OMFG!!!

  • Thread starter Thread starter Tom C
  • Start date Start date
T

Tom C

I have been working on this thing for over a month. I bought a new Netgear
Wireless G PCI adapter (Model WG311) for an HP computer running Windows XP
pro. I followed the instructions to the letter for installing this thing
and found a couple of things that 1. I didn't like and 2. Didn't work.

When installing the drivers, Netgear installed it's own configuration
utility that not only changed the way users log onto the computer. Their
software took away the graphical logon and turned it into the drop down
where you have to type in your user ID. Going into the control panel to
change it back I found that the option for changing the way users log in was
completely disabled. And the card would not work. I went into the
configuration utility and coulld not find my network, but after fiddling
with it for a while, I was finally able to see several wireless connections
around me. The network connection for me showed 100% signal, so I attempted
to connect to it. I get a message that a network cable is disconnected.
There is an LED on the card that shows that it is working, but I show no
signal on the taskbar icon. So being the geek I am, I completely
uninstalled everything, the driver through the control paneldevice manager
and Netgears software through their uninstaller. I then went through
deleting the registry keys and tried installing it again with the same
result. I went back and uninstalled everything again. and exchanged it for
another one. Same result. I uninstalled everything once again and did a
system restore to put the computer back to where it was before I started
this whole fiasco.

Then I decided to use the Add Hardware Wizard to add the driver manually.
Windows can't find the driver on the CD. So here I am, still trying to get
this computer to connect to the Internet. I heard of somebody using a
command something like ncpa.cpl. All that did was open the network
connections window. So here I sit, hoping somebody can give me some advice
on getting this damned thin to work.

Got any ideas?
 
Tom said:
I have been working on this thing for over a month. I bought a new
Netgear Wireless G PCI adapter (Model WG311) for an HP computer
running Windows XP pro. I followed the instructions to the letter
for installing this thing and found a couple of things that 1. I
didn't like and 2. Didn't work.
When installing the drivers, Netgear installed it's own
configuration utility that not only changed the way users log onto
the computer. Their software took away the graphical logon and
turned it into the drop down where you have to type in your user
ID. Going into the control panel to change it back I found that
the option for changing the way users log in was completely
disabled. And the card would not work. I went into the
configuration utility and coulld not find my network, but after
fiddling with it for a while, I was finally able to see several
wireless connections around me. The network connection for me
showed 100% signal, so I attempted to connect to it. I get a
message that a network cable is disconnected. There is an LED on
the card that shows that it is working, but I show no signal on the
taskbar icon. So being the geek I am, I completely uninstalled
everything, the driver through the control paneldevice manager and
Netgears software through their uninstaller. I then went through
deleting the registry keys and tried installing it again with the
same result. I went back and uninstalled everything again. and
exchanged it for another one. Same result. I uninstalled
everything once again and did a system restore to put the computer
back to where it was before I started this whole fiasco.
Then I decided to use the Add Hardware Wizard to add the driver
manually. Windows can't find the driver on the CD. So here I am,
still trying to get this computer to connect to the Internet. I
heard of somebody using a command something like ncpa.cpl. All
that did was open the network connections window. So here I sit,
hoping somebody can give me some advice on getting this damned thin
to work.
Got any ideas?
Click to expand...

Contact Netgear.

This is not a Windows XP issue. This seems to be a driver/software issue.

Netgear software (for wireless) seems to have a habit of changing the GINA.
You can change back to the original MSGINA to restore your logon
capabilities (FAST USER Switching, etc). You could also just try installing
only the driver - although that may involve some expansion of their
installatrion files - or might just be a custom install. Been a while since
I did that for Netgear stuff.

As for inability to connect to the wireless it sees - that also may be fixed
by using the Windows Wireless Zero Configuration manager. The only utility
I have consistently found to be more reliable is the one from Intel. Many
of the others are fairly out-dated and unreliable in functionality, IMHO.
 
I have been working on this thing for over a month.  I bought a new Netgear
Wireless G PCI adapter (Model WG311) for an HP computer running Windows XP
pro.  I followed the instructions to the letter for installing this thing
and found a couple of things that 1.  I didn't like and 2.  Didn't work.

When installing the drivers, Netgear installed it's own configuration
utility that not only changed the way users log onto the computer.  Their
software took away the graphical logon and turned it into the drop down
where you have to type in your user ID.  Going into the control panel to
change it back I found that the option for changing the way users log in was
completely disabled.  And the card would not work.  I went into the
configuration utility and coulld not find my network, but after fiddling
with it for a while, I was finally able to see several wireless connections
around me.  The network connection for me showed 100% signal, so I attempted
to connect to it.  I get a message that a network cable is disconnected..
There is an LED on the card that shows that it is working, but I show no
signal on the taskbar icon.  So being the geek I am, I completely
uninstalled everything, the driver through the control paneldevice manager
and Netgears software through their uninstaller.  I then went through
deleting the registry keys and tried  installing it again with the same
result.  I went back and uninstalled everything again.  and exchangedit for
another one.  Same result.  I uninstalled everything once again and did a
system restore to put the computer back to where it was before I started
this whole fiasco.

Then I decided to use the Add Hardware Wizard to add the driver manually.
Windows can't find the driver on the CD.  So here I am, still trying toget
this computer to connect to the Internet.  I heard of somebody using a
command something like ncpa.cpl.  All that did was open the network
connections window.  So here I sit, hoping somebody can give me some advice
on getting this damned thin to work.

Got any ideas?
Click to expand...

What a good choice for a discussion thread subject/topic. It really
makes me (not) want to look at the thread and try to help.

NETGEAR says that they know how you want your XP to work and this
behavior is for your own good.

http://forum1.netgear.com/showthread.php?p=214458#post214458

Installing the software for the wireless adapter disables the fast
user switching feature of the computer which changes the way you log
in to it. The reason why this feature is enabled is due to security.
To restore the fast user switching feature of the computer while using
the adapter, simply install the drivers for the adapter and use
windows to manage the Wifi. Here are the steps that I would recommend
you try.

1. Uninstall the software/drivers for the NETGEAR Wireless Adapter.
You may do the uninstall from the Add/Remove Programs under the
Control Panel. Once you’ve completely uninstalled the software and the
drivers for the wireless adapter, please restart the computer.

2. When the computer restarts, it will show you the Found New Hardware
Wizard. Follow through with the wizard and if it asks for the location
of the drivers, direct it to the extracted file we downloaded on the
desktop window.

3. Once the drivers have been completely installed, you may now use
the Windows Wireless Zero Configuration to manage/connect to a
wireless network. Here is the link:

http://kb.netgear.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/71
 
I have been working on this thing for over a month. I bought a new Netgear
Wireless G PCI adapter (Model WG311) for an HP computer running Windows XP
pro. I followed the instructions to the letter for installing this thing
and found a couple of things that 1. I didn't like and 2. Didn't work.

<snip>

Best way if you have uninstalled the Netgear drivers is to shutdown the
machine and remove the card. Now reinstall the drivers. Shutdown machine
again then re-install the card, restart the machine. Netgear installer will
pop up again and in the install process select Windows to configure the
wireless settings.

Once that is done;

Download XP_FixLogon.ZIP and save this file to your hard drive. Navigate to
where you saved it and double click the file. Extract XP_FixLogon.exe from
the zip file and double click it. The program will tell you if repairs are
needed or not. http://www.dougknox.com/xp/scripts_desc/fix_xp_logon.htm

This utility checks for the correct GINA value in the Registry and will
allow you to restore it, if its incorrect.

Netgear installed MrvGINA.dll to allow for domain login on secure networks.
The default GINA (Graphical Interface for Network Authentication) is
MSGINA.dll. NETGEAR had to modify this file to allow for encrypted wireless
networks to authenticate before windows logon to support domains.

..
 
Thanks all. I am still unable toget this thing working and have come to the
conclusion that I have a bad card. I am taking it back and getting a
D-Link. A little more money, but definitely an easier install.
 
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