connectivity problem

My friend has two Windows user accounts: one with limited privileges, for going online, and one with administrative level privileges, for administrative tasks such as installing software, updating security program databases, etc.

This morning, a connectivity problem suddenly arose: now, in order for his wireless network connection to be connected to the Internet, two conditions must be met:

• He must be in his administrative level account, and
• He must not have logged on to his limited account since booting up.

I notice that even when both of the above conditions are met and he is connected to the Internet, no list of available wireless networks is displayed in Windows’ Wireless Network Connection window (in which you select a wireless network). Instead, it says “Windows cannot configure this wireless connection. If you have another program to configure this wireless connection, use that software.”

My friend does have NetGear wireless adapter software installed on his computer, but I don’t believe that that is the program by which he can configure his wireless connection, because that is for NetGear’s wireless adapter (which is a USB device), but my friend’s wireless connection is made by an onboard wireless connection mini-card. At any rate, I don’t have his computer in front of me at the moment, so I can’t look into that right now, but if anyone can suggest how I might see if there is a program installed that would enable me to configure his wireless connection, that would be a big help. Incidentally, NetGear’s wireless adapter software has been installed on his computer for a long time and hadn’t caused any connectivity problems before.

Just for the record, my friend is running:

• Windows XP Home Edition
• two different browsers: IE8 and Firefox
• avast! Antivirus
• SUPERAntiSpyware
• Malmarebytes’ Anti-Malware
• PC Tools Firewall Plus
• Spyware Blaster

All software and security databases are up to date, and no malware can be found on the computer, even by Combofix, MGtools, etc.

Any help that anyone can give would be most appreciated.

 

To allow windows to configure the wireless settings, you have to start up the service.
Start-->Run-->services.msc-->Scroll down to Wireless Config-->Double click, and click enable, or you can just start it from the left hand column.

 

I'm confused. Can the status of a network connection - whether or not it's connected - truly be dependent on the user account?

 

'Fraid this is a "me too" post. Could persuade a machine to connect to the wireless router when in an admin account, but not in a limited user account (XP SP2).

By using the software that came with USB dongle, I managed to ascertain

a] that the limited account would show as "connected" for 2.95 seconds, and then vice versa.

b] that the admin account had its own software which was I used to check the settings etc.

c] that the admin account had the router's wireless password, but the standard one had a blank where the password should have been. All efforts to put the router's wireless password into the boxes in the limited account got absolutely nowhere.

The settings in both were otherwise identical.

When I resigned myself to failure on the issue, the user re-claimed it. 2 hours later the hard drive failed completely (rattling sounds and "drive failed" during the POST - i.e Dead, Deceased, Gone.)

So the issue is a bit academic now, for this system, but I'm leaving my input in case it helps.