WIRELESS REINSTALL - any experts

virgin_moneysaver

Background - given laptop from deceased relative & needed to wipe it clean before given to my youngest as a gift - so reinstalled Windows XP on it but only problem is the wireless will not pick up on it - someone suggested reinstalling the drivers & we've now found the cd rom for the driver amongst his effects but the wireless won't reinstall

when I click on the install application on the driver menu it comes up as:

Intel PROset/Wireless - install software

I click on this & its says hardware dectected - it then tries to install rest of info then comes up as programme cancelled with an error message

Intel(R) PROSet/Wireless - not present

any ideas anyone - before we wiped it clean the status light of the wireless was lit on the laptop but not since we loaded XP

kwikbreaks

Other than suggesting that you recheck the switch setting (assuming there is a physical switch) and verifying in control panel/system/devices that the card is indeed present and is an Intel Pro one all I can offer is that mini or micro PCI wifi cards are as cheap as chips on eBay so maybe you should cut your losses and buy a replacement.

espresso

You need to go into Control Panel, System, Hardware, Device Manager to load the required driver for the wireless device. See here for instructions and driver download.

virgin_moneysaver

there is a physical button but nothing happens when pressed - I've managed to find device manager but am stumped to know what I'm looking for - am real novice in this department

virgin_moneysaver

espresso wrote: »

You need to go into Control Panel, System, Hardware, Device Manager to load the required driver for the wireless device. See here for instructions and driver download.

it just comes up as 1394 net adaptor & says its working properly

espresso

virgin_moneysaver wrote: »

there is a physical button but nothing happens when pressed - I've managed to find device manager but am stumped to know what I'm looking for - am real novice in this department

If you have reloaded XP you will need to install all necessary device drivers. Follow the instruction in post #3 where is says see here for the wireless driver and then you will need to do the same for other devices.

kwikbreaks

In the device manager look for "network adaptors" - you should see it listed.

In the past I've had problems finding drivers so I didn't suggest you try that but the link provided by espresso looks good.

It may be that the button just operates a software switch - all my laptops which had physical switches were slide switches. If that is so you need to try and find that software - it should be on the laptop manufacturers website.

Seeing this reminded me I needed to upgrade a B only mini PCI wifi card in an old tosh laptop. I've ordered one from a HK seller off eBay for £3.40 delivered and downloaded the drivers from a link in the advert.

kwikbreaks

virgin_moneysaver wrote: »

it just comes up as 1394 net adaptor & says its working properly

That isn't the WiFi card. If that is all you see then my bet is that it isn't being powered up.

virgin_moneysaver

kwikbreaks wrote: »

That isn't the WiFi card. If that is all you see then my bet is that it isn't being powered up.

which means?

espresso

virgin_moneysaver wrote: »

which means?

You have not given enough information to get help on a Techie forum! Exactly which laptop do you have?

virgin_moneysaver

espresso wrote: »

If you have reloaded XP you will need to install all necessary device drivers. Follow the instruction in post #3 where is says see here for the wireless driver and then you will need to do the same for other devices.

this getting too technical for me, unable to spend a lot of money sorting this out as cash really tight at mo - was hoping to give to son for Christmas but may have to wait until next year to take it to somewhere like PC World