Thursday, November 19, 2009

Why is Network Connections window missing 'Wireless Network Connections' area?

Windows XP, SP2 -- attempting to use a USB Network Adapter. Device Driver is current and compatible (verified on manufacturer's site), and appears in Device Manager under 'Network Adapters.' Properties of the device show 'This device is working properly,' but Network Connections window only shows my ethernet card (no 56K modem either). All services (.msc) that would effect this issue are enabled automatically and started (Wireless Zero Config., COM+ Event System, etc.), and DLL files are correctly registered (regsvr32 netshell.dll, netfgx.dll, etc.). The system has been restarted, drivers removed in safe mode and re-installed automatically upon reboot, etc. Software that came with the USB device is not picking it up either, and I have verified the device and software/driver are working on another machine (driver even works on Vista). Only problem is that THERE IS NO WIRELESS NETWORK CONNECTIONS area under 'Network Connections.' Please help. Please.

Why is Network Connections window missing 'Wireless Network Connections' area?
I have seen this many times.





The only way to fix this problem has been to re-install Windows. Only once have I seen a repair-installation work.


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