WinXP system restore & wireless settings

If my laptop wireless network settings go haywire, and I know a
day/time when everything was working fine, can I use WinXP's system
restore to go back to that point in time so that everything is working
properly again? Or do these settings, even if they are incorrect, get
set as soon as Windows starts up, so that no matter how many times or
to whatever date I restore, the incorrect settings will still be in
effect?

On Mon, 20 Nov 2006 13:41:49 GMT, 46erjoe <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote
in <(E-Mail Removed)>:

>If my laptop wireless network settings go haywire, and I know a
>day/time when everything was working fine, can I use WinXP's system
>restore to go back to that point in time so that everything is working
>properly again? Or do these settings, even if they are incorrect, get
>set as soon as Windows starts up, so that no matter how many times or
>to whatever date I restore, the incorrect settings will still be in
>effect?

That really depends on what's gone wrong. In general, it shouldn't be
an issue. Do you have a specific concern?

--
Best regards, FAQ for Wireless Internet: <http://Wireless.wikia.com>
John Navas FAQ for Wi-Fi: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi>
Wi-Fi How To: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_HowTo>
Fixes to Wi-Fi Problems: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_Fixes>

On Tue, 21 Nov 2006 02:30:12 GMT, John Navas
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrotF:

>On Mon, 20 Nov 2006 13:41:49 GMT, 46erjoe <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote
>in <(E-Mail Removed)>:
>
>>If my laptop wireless network settings go haywire, and I know a
>>day/time when everything was working fine, can I use WinXP's system
>>restore to go back to that point in time so that everything is working
>>properly again? Or do these settings, even if they are incorrect, get
>>set as soon as Windows starts up, so that no matter how many times or
>>to whatever date I restore, the incorrect settings will still be in
>>effect?
>
>That really depends on what's gone wrong. In general, it shouldn't be
>an issue. Do you have a specific concern?


Yeah I do. After spendin $250 for the GeekSquad to set up my home
wireless system - it was a bummer - even THEY had to phone for help
from a whole crew of technicians - they finally got it working.

All was fine for 2 weeks. Then I took the laptop on vacation with me.
In several places it wanted to connect with unsecured wireless systems
and I let it do so to check on the news, weather, etc.

Then when I brought it home, it would not connect to my home network.
I have done everything I thought would work, and to no avail.

The main PC works fine. According to the Dell utility, it's putting
out oodles of power, but it just won't connect no matter what I try.
But it will connect with a neighbors nearby wirelss network. It just
won't connect to MINE. My task bar indicates that a "netrwork cable is
unplugged" and "wireless network connection not connected"

Well, everything IS plugged right. My Dell netwrok utility can see
that it's putting out a lot of power. Nothing will let me connect to
it though.

46erjoe <(E-Mail Removed)> hath wroth:

>Yeah I do. After spendin $250 for the GeekSquad to set up my home
>wireless system - it was a bummer - even THEY had to phone for help
>from a whole crew of technicians - they finally got it working.
>
>All was fine for 2 weeks. Then I took the laptop on vacation with me.
>In several places it wanted to connect with unsecured wireless systems
>and I let it do so to check on the news, weather, etc.

Since I have no idea what you have for hardware my best guess(tm) is:

1. DCHP looking for old IP address. Try:
start -> run -> cmd <enter>
ipconfig /release
(wait about 10 seconds)
ipconfig /renew
Then run:
ipconfig
if it reports an IP address such as 192.168.xxx.xxx, it's working. If
it's 169.254.xxx.xxx, it's not working. If it's 0.0.0.0, then wait a
while.

2. If it's a Toshiba laptop, there's a tiny hidden slide switch
somewhere along the edge of the laptop that turns the wireless on and
off.

3. If it's an HP laptop, there's a big button with a blue LED that
turns the wireless on and off.

4. If it's any other laptop, it also has a function key combination
that turns the wireless on and off.

5. If it's Windoze XP, right click on the wireless icon in the system
tray and make sure it's not disabled.

If any of these work for your, please send the $250 to the address
below.


--
Jeff Liebermann (E-Mail Removed)
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558

46erjoe <(E-Mail Removed)> hath wroth:

>If my laptop wireless network settings go haywire, and I know a
>day/time when everything was working fine, can I use WinXP's system
>restore to go back to that point in time so that everything is working
>properly again?

Yes, but I wouldn't do it. It's highly likely that it will happen
again. Rolling back Windoze Restore is a bit of a heavy hammer for
fixing minor problems. Methinks it's best to determine the cause of
the problem and learn how to fix it.

>Or do these settings, even if they are incorrect, get
>set as soon as Windows starts up, so that no matter how many times or
>to whatever date I restore, the incorrect settings will still be in
>effect?

The setttings will be restored. However, there are other things that
affect wireless connectivity that will not be restored, such as the
DHCP cache and DNS cache.

Incidentally, for backing up and restoring just the registry, and not
all the DLL's, system executeables, and updates, I use ERUNT:
http://www.larshederer.homepage.t-online.de/erunt/
Even this I would advise against as you will probably make a mess with
this or System Restore if you're not careful.


--
Jeff Liebermann (E-Mail Removed)
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558