Success! Thanks for your helps. [faalin. the network is transmitting a 802.11b/g/n signal. ... bill. i downgraded the security on the network to WPA PSK cuz i noticed XP dint offer WPA2. I dont plan to upgrade/update XP cuz 1. it is now unsupported, so vulnerable. 2. there are prob so many updates besides sp3, it would take so long to do it safely, a few at a time. 3. I intend to install W7 as primary OS very soon. ]
Emerald... it was yur last that was the key i needed...
Bcuz i recall having so much difficulty connecting XP to the internet previously, i will list the steps (most of them) that made it much easier this time, with youse guys help...
[btw... i wasnt even certain that this belkin usb device was even good... no light when i plugged it into the usb, tho windows recognized the presence (at least) of the device... ]
1. i knew i had a successful new installation of XPsp2...
2. i knew i had a working network, with a few devices connecting wirelessly...
3. fool me... i had discarded the install disk that came with the device only last week. (Windows was unable to find drivers) i downloaded drivers but they werent the right ones. i went to belkins website, and was able to find (but it wasnt easy) the drivers for the exact model i have. i was then able to install the drivers for the device...
4. i disabled windows firewall to prevent possible complications... (tho i have since re-enabled it, without any noticeable diff. )
5. i tried belkins program to handle the connection, but it seemed to fail, miserably, so i decided to see if windows could handle it. i searched on this site, and found posts which led me to ms's site, where i found how to run WZC so windows could take control...
6. 'Network Connections' showed a 'Wireless Network Connection' with a red 'X' (disconnected), tho it correctly identified my device, showing a small icon of an antenna with green 'broadcast' waves...
7. at this time, the led on the device would blink rapidly, indicating it was prob working, or trying to...
8. 'Windows Network Connection' correctly identified my wireless network (by name) , noting that it required a 'network key', but offering no suggestion as to how to submit the network password. Attempts to connect failed, without any advice as to how to proceed...
9. Many attempts to find where to select the security and insert the password failed...
10. the KEY was Emerald's last response...
use Windows to manage the network card. [done]
you should be able to manage the wireless networks in the network car[d] properties and enter
a password in there. [?]
also once under Windows control, disconnect and then reconnect that usually asks for
the password. [!]
if all fails, delete the wireless network from the list where you manage the wireless networks
and then reconnect to the wifi. [not needed.]
in 'Network Connections' i first 'disabled' and then 'enabled' the 'Wireless Network Connection'.
11. mebe i had overlooked it before... 'Wireless Network Connection Properties', under tab 'Wireless Networks'... 'Preferred networks', click on button which says 'Add', i say again, the button which says 'Add...' and a window appeared titled 'Wireless network properties', where I have tabs for 'Association', 'Authentication', and 'Connection' where i found what i thought i needed...
fields where i could select the Network Authentication protocol, Data encryption method, and insert the 'network key'...
i selected WPA-PSK, AES, and entered the password twice...
12. as soon as i entered this info and clicked 'OK', this window closed, and 'Network Connections' showed that something was happening... the red ' X's disappeared, and within moments, without having to do any thing else, the connection was open, 'Network Connections' added an 'Internet Gateway' which was 'Connected'... i opened my browser to verify, and here i am, submitting this msg on my previously blocked computer....
13... it is maddening sometimes, when you know there is a simple solution, but cant find it, or dont even know where to look... a caution... computers are very literal... you must do everything just right, step by step... dont assume... check and verify... if the process fails, start again from the beginning or look elsewhere... above all else, dont hesitate to ASK for help... when i did, i received a number of responses in less than an hour... each response helped me to check what i had done, got me nearer to finding the answer, until i found exactly what was needed, and my problem was solved...
14. i posted this at such length because i have struggled with this problem, i see here on the forum that others have, and this site archives posts such as this, which may be helpful to another one day...
A big thankyou to all who helped...
regards...
dnormtech
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram