Need help here! I'm out of options. Computer can't see the wireless network

Question

Sorry for the novel, but I have to tell you what is going on with my computer.  I also need to vent because I’m extremely frustrated.  I want to make sure I give as much info as I can we can get this fixed.  I’m done with trying to figure this out on my own!!!
I’m having a major issue with the wireless network connection on my desktop.  I’ve tried everything and I can’t figure out what it’s doing.
First of all, my wireless router is set up correctly (according to the Sticky), has active security, and works fine.  It has nothing to do with the router.  I’m sure of it.
Here’s a quick history:
When I was at my first residence in Chicago and bought a Linksys wireless N router in May 2008.  My computer was about 30 feet away from the router and everything worked fine.  Always found the router and never lost connection.
I moved to a new place in September 2008 and used the same router, computer, etc. at my new place.  The computer was only about 7 feet away from the router this time, but I used the wireless connection instead so I wouldn’t have a network cable lying across the floor.  At first everything worked fine.  No issues.  Then, one day out of the blue, my desktop lost connection with the router.  My router didn’t even appear as an Available Wireless Network.  I rebooted everything and that seemed to fix it.  OK, issue fixed, right?  Wrong.  It did it again the next day.  I rebooted everything, but it still couldn’t find my router.  It did see lots of other wireless routers in the area though so I know the wireless card was working.  It just didn’t see my router.
This went on for a while.  Sometimes it would see my router and connect then it would lose it again.  I thought maybe it was the router going bad.  Well, I have a notebook computer too so I tried it.  It has found my router every time and has never lost connection.  I had it sitting on top of my desktop even to see if there was some sort of dead spot in my condo, but the notebook found my router just fine. 
Sometimes my desktop would see my router, but it wouldn’t be my network name.  It would call it “Home” or something.  I know it was my network because it was the only network with maximum (Excellent) signal strength.  I’m thinking it must be some sort of association issue.  For some reason it doesn’t associate my router as an available network.  I don’t understand that.
I tried everything: Ad Aware, Live OneCare, registry cleaners, driver updates, restore points, pretty much anything I found in the forums.  Nothing worked for long if at all.  It’s like my desktop only finds my router when it wants to.  Note: The only thing that would work sometimes was if I clicked “Repair.”  Sometimes that would work.  I finally gave up and connected my desktop via network cable and unhooked my wireless card.  I never lost connection as long as it was hard-wired.
The drama continues.  I recently moved to Iowa and set up my network here.  I’m using the same router, same desktop and wireless card, same notebook computer, etc.  I went ahead and tried the wireless card on my desktop again.  It worked just fine!  No connection issues at all.  It connected and stayed connected.  I thought, “Well, that’s strange.  It must have been something with the condo in Chicago.  Oh well!”  It worked fine from February 5 until March 10.  Now it’s doing it again!!!!  The notebook is about 3 feet away and sees the router just fine.
Here are the facts:
I’m using a Linksys WRT300N Wireless-N router.
I’m using a Linksys Wireless-N PCI WMP300N Adapter (about 18 months old).
I’m running Windows XP on the custom built desktop and Windows Vista on the HP notebook.
I built this computer about 5 years ago and have not done any major upgrades for 2-3 years.  The only thing I added was the wireless card.  I also changed out the HD in January 2009 and did a data migration right before I moved to Iowa in February.  All of the networking issues were going on well before I did the data migration though so it has nothing to do with that.  In fact, I had my computer hard-wired into my router at the time of the data migration and the wireless worked fine (for a little while) after I moved to Iowa.  So if anything, the data migration seemed to help with my wireless connection.
All drivers are up to date.
Using Windows Live OneCare and have run complete scan: nothing found.
Using Ad Aware and have run complete scan: only found cookies and deleted them but didn’t fix issue.
Ran WinsockxpFix but that didn’t help.
Ran TweakNow RegCleaner Standard but that didn’t help.
Right-clicking the wireless icon, I try to view Available Wireless Networks.  The window comes up and shows me other wireless networks in the area (2 available right now), but doesn’t show my network at all.  I click “Refresh network list” and 1 or 2 of the other networks will come up, but mine is still not shown.
I’ve clicked “Repair” and get this message: “Windows could not finish repairing the problem because the following action cannot be completed: Connecting to the wireless network.”
If I go to Control Panel, there is a Wireless Configuration Utility program from Broadcom.  When I open that here is what I find:
It is not managing my wireless networks.
Under the “Wireless Networks” tab I see my Network with an “X” over the router icon to the left of it and a locked security icon to the right of it.
No information under the “Link Status” or “Statistics” tabs.
The “Site Monitor” tab shows my wireless network and the other 2 networks in the area (although they drop in and out because of signal strength).  My network is always present even though the signal strength bounces up and down.  This tab shows that my network is secure, 802.11 is g and n, speed is 270 mbps, Channel is 9, and Signal bounces from orange/red to green.  Data encryption is (m)TKIP, TKIP, WPA-PSK.
I was going to use my notebook to post this message since it has been connected for 2 days without ever losing connection.  It shows Very Good signal strength and is about 3 feet away from my desktop.
Update:  My desktop just connected to my network after sitting there for 2 hours.  Good to Very Good signal.  Broadcom tool shows the connection and now has information in the Link Status and Statistics tabs.
Cancel that.  It just lost connection again.  It was only connected for about 5 minutes.  There is no change in signal strength according to Broadcom though.  In fact, Broadcom shows better signal now that I lost connection.
Now, it just connected again (on its own) after sitting there for 10 minutes!  I’ve been surfing the web on my desktop for 45 minutes now and I’m using my desktop to post this message.  What the heck?!!!  This is what it’s like.  Aggravating huh?
Well, that’s all I can think to write.  What else do you need?  Can anybody help me with this?
I’m confused.  Please help!
Thanks a lot!!!
Jake
Message Edited by JakeT on 03-12-2009 02:54 PM

Answer 1

Thanks but it's just my desktop that doesn't see it though.  My notebook sees it everytime, even at the same exact time that my desktop doesn't see it.  For example yesterday when I was typing up this post, I was typing up the post on my notebook because my desktop didn't see the router.  I don't think it has anything to do with the router actually, but I wanted to see if anyone on here has encountered this issue before.  Other forums have similar issues but I've tried all of the fixes I found elsewhere and they didn't work.
Any other ideas?
Thanks!