Computer no longer connects to router automactically, please help!

Question

I have a linksys router wrt54gs version 6 and a dell laptop with a dell wireless card 130 WLAN Mini-PCI Card and windows xp.  I've had my router since about april and everything seemed to be working correctly until last week, my computer just stopped automactically connecting to the router.  it only works if i hook it back up the the router and do the "unwire this computer" function but then when i turn or log off the computer and turn it back on it won't connect on its own.  i had this problem when i first got the router but it turned out to be the firewall on my norton internet security program, so i kept it turned off and used windows firewall instead.  this time i have tried turning off all firewalls and even temporarily deleted the norton program to see if that was the cause, i have also tried reinstalling the router, none of these things have worked.  My computer says my wireless card is working properly and the virus scanner shows that the computer is clean.  I can't figure out what the problem could be or why this happened all of the sudden, can anyone help? i would really really appreciate it Thanks.

Answer 1

First of all, give your network a unique SSID. Do not use "linksys". If you are using "linksys" you may be trying to connect to your neighbor's router. Also set "SSID Broadcast" to "enabled". This will help your computer find and lock on to your router's signal.
Most wireless cards have software that keeps a list of "Preferred Networks"  (sometimes called "Profiles" ).  It is the same area where you can input your SSID, encryption method (if any), and key (password) (if any).
Go to this area.  Delete any networks that you do not recognize, or that you no longer use.  Delete any network named "linksys".  Make sure your current network is listed here.  On many systems, you can also set your wireless card to automatically login.  (Note, you may need to highlight your current network, then select "Properties" or "settings" to do this. )
If you still have trouble, download and install the latest driver for your wireless card.
If you are running WPA2 encryption ( = PSK2 = WPA with AES), please note that Windows XP requires a patch to run WPA2. Go to Microsoft Knowledge base, article ID=893357 and it will direct you to the patch.
Sadly, the patch is not part of the automatic Windows XP updates, so lots of people are missing the patch.
Hope this helps.
Message Edited by toomanydonuts on 07-29-2007 05:22 AM