Can no longer access wireless network

This is probably related to the mouse problem I had before... In an earlier message I noted that the mouse port was locking up my wife's computer (Compaq with Windows Vista Home). Well, I fixed that by putting a USB mouse on it, but now it will no longer fully access our wireless network. It's been on it for a couple of years, no problem, but now it only gets "limited access" and no internet. Could the mouse port, which is still probably messed up, be messing up wireless access (which is through a Linksys wireless thing on a USB port)? This is the DAY BEFORE we're leaving on vacation and my daughter is house-sitting and this is the computer she needs to use for her e-mail and bank account. Help!
Keith

 

Since I (we) don't really keep track of previous problems, and things are handled on a 'per thread' basis, I have no idea what your previous problem was, but if you had a std PS2 mouse (with the round connector) and it suddenly stopped working, and if you tried using another PS2 mouse after shutting down the PC and connecting the new PS2 mouse, then that means the PS2 mouse port has likely failed. It's pretty rare for the PS2 drivers to stop working or become corrupt, and rarely will a PS2 mouse fail; USB port and USB device and USB driver failures are much more common. So, if the PS2 mouse port failed, and now you're having another hardware problem, it may be that the motherboard is dying slowly, or your Windows is in dire need of some serious work (meaning: it may be time to reformat and install Windows clean), or some malware/viruses are doing what they do they do best, or any combo of these things. However, without some real details (model numbers for example), it's hard to offer any advice, but I'll try... unplug the Linksys USB device; go to Programs > Features in the Vista Control Panel and uninstall any/all Linksys software related to the USB device; restart the PC; connect the PC to the router directly using an ethernet cable if possible; if not possible, visit the Linksys web site and download/install the appropriate driver for your device and try to avoid installing the Linksys Connection Manager if possible; restart the PC; use the built-in Vista networking component to scan for and connect to the wireless network (if possible).

Good luck!

(as you can probably tell from the total lack of accurate instructions, and the absence of internet links, and the abundant use of the phrase "if possible", we could really use detailed information... "Compaq with Windows Vista Home" and "Linksys wireless thing" isn't enough LOL )

 

Sorry about the confusing post. It was late, I was extremely tired and the computer chose the day before I'm leaving on vacation to break down. In any case:
Computer: Compaq SR5113WM
Processor: AMD Athlon 64 X2
RAM: 2GB
Mouse: standard PS2 mouse
(I replaced it with a USB mouse and now the mouse works fine.)
Wireless access through: Compact Wireless-G USB Adapter (looks like a large USB thumb drive)

Another symptom is that whenever I boot the computer it gives the message the "Windows Firewall is off." I don't know how it got turned off, as it was turned on before these problems started and nobody turned it off. When you try to turn it on, it won't let you--it won't turn on automatically if you click on that option, and it won't turn on manually if you try that.

In any case, I'm going to try your suggestion.

Keith

 

First: thanks for the help so far. I tried your suggestions--it wasn't viable to connect the computer to the router directly, so I downloaded the drivers from the LinkSys website using this computer, but them on my USB flash drive, and loaded them on my wife's computer. Ran the steps as you suggested, but to no avail. Still the same problem--I can log on to the LinkSys network, but have limited access and no internet.
Keith

 

OK, well I'm back from my 2 week vacation and taking another look at this problem. I tried a "system restore" to a point 2 days before the problem and it fixed it. The system had done an automatic update the day before the problems, and I think that it caused the crash. I'll have to see what it was...
Thanks for the inputs.
Keith
p.s. We live out in the country and there are no houses or etc. within reach of our wireless network. It won't even reach to the end of our driveway... so I think it's probably OK to use for bank access, no?