scout
10-30-2002, 04:23 PM
Does anyone have any insight into this problem? The client in question has a 5 month old 802.11a network that is running well. It uses Dlink hardware (DWL-5000AP and DWL-A650s) with WEP and MAC filtering enabled, no proprietary Turbo mode. The clients are mostly notebooks with a few desktops running a mix of WinME, Win2K, and WinXP Pro.
The Compaq Presario 17XL365 in question was running WinME and exhibiting several unrelated technical issues. I just completed an install of WinXP Pro and configured it with the DWL-A650 (standard Dlink 802.11 PCMCIA card). While using stand alone, dial-up or wired ethernet this unit has no problems. Once the 802.11a card is active, however, touching the START button freezes the computer. The screen blinks and then freezes with the desktop still visible. No mouse movement, no active keys (caps, numlock, etc), no task manager (ctrl-alt-del) - nothing. I can even open applications while stand alone or wired, (such as IE, task manager, control panel, etc), insert the 802.11a card and then use the apps. Only once I try to access the start button does it freeze (very infrequently I'll get past the start button, but the next click such as programs, control panel, or whatever freezes it). I've uninstalled the card/drivers multiple times, tried other vendor's cards (NetGear 802.11a card) but have identical symptoms. This card works fine in other notebooks with the exact same driver versions. I can't blame Dlink (NetGear does the same thing), I'm hesitant to blame Microsoft (other XP machines use the same card just fine, and there's nothing in their support KB) and Compaq can't help at all. (They actually suggested a Compaq Authorized Service Center - Radio shack..... lol).
The only unique item I can find in all this is the notebook itself. Its the only Presario in use. The user remembers similar freezes, only while wirelessly connected, when the unit ran WinME.
I have several other possible solutions that I'd like to implement -
Try disabling onboard 10/100 NIC (could be sharing IRQ or memory space)
Try looking for any conflicting memory space or IRQs in other hardware. Possibly try a manual hardware configuration on the WiFi card.
Try Orinoco Chipset card (not dlink, netgear, linksys)
Try a Compaq WiFi card (although I don't know if they have 802.11a cards in addition to 802.11b)
Try USB connected WiFi antenna instead of PCMCIA card (this would eliminate the XP/Compaq/PCMCIA cardbus driver sets as potential failing point. Does anyone know of any USB 802.11a devices, I've only seen USB w/802.11b?)
Try removing XP SP1.
The final alternatives are
Explore a hardwired connection to this notebook while in the office.
Replace the notebook.
Test with another type of wireless card (802.11b instead of 802.11a - I already own the hardware in my office to try this solution.)
Any comments or similar experiences will be appreciated. Also, please critique my possible solutions. Thanks!
Scout
The Compaq Presario 17XL365 in question was running WinME and exhibiting several unrelated technical issues. I just completed an install of WinXP Pro and configured it with the DWL-A650 (standard Dlink 802.11 PCMCIA card). While using stand alone, dial-up or wired ethernet this unit has no problems. Once the 802.11a card is active, however, touching the START button freezes the computer. The screen blinks and then freezes with the desktop still visible. No mouse movement, no active keys (caps, numlock, etc), no task manager (ctrl-alt-del) - nothing. I can even open applications while stand alone or wired, (such as IE, task manager, control panel, etc), insert the 802.11a card and then use the apps. Only once I try to access the start button does it freeze (very infrequently I'll get past the start button, but the next click such as programs, control panel, or whatever freezes it). I've uninstalled the card/drivers multiple times, tried other vendor's cards (NetGear 802.11a card) but have identical symptoms. This card works fine in other notebooks with the exact same driver versions. I can't blame Dlink (NetGear does the same thing), I'm hesitant to blame Microsoft (other XP machines use the same card just fine, and there's nothing in their support KB) and Compaq can't help at all. (They actually suggested a Compaq Authorized Service Center - Radio shack..... lol).
The only unique item I can find in all this is the notebook itself. Its the only Presario in use. The user remembers similar freezes, only while wirelessly connected, when the unit ran WinME.
I have several other possible solutions that I'd like to implement -
Try disabling onboard 10/100 NIC (could be sharing IRQ or memory space)
Try looking for any conflicting memory space or IRQs in other hardware. Possibly try a manual hardware configuration on the WiFi card.
Try Orinoco Chipset card (not dlink, netgear, linksys)
Try a Compaq WiFi card (although I don't know if they have 802.11a cards in addition to 802.11b)
Try USB connected WiFi antenna instead of PCMCIA card (this would eliminate the XP/Compaq/PCMCIA cardbus driver sets as potential failing point. Does anyone know of any USB 802.11a devices, I've only seen USB w/802.11b?)
Try removing XP SP1.
The final alternatives are
Explore a hardwired connection to this notebook while in the office.
Replace the notebook.
Test with another type of wireless card (802.11b instead of 802.11a - I already own the hardware in my office to try this solution.)
Any comments or similar experiences will be appreciated. Also, please critique my possible solutions. Thanks!
Scout