Cannot view home network in "available wireless networks"

I have Windows XP on a Dell laptop, which was working perfectly through our
home wireless network...until the Internet connection just stopped working
one day! (it had been fine previously, and no changes have been made to the
laptop or desktop PC, which is connected directly to a linksys router). Our
desktop is still connected to the Internet w/o problems, and my laptop is
connected locally, but there is a red X through the wireless network icon on
the taskbar, and I can't access the Internet.

In Network Connection settings, it says "Network cable unplugged" for the
wireless network. But nothing is physically unplugged! I restarted my laptop
several times, tried unplugging it and letting the battery run down to see if
that would help when I restarted...well, it didn't. Resetting the router
didn't work either.

I went to ipconfig /release to reset the IP but got the error message "Media
disconnected." My network card is built-in to the laptop and its light is
always on. When I go to View Available Wireless Networks, I can see my
neighbors' networks. I connected to one of their unsecure networks without a
problem. However, our home network doesn't even show up in the list of
Available wireless networks. It still shows in the list of Preferred
Networks, but there is a red X through it. I tried removing it and adding it
again, using the same settings (Open/WEP/network key/obtain IP
automatically,etc). Also, windows (not linksys) manages our wireless
connections. I am quite frustrated and have looked all over the Internet to
find answers but none of the suggestions have worked so far. Oh, and the
Windows firewall is turned off because I use Norton. I turned off Norton's
just to see if it would work, but nothing changed.

Any thoughts? THANKS!

Have you reset the wireless router or AP? Or this post may help.

wireless connection receives Network cable unplugged
http://www.chicagotech.net/forum1.htm

--
Bob Lin, MS-MVP, MCSE & CNE
Networking, Internet, Routing, VPN Troubleshooting on
http://www.ChicagoTech.net
How to Setup Windows, Network, VPN & Remote Access on
http://www.HowToNetworking.com


"lkthompson" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:CB14C965-1878-42B0-B052-(E-Mail Removed)...
>I have Windows XP on a Dell laptop, which was working perfectly through our
> home wireless network...until the Internet connection just stopped working
> one day! (it had been fine previously, and no changes have been made to
> the
> laptop or desktop PC, which is connected directly to a linksys router).
> Our
> desktop is still connected to the Internet w/o problems, and my laptop is
> connected locally, but there is a red X through the wireless network icon
> on
> the taskbar, and I can't access the Internet.
>
> In Network Connection settings, it says "Network cable unplugged" for the
> wireless network. But nothing is physically unplugged! I restarted my
> laptop
> several times, tried unplugging it and letting the battery run down to see
> if
> that would help when I restarted...well, it didn't. Resetting the router
> didn't work either.
>
> I went to ipconfig /release to reset the IP but got the error message
> "Media
> disconnected." My network card is built-in to the laptop and its light is
> always on. When I go to View Available Wireless Networks, I can see my
> neighbors' networks. I connected to one of their unsecure networks without
> a
> problem. However, our home network doesn't even show up in the list of
> Available wireless networks. It still shows in the list of Preferred
> Networks, but there is a red X through it. I tried removing it and adding
> it
> again, using the same settings (Open/WEP/network key/obtain IP
> automatically,etc). Also, windows (not linksys) manages our wireless
> connections. I am quite frustrated and have looked all over the Internet
> to
> find answers but none of the suggestions have worked so far. Oh, and the
> Windows firewall is turned off because I use Norton. I turned off Norton's
> just to see if it would work, but nothing changed.
>
> Any thoughts? THANKS!

Resetting doesn't work, already tried that...

"Robert L. (MS-MVP)" wrote:

> Have you reset the wireless router or AP? Or this post may help.
>
> wireless connection receives Network cable unplugged
> http://www.chicagotech.net/forum1.htm
>
> --
> Bob Lin, MS-MVP, MCSE & CNE
> Networking, Internet, Routing, VPN Troubleshooting on
> http://www.ChicagoTech.net
> How to Setup Windows, Network, VPN & Remote Access on
> http://www.HowToNetworking.com
>
>
> "lkthompson" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:CB14C965-1878-42B0-B052-(E-Mail Removed)...
> >I have Windows XP on a Dell laptop, which was working perfectly through our
> > home wireless network...until the Internet connection just stopped working
> > one day! (it had been fine previously, and no changes have been made to
> > the
> > laptop or desktop PC, which is connected directly to a linksys router).
> > Our
> > desktop is still connected to the Internet w/o problems, and my laptop is
> > connected locally, but there is a red X through the wireless network icon
> > on
> > the taskbar, and I can't access the Internet.
> >
> > In Network Connection settings, it says "Network cable unplugged" for the
> > wireless network. But nothing is physically unplugged! I restarted my
> > laptop
> > several times, tried unplugging it and letting the battery run down to see
> > if
> > that would help when I restarted...well, it didn't. Resetting the router
> > didn't work either.
> >
> > I went to ipconfig /release to reset the IP but got the error message
> > "Media
> > disconnected." My network card is built-in to the laptop and its light is
> > always on. When I go to View Available Wireless Networks, I can see my
> > neighbors' networks. I connected to one of their unsecure networks without
> > a
> > problem. However, our home network doesn't even show up in the list of
> > Available wireless networks. It still shows in the list of Preferred
> > Networks, but there is a red X through it. I tried removing it and adding
> > it
> > again, using the same settings (Open/WEP/network key/obtain IP
> > automatically,etc). Also, windows (not linksys) manages our wireless
> > connections. I am quite frustrated and have looked all over the Internet
> > to
> > find answers but none of the suggestions have worked so far. Oh, and the
> > Windows firewall is turned off because I use Norton. I turned off Norton's
> > just to see if it would work, but nothing changed.
> >
> > Any thoughts? THANKS!
>
>