I'm completely new to wireless networks. I was setting one up for a good friend so both of us could do what we need to do without fighting for the internet connection. Unfortunately, things went downhill fast.


I don't know what information I can give to help, so I'll just give the basics of everything involved:

Wireless router:

Belkin F5D7234-4 v1000

Her Network Adapter:

Realtek 8185 Extensible 802.11b/g Wireless Device

Her OS:

Windows Vista home premium


My Network Adapter:

Atheros AR5007GE (also b/g)

My OS:

Windows Vista home basic


The problem:

My computer can't find the network, but hers can. I set the network up last night and saved it, but according to my laptop, there isn't a signal when I know for a fact there is.

Last night my laptop did connect to the network and we both did some college assignments/research. This morning I had nothing, but she can still connect.

Late last night My laptop did loose the connection and wouldn't re-connect. I restarted my laptop and it found the network again. It might be related to the issue.

What I have tried:

Reinstalling my network adapter drivers

Resetting the router to factory defaults

Removing the network I originally set up and creating a new one (her computer finds it, mine doesn't).

Turning the router off and restarting it 5 minutes later

Turning my network adapter off and turning it on 5 minutes later.

I appreciate any help I get in advance. This is confusing because it was working fine yesterday, but it is FUBAR for me this morning.

If it's detecint the network after you restart but drops it, it seems like a compatability issue hardware wise. Try a new netowrk adaptor for your PC and see how that works. Or return your router and get a D-Link, in my experience Belkin and Linksys both have issues.

Also, avoid the linksys WRT54G, GS no matter what, those suck.

If it's detecint the network after you restart but drops it, it seems like a compatability issue hardware wise. Try a new netowrk adaptor for your PC and see how that works. Or return your router and get a D-Link, in my experience Belkin and Linksys both have issues.

Also, avoid the linksys WRT54G, GS no matter what, those suck.

It stopped seeing any networks.

Anyways, I took it apart to see if a connection was bad or something. I found burns on the wireless card and melted silicon where something shorted out.

Thanks Kelly, the network adapter was the problem.

This current computer is about to die. I'm just going to wait until after Christmas when prices drop to get a new one. I can't afford to have to deal with failures like this one and many others.