Wireless connection being wiped and usb ports not being recognised on weekly basis?

pbul2004 · 11-06-2009, 05:03 AM

Hi,

I am having some really weird problems with my wireless network and I don’t understand why this is going on.

My setup is Sky netgear router downstairs into phone line and Belkin high speed usb dongle upstairs in PC.

The problem is sometimes (appox 12 times now) when I turn the computer on, the wireless connection made has totally disappeared and been wiped. So the Belkin Wireless utility cannot find any connections.

I have to uninstall the belkin wireless utility, restart my pc and then install it again. This will make the wireless connection again and then I can connect to my router and enter the details in. Now every time I have done this, the wireless connection says something like ‘wireless connection 12’. So it looks like its loosing the connection totally and I have had to re-create / install it 12 times.

How do I prevent this from happening and why is it happening?

Also sometimes when I get to the point where it tells me to plug in the USB dongle during belkin setup it doesn’t recognise the USB port I normally have it in. I have had to change the USB port it has been in numerous times now and I wont recognise previous ports its been in! Why is this happening and how do I prevent this as well?

Any help on these strange issues would be great as its really annoying me having to do all this on a weekly basis.

Cheers
Paul

steveb1234 · 11-06-2009, 05:17 AM

Try installing the belkin adapter with a driver only (no belkin utility) and use windows to configure the wifi connection. The belkin usb 2.0 adapters have this problem. I used to work on a tech support desk and got so fed up with trying to troubleshoot these devices that I eventually advised custs to use another brand (netgear are the best I think) as the problem would always repeat. You might find that without the belkin config utility it gets better but if it was mine i'd get rid of it and use a netgear adapter instead.

Always use driver only installs with wifi adapters of any brand.
The config utility is completely superfluous. Windows config is the most reliable.

pbul2004 · 11-06-2009, 06:37 AM

Cheers for the reply,

How would i go about installing the wireless connection via windows manually? And rather than installing the belkin utility, how would i go about installing the driver only without the utility, will this option be on the install cd or get it off the internet?

Sorry to bring up all the bad memories from your support desk job re belkin dongles lol.

When its all up and working there is no problems at all, its fast, doesnt cut out and download speeds are great! Just that sometimes when i turn the pc the connection has just gone!!!

Any advice re, the usb ports having to swap everytime i have to re-install? Is there anyway to get the other ports back working with the dongle? Its just dongle related, i put the mouse etc in there and the ports are fine!

Cheers for your help mate

**johnwill** · 11-06-2009, 07:47 AM

This sounds like your wireless adapter has a problem to me.

steveb1234 · 11-06-2009, 08:45 AM

You could try the plug and play method.
Put the belkin cd into the drive but exit any setup prog that appears.
Then connect the wifi dongle to the usb port.
you should get a found new hardware dialogue box.
When you get to the optins for installing select 'from a specific location' and then choose your dvdrom drive letter.
This may or may not work.
If it does not then go to the belkin website and choose the 'driver only' download for your adapter and then run the setup prog from your desktop.

pbul2004 · 11-09-2009, 04:06 AM

so far so good, not tried the above advice yet, it seems to be running ok at the moment, so ill keep an eye on it until / if it happens again and ill post back on here if the advice fails. But i think your right that its the belkin adapter!

If it happens again ill try your advise with the driver steve.

Thanks for both your help

11-06-2009, 05:03 AM	#1 (permalink)
pbul2004 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 72 OS: Windows XP	Wireless connection being wiped and usb ports not being recognised on weekly basis? Hi, I am having some really weird problems with my wireless network and I don’t understand why this is going on. My setup is Sky netgear router downstairs into phone line and Belkin high speed usb dongle upstairs in PC. The problem is sometimes (appox 12 times now) when I turn the computer on, the wireless connection made has totally disappeared and been wiped. So the Belkin Wireless utility cannot find any connections. I have to uninstall the belkin wireless utility, restart my pc and then install it again. This will make the wireless connection again and then I can connect to my router and enter the details in. Now every time I have done this, the wireless connection says something like ‘wireless connection 12’. So it looks like its loosing the connection totally and I have had to re-create / install it 12 times. How do I prevent this from happening and why is it happening? Also sometimes when I get to the point where it tells me to plug in the USB dongle during belkin setup it doesn’t recognise the USB port I normally have it in. I have had to change the USB port it has been in numerous times now and I wont recognise previous ports its been in! Why is this happening and how do I prevent this as well? Any help on these strange issues would be great as its really annoying me having to do all this on a weekly basis. Cheers Paul

11-06-2009, 05:17 AM	#2 (permalink)
steveb1234 Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 374 OS: xp, windows 7	Re: Wireless connection being wiped and usb ports not being recognised on weekly basi Try installing the belkin adapter with a driver only (no belkin utility) and use windows to configure the wifi connection. The belkin usb 2.0 adapters have this problem. I used to work on a tech support desk and got so fed up with trying to troubleshoot these devices that I eventually advised custs to use another brand (netgear are the best I think) as the problem would always repeat. You might find that without the belkin config utility it gets better but if it was mine i'd get rid of it and use a netgear adapter instead. Always use driver only installs with wifi adapters of any brand. The config utility is completely superfluous. Windows config is the most reliable. Last edited by steveb1234; 11-06-2009 at 05:20 AM.

11-06-2009, 06:37 AM	#3 (permalink)
pbul2004 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 72 OS: Windows XP	Re: Wireless connection being wiped and usb ports not being recognised on weekly basi Cheers for the reply, How would i go about installing the wireless connection via windows manually? And rather than installing the belkin utility, how would i go about installing the driver only without the utility, will this option be on the install cd or get it off the internet? Sorry to bring up all the bad memories from your support desk job re belkin dongles lol. When its all up and working there is no problems at all, its fast, doesnt cut out and download speeds are great! Just that sometimes when i turn the pc the connection has just gone!!! Any advice re, the usb ports having to swap everytime i have to re-install? Is there anyway to get the other ports back working with the dongle? Its just dongle related, i put the mouse etc in there and the ports are fine! Cheers for your help mate

11-06-2009, 07:47 AM	#4 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 41,711 OS: Windows 7, XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Re: Wireless connection being wiped and usb ports not being recognised on weekly basi This sounds like your wireless adapter has a problem to me. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

11-06-2009, 08:45 AM	#5 (permalink)
steveb1234 Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 374 OS: xp, windows 7	Re: Wireless connection being wiped and usb ports not being recognised on weekly basi You could try the plug and play method. Put the belkin cd into the drive but exit any setup prog that appears. Then connect the wifi dongle to the usb port. you should get a found new hardware dialogue box. When you get to the optins for installing select 'from a specific location' and then choose your dvdrom drive letter. This may or may not work. If it does not then go to the belkin website and choose the 'driver only' download for your adapter and then run the setup prog from your desktop. Last edited by steveb1234; 11-06-2009 at 08:46 AM.

11-09-2009, 04:06 AM	#6 (permalink)
pbul2004 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 72 OS: Windows XP	Re: Wireless connection being wiped and usb ports not being recognised on weekly basi so far so good, not tried the above advice yet, it seems to be running ok at the moment, so ill keep an eye on it until / if it happens again and ill post back on here if the advice fails. But i think your right that its the belkin adapter! If it happens again ill try your advise with the driver steve. Thanks for both your help