and connecte
with the Ethernet, same problem