SP2 Breaks MN-700/MN-720 Wireless

Neel,

My problem does not lie with signal strength, it lies
with the fact that the entire connection is flaky.
Sometimes it connects for a short while, but the icon on
the system tray doesn't show that I am connected (yet I
can connect to the internet). Sometimes it doesn't
connect at all.

I noticed that the new driver that came with the
MSBNDownload update describes my MN730 adapter as
a "Microsoft Wireless Notebook Adapter". Yet my adapter
is the PCI adapter. I tried using the Update Driver
feature from the Device Manager, and I was able to
replace the newer driver with the old one. Still no luck.

I purchased a Linksys USB Wireless G adapter today, and
I'm going to test it tonight. If it works, I will have to
assume that Microsoft released a poor driver for my PCI
adapter.

I wish there was a way that we users could know if
Microsoft has heard our problems and is working on them.
I hate the idea that I can't use my nice MN730 PCI
adapters in XP SP2 (I own two of them).

Do you have the same problem if you are not using WPA?
Is the reported signal strength on the MN-720 good? If not, you might want
to try rolling back the driver for the MN-720.
Are you sure you have the correct WPA passphrase? If the passphrase is
incorrect, you will get the behavior you are seeing.

--
Neel Malik
Program Manager
Microsoft Corporation

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

"MCSE2003-SP2-EARLY-ADOPTER"

You might see if powering off and powering up the MN-700
allows you to connect once from the MN-720. Just to see
if the problem is with the 700 or 720.This isn't a
solution, just a test. Who wants to reboot a router every
time you turn on another computer.
Good luck, they're neat but frustrating pieces of kit.

I would be very interested to learn the results of your testing with the
other adapter. You did not indicate what type of security you are using. Are
you using WPA, WEP, or none? Do your results change if you use another type
of security.

Do you or your neighbors have any 2.4GHz cordless phones, video cameras,
speakers, or baby monitors?
Have you tried changing channels on the MN-700?
How many wireless networks can you see?

--
Neel Malik
Program Manager
Microsoft Corporation

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

I can confirm SP2 breaks the connection for my Intel
Anypoint 2 wireless network as well. Hence my other post
asking if the Microsoft hardware can ad-hoc, it would
appear not if you have SP2 then.I tried restore, no joy,
still can't see each other even with firewalls off.

Double-check some of the basics, Phil:  Same channel, same Workgroup, etc.
I'm running SP2 on my LAN here, and have never had a break show up even with
all the machines running the Windows Firewall separately.
--
Chris H.
Microsoft Windows MVP/Tablet PC
Tablet Creations - http://nicecreations.us/
Associate Expert
Expert Zone - www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/ex pertzone

'fraid I checked all that Chris, it may be something to
do with the proprietry Intel sharing software (it is
pretty old kit now)
I was looking to upgrade it anyway but I hate being
defeated :-)

same Workgroup, etc.
break show up even with

Oh, one more thing. This problem happens when I use my mn-
730 (the PCI card).