My wireless is gone?

Hey all!

I have a quick question.
I've had linksys (sp?) for a little over a year now, I think. Every once and awhile, the internet will die, but we just disconnect, then reconnect, and it works fine. Well, for two days now, it hasn't been working at all. And when I check to see if there are any availabe networks, there are none.
My computer says that I uninstalled linksys, but I haven't touched it. We have the CD for linksys, but it says I need my original computer software... Which I can't seem to find ;;;;

My brother is pretty good with computers, and the only way he can find to fix it is connect a cable to the router, or... Uh.. Whatever it is XD
And truthfully, I don't enjoy sitting in a room thats not my own, on the hardwood floor, on my knees, trying to get things done.
So if anyone can help, please do!

Thanks,
Addi

 

What type of computer a desktop or a laptop?
What operating system windows xp home, pro, 98?
Left click start, right click my computer, left click properties, the General tab should open describing your operating system.
If a desktop is there an antenna on the back of the tower?

 

Its a Compaq laptop, and Vista, sadly ;A;
Sorry, I should have put all the information up there.

 

Do the wired pc's get disconnected as well?
There are several things that could be the problem.

If you network doesn't have security and has the default password then anyone within range could have blocked you out of your own network. If you suspect that to be the case then grab a ballpoint pen and reset your router to factory defaults. Then follow this article http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,130330/article.html to learn how to secure your network.

Another possible cause if the router itself if malfunctioning. If this is the case then you can try updating the firmware and see if that resolves the problem.

A third (and obvious) problem could be that the wireless switch on your laptop is turned off. (Forgive if it seems simple but you would be surprised to know how often this is the problem).

Hope that helps.

 

what is your exact model # of your linksys router? do you have dsl, or cable (really shouldn't mattter)? i recently had problems resetting up a wireless connection at my cousins (with vista). the adapter s/w looked like it was connecting, but the windows configuration, said i was not connected. well, i went round and round, and i had put in the wrong p/w. have you tried your laptop somewhere else (to see if it's a problem at home)? what all have you tried?

alot of times you can log into your router to check/change router settings, you don't really need your installation disk(s). whenever i set up my d-link routers, i just log into the router using ie. anyway, more info would help. - sos

 

I have never used Vista.
Sorry, this is beyond my current abilities.

Someone with Vista knowledge Please step in.

 

are we talking about a linksys, router and adapter? is your adapter built into your laptop (or an external, like usb)? if it is a linksys adapter, then of course you have to reinstall the linksys s/w (do you get any bars?). have you checked add/remove programs, to see if it was removed, maybe it's corrupted, and that is why it won't let you reinstall it?

have you tried going to linksys, and d/l'ing the software and trying to reinstall that way? i don't know why you would need your original computer s/w? if you can give more information, or post screenshots, it would be beneficial. - sos

 

Well, to the first two, my brothers laptop and PC, as well as my grandfathers, all work fine, so I don't think its the router.

And the last one, my brother thought of that, and we think it make be stuck XD

Thanks for your help!

 

Lets see... I guess the model number is 2.4. I have DSL
I haven't tried my computer around the house, but my grandfathers and my brothers computers work...
I haven't really been able to try much, since my computer says that there are no wireless connections availabe, not just that it can't connect.

I'll see if my brother can try that. Thank you!

 

Well, I guess its built into my laptop, becuase I didn't have anything sticking out of it. Now I have a cable sticking out of it, so I can connect, but I didn't use to. So I guess I can try installing the CD again. Thats what I thought would make sense, but my brother kept saying I needed my original computer software CD. Which I kinda lost. But no, I don't get any bars at all. Theres not even an availabe connection.

I don't know exactly what would help, but heres a screen shot of what it says when I look at the wireless connection screen: http://s109.photobucket.com/albums/n51/lightbeam911/?action=view&current=screen.jpg

Ugh. Its... Small. I hope you have good eyes XD I can try and get it bigger, if you need.

Oh, and the attachment, mine just says its currently connected to linksys access: local and internet
But only becuase I'm connected with a wire.

 

what is the exact model #, and part # of you laptop (all i know is it's a compaq that has vista). you might be able to go to compaq, and get the drivers for you wireless card (what does it say in device manager)? i looked up my model, and there are like 8 different ones, so you also need to know what wireless card (in the screenshot below - i have a broadcom card). have you tried disabling/enabling the card in "network connections" (something like that in vista)? g/l, sos

edit - in device manager does it say your wireless card is ok (no errors)?