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Article ID: 870702 - Last Review: September 23, 2011 - Revision: 3.0

How to troubleshoot wireless network connections in Windows XP Service Pack 2

To continue receiving security updates for Windows, make sure you're running Windows XP with Service Pack 3 (SP3). F Microsoft web page: Support is ending for some versions of Windows

Important This article contains information that shows you how to help lower security settings or how to turn off security features on a computer. You c specific problem. Before you make these changes, we recommend that you evaluate the risks that are associated with using this workaround in your part workaround, take any appropriate additional steps to help protect your system. On This Page Expand all | Collapse all INTRODUCTION

Troubleshooting for wireless networking with Windows XP requires gathering information, checking the drivers, verifying compatible hardware, and co

Information to gather
Before you begin troubleshooting, make sure that you have answered the following questions:

What is the symptom? If it is an error message, note the full error message. What wireless card is used? Note the manufacturer and the model number.

What is the driver version for the card? Look in Device Manager or click Configure in the Prop What access point is in use? Note the manufacturer and the model number.

Are the wireless settings configured by using Windows or by using a third-party program? If a th and its version number?

Is the Wireless Zero Configuration service running? To determine if the Wireless Zero Configur 1. Click Start, and then click Run.

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2.

In the Open box, type cmd, and then click OK.

3.

Type sc query wzcsvc, and then press ENTER.

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4.

If the Windows Zero Configuration service is running, the words "STATE : # RUNNIN

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Back to the top MORE INFORMATION

If the problem is in the user interface, collect a screen shot of the issue, if you can. To collect a s

Basic troubleshooting
To troubleshoot wireless network connections in Windows XP, follow these steps:

1.

Check the Windows Catalog at http://www.windowsmarketplace.com to determine if there is a W for your wireless adapter.

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If there is a compatible driver, install the updated driver before you perform any additio

If there is not a compatible driver, you may be able to use the network adapter, but its c limited.

2.

Determine if the driver that you are using recognizes the Windows XP Wireless Zero Configurat 1. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.

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2.

In the right pane,click Network and Internet Connections.

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3.

In the right pane, click Network Connections.

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4.

Right-click Wireless Network Connection, and then click Properties.

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5.

View the available options:

If you do not see the Wireless Network Connection icon in the Network Conne properties, there is a problem with the driver for the wireless network adapter. installation issues section.

If you can view the properties for the Wireless Network Connection icon, but y

the Drivers that do not support the Wireless Zero Configuration service section

If you can view the properties, and you can see and use the Wireless Network Zero Configuration service section to continue troubleshooting.

If the Authentication tab is missing in the Wireless Network Connection pro Configuration service is running.

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Driver installation issues

If you do not see the Wireless Network Connection icon in the Network Connections folder, or if you cannot view the properties for the Wireless Netwo

with the driver installation. To troubleshoot this issue, verify that you have the latest available driver from the device manufacturer, and then follow thes 1. Click Start, right-click My Computer, and then click Manage.

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2.

Click Device Manager, and then double-click Other Devices and look for the wireless network

Devices folder, no driver has been installed. To resolve this issue, obtain and install a driver from

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3.

If you do not locate the adapter in the Other Devices folder, look in the Network Adapters folder

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4. 5.

When you locate the wireless network adapter, note the manufacturer's name and the model of th Right-click the icon for the wireless network adapter, and then click Properties.

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6.

Verify that "The device is working properly" message is displayed under Device status.

7.

If the wireless network adapter is not in the Network Connections folder, there is either a problem installed. In this case, you will see an error under Device status.

You can search the Microsoft Knowledge Base for information about the error code to use in tro Knowledge Base, visit the following Microsoft Web site: http://support.microsoft.com/gp/gsssearchhelp Back to the top

Drivers that do not support the Wireless Zero Configuration service

If you can view the properties of the Wireless Network Connection icon, but you do not see the Wireless Networks tab, the network adapter driver does

Configuration service, or the Wireless Zero Configuration Service is not started. You may be able to configure Windows XP to use the connection, but th on the network adapter and the driver that are in use. To resolve this issue, try to create a working connection by following these steps.

Note If you cannot create a working connection, contact the device manufacturer for advice about how to configure the adapter for Windows XP. 1. Verify that the Wireless Zero Configuration service is running. To do this, follow these steps: a. Click Start, and then click Run.

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b.

In the Open box, type cmd, and then click OK.

c.

Type sc query wzcsvc, and then press ENTER.

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d.

If the Windows Zero Configuration service is running, the words "STATE : # RUNNIN

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2.

Click Start, click Control Panel, and then click Network Connections.

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3.

Right-click Wireless Network Connection, and then click Properties.

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4.

On the General tab, click Configure.

5.

Click the Advanced tab, and then configure your wireless network by using the available config

option names may vary depending on the driver manufacturer. The following list describes the b

Service Set Identifier (SSID): This setting must match the configuration of your wirele

access point, this value will be the same on all the computers that are in your wireless n

Wireless Equivalent Protocol (WEP) or Encryption

Warning The following step may make your computer or your network more vulnerab

software such as viruses. We do not recommend this option, but we are providing this i implement this option at your own discretion. Use this step at your own risk.

For testing purposes, turn off WEP on both the access point and in these properties.

Note WEP is designed to help protect your computer from attack by malicious users or

unsolicited incoming network traffic to attack your computer. If you decide to impleme

steps to help protect your system. Turn WEP back on as soon as you have finished troub

Mode or Network Type: If you have an access point, set this option to Infrastructure are connecting your computer to another computer, set this option to Ad-Hoc.

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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 conn setting.

6. 7.

After you configure these options, click OK to save the changes that you made.

Test to see if your connection works. If a red X is displayed over the connection icon in the Netw connect, continue troubleshooting.

8.

Click Start, right-click My Computer, and then click Manage.

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9.

In Computer Management, double-click Services and Applications, and then click Services.

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10. Right-click Wireless Zero Configuration, and then click Properties.

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11. In the Startup type box, click to select Disabled, and then click OK.

12. Close Computer Management, and then restart the computer.

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With this configuration, you can connect to the wireless network if the other network configuration is correct. If the Wireless Network Connection icon i working connection, the wireless connection will work. To resolve any remaining issues, use standard TCP/IP network troubleshooting techniques.

For additional information about TCP/IP troubleshooting, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: 314067 How to troubleshoot TCP/IP connectivity with Windows XP Back to the top

Drivers that support the Wireless Zero Configuration service

If the Wireless Networks tab in the properties of the Wireless Network Connection is available, the driver recognizes the Windows XP Zero Configurat configure Windows XP for your wireless network, follow these steps: 1. Click Start, click Control Panel, and then click Network Connections.

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2.

Right-click Wireless Network Connection, and then click View Available Wireless Networks

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3.

Click the network that you want to connect to, and then click Connect. Follow the steps in the w

network is not listed, verify that the access point is powered on and configured, move the compu then test again.

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4.

If your network is still not listed as an available network, click Change advanced settings to op

5.

On the Wireless Networks tab, click Add to manually configure settings for a network.

When you save these settings, you can use them automatically when the network is available. A

Network name (SSID): The Network name (SSID) setting typically matches the config

If you do not have an access point, this value must be the same on all the computers tha

Network Authentication and Data encryption: Options here include Open, Shared, W

no additional configuration is required. If you are using WPA-PSK, an 8- to 63-charact If you are using Open or Shared authentication, you can either enter a key, or indicate

network configurations that use WEP, the key is typically entered manually. You may a

encryption toDisabled. However, we do not recommend that you do this except as a tr

Warning This step may make your computer or your network more vulnerable to attack

such as viruses. We do not recommend this option, but we are providing this informatio

option at your own discretion. Use this option at your own risk.

If you have to disable security for troubleshooting, turn off WEP on both the computer access point and in these properties for testing purposes.

Note WEP is designed to help protect your computer from attack by malicious users or

unsolicited incoming network traffic to attack your computer. If you decide to impleme

steps to help to protect your system. Turn WEP back on as soon as you have finished tr

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Key index (advanced): This is an optional setting that specifies which of four positions

The key is provided for me automatically: This check box option indicates that the ke the network adapter. You must only enable this key when the network administrator or that you enable it.

This is a computer-to-computer (ad-hoc) network; wireless access points are not u

computer-to-computer network that does not include an access point. If this option is un

Networks tab. In the Advanced dialog box, you can click to select Access point (infra ad-hoc network. 6. 7. After you save this configuration, repeat this process on the other computers on your network.

After you configure the settings for the other computers, you will see the network name SSID in

circle, the network has been located; if you see a red X, there may be a problem with the radio si

configuration may be incorrect. Confirm that the settings on your network are correct, and move or the router, or to the other computer on the wireless network.

After you complete the configuration steps, the wireless connection will be correctly configured.

If you experience issues when you try to connect to the network, double-click the Wireless Netw Connections folder to view the Connection Status window. In theConnection Status window, to verify the strength of the signal between the computers.

Strong signal

If you still have trouble connecting, but the signal strength is good, a different network configuration issue may be preventing communications. To resol troubleshooting techniques.

Weak signal

If you still have trouble connecting and the signal strength is not good, or no signal is received, try the steps in the Drivers that do not support the Wir

the method that is described in that section does not resolve the issue, contact the manufacturer to determine if the wireless network adapters and the acc

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Keywords:

kbnomt kbgraphxlink kbscreenshot kbwizard kbwireless kbsettings kbperformance kbconfig kbco kbfirewall kberrmsg kbenv kbinfo kbnetwork kbtshoot KB870702

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