[Solved] XP Laptop and Broadcom 802.11g Network Adaptor

Have Gateway 7320 Laptop with Broadcom 802.11 Network Adapter. When I had Verizon internet installed they installed a Router with cable plug in and I used the laptop in that room. Tech had to leave before installed the wireless adapter setup and told me just plug into the router ( I guess it is called). I did so and it worked fine. But I then wanted it wireless so could use in another room like the Dell laptop he set up with internal adapter. I did not know how to configure it so I took it to PC shop who told me the internal adapter did not work, which I believed for did not know otherwise. In a hurry I bought a D-Link USB adaptor which configured itself and now that works and the Broadcom which I guess is for the router or modem or whatever always shows network adapter unplugged, ikely because it expects it to plugged in with ethernet cable in other room.
No real problem with this but how can I be sure the internal Broadcom adapter really does not work and they maybe hoped to sell me a much more expensive that they carried. I do not really know what they did do or should have done but I have used them before and always satisfied and all worked satisfactorily.
But I have always been curious why the internal Broadcom did not work and if I should try to configure it myself if I could learn how, and see if it really does not work. When I look at properties it says device is working properly for all 5 checked options in the items box under General tab.
Under Wireless Networks tab there is nothing listed and a check is in box "Use Windows to configure my wireless network".

I mainly am just confused about this and maybe the internal adapter is not designed for wireless networks or my particular one.
Can someone clarify this for me and either assure me that the Broadcom is not supposed to work with my wireless network or if I could or should try to configure it to work if it IS supposed to. It always shows an icon or bars in the tray no matter if "show icon" or "Notify me" boxes are checked or unchecked.It is enabled.

All now works but I am still confused about this and I wanted some other opinions if what I said and was told is correct, so I can either try something or feel pleased and can stop worrying over it. Thanks for any help or reassurance..

 

BGBG, I have found that some routers have a habit of "remembering" how a computer was last connected. I had a router that did this. If the last computer was wired and I tried to add a wireless one, the router would not recognize the wireless one without rebooting.

 

1. Is the wireless card still there?
What are the chances that they removed it since they stated that it does not work.
2. Is it still connects to the system correctly?
They may have just disconnected the wires.
3. Is it turned on?
There may be a manual switch that needs to be moved in order to turn it on.
Key combo to turn the WIFI card on off with most Dells I have worked on and own (3) it was the (Fn) key and F2.

Will need to remove the USB one and disable it so the system will report the on-board one.

They do that at the shops here a lot of times.

NOTE: If you have not yet go to Dells site and download the proper drives for that WIFI card and install.

If you what ever reason DO NOT GUESS ask.

 

Is there a place to download only the drivers and not a bunch of extra software? I am not interested in driver updaters or other software but ONLY the drivers. Never finished this for everywhere I seemed to go tacked on software, updaters, and other junk. just want to free downloaddrivrs for the Broadcom 802,11g

 

In Windows XP click on Start
Now right click on My Computer
Now select Manage
From the list on the left select Device Manager
No look under Networking (May be Network Adapters)and see if it is listed there.

With some BIOS you can disable WIFI so you may need to check there they may have disabled it there.

Go to the Gateway web site
If it ask select your Country
Now hover over Support
Select Drivers & Downloads
Select the proper Operating System and if it is 32 bit or 64 bit.
Download, unzip, and install the driver.

Let us know if you need any help.

 

Well I'll be darned if this didn't work. Or at least partially. Have forgotten how to do all this stuff but I did as you said. Went to site on other laptop, D/L drivers, copied to flash drive and then to XP. Unplugged D-Link and plugged directly into router with cable. Then installed the driver which it searched for and found. Forget now exactly how I did all the individual steps but NOW I am connected to wireless although I AM wired.
It did not seem to work unless I plug directly into router with ethernet but before I did that nothing would allow me to connect ot anything. I did order another D-Link just to see if first was defective. Cheap at $7.99 free ship. But at least I CAN connect to internet when I could not before even if do have to plug into the router.
I do not know why this is true or what to do about it, nor why the router cable did not work before I did the driver install. Only after. Maybe the Broadcom IS defective since not really wireless, and I do not know why or what to do, but I AM HAPPY I can connect. Just moved laptop into the router room desk and plugged in. Will keep trying it without ethernet and truly wireless but now I know I can plug into router and connect to internet.
If you know anything else I might try I would be happy to give it a shot.
When I first had laptop in the shop because Verizon did not have time to set it up, they told me the Broadcom did not work but I could plug into router which I did awhile. But now plugging in did not work until I installed the driver. Have no idea why. But am glad I have a way to connect at all. Thank you very much.

 

This posting seems to be on two threads, one under XP which is concerns, and in Miscellaneous Hardware which originally concerned a D-Link DWA - 130 wireless adapter which used to work but now I think does not. As far as I am concerned whichever thread you wish to close and refer to the other is OK with me.
So far I installed drivers for Broadcom built in wireless adapter and I can plug into the router with Ethernet and connect to internet but not if I do not plug in. I do not now if this is correct function or if something is still wrong. I would like it to be totally wireless but may not be able to. I have another same type D-Link on order and likely if it is new and I unplug the Ethernet cable I can try the new adapter to see if wireless is again possible.
Originally I COULD connect to internet if plugged in, then I got D-Link and never tried, but now could NOT connect with Ethernet UNTIL installed drivers.
I do not understand if the Broadcom was bad and I could connect with Ethernet then could not until drivers, but STILL cannot if unplug . Looks like Broadcom is NOT truly wireless??? Happy to be able to connect but do not understand why NOT wireless.

 

Device manager still says Driver is 4/9/2004 version 3.40.69.0. Does that mean it was the same driver reinstalled and no newer?

 

Look fine to me - see attached :

 

Is there a image of a wireless symbol near the clock?
Disconnect the wires and click the WIFI symbol if there is one there and select your WIFI connection and enter in the password.
What happens?

 

I shall try this tomorrow.

 

I did what you said. Unplugged cable. It did not like network key (password). Left settings as is. Shows Network Cable Unplugged symbol with red X. Cannot connect to internet or OE so plugged back in. Now connects. Seem to need cable.

 

What is the error message that it gave you if there was any? Couple things that you can do to see if the WIFI card on the system is working.

1. Go into you modem or router which ever supplies the WIFI signal and disable the password temporally to see if it connects then. Let us know if it does or does not and enable the password again.

OR

2. We can run some commands that will refresh the network settings on that system.

If you are not running the Windows Firewall you can skip the first two commands

Open Command Prompt and type in the following commands and press enter after each one.

netsh advfirewall reset
netsh advfirewall set allprofiles state ON
ipconfig /flushdns
nbtstat -R
nbtstat -RR
netsh int reset all
netsh int ip reset c:\resetlog.txt
netsh winsock reset catalog

After the last command has completed reboot the computer so the changes can take affect ad try the WIFI again.

 

Meant to attach this file before-sorry.

But found I left the last letter off the password and retried but still same message. And when plug in ethernet it says network is disconnected. When unplug it says wireless network IS connected. But only way I can connect to internet is if I plug in the cable. Cannot understand why wireless adapter seems not to work but wired it DOES.
Not familiar with command prompt. Used to know but forgot how.
Maybe I should reboot anyway after I change anything.

 

Command Prompt

Press the Windows key + R
Type in CMD
Press OK or press Enter on the keyboard.

Could be that the system can read the WIFI card is there just that the WIFI card has crapped out or is not physically connected properly to the laptop.

 

I am right back where I started when I got the WIreless Verizon install and installed the D-Link Adapter Sept 14,2015. Broadcom has never worked wireless but only when plugged into router. I am hoping that a new D-Link will work for me again for I sure do not know how to fix this if it is at all possible. The computer says all the devices are working properly. And the network password that the computer properties shows is 8 characters while the one the Verizon tech gave my and my other laptop shows is 18 characters.

 

These did not work either. Still can connect if plugged in. My guess is Computer Shop did not know how to fix it either or they would have offered me a solution. Maybe the new D-Link will work again when it comes, like it did the first time. The attachment is the box I get when click the tray icon when plugged into router and connected to internet. I did succeed in doing the command prompt though.