wireless issues

i have a desktop. i use a LInksys WRT54G for routing. i use wireless on my laptop. these have been working well for over a year.

yesterday a friend visited with a laptop. tried to get onto our wireless. i could not remember the encryption key, so i decided to reset the router and reset everything.

now setting up the wireless system anew has proved to be a nightmare.

i renamed my wireless network.

it appears on broadcast for my laption as an available network. i try to connect, put in the new WEP key and nothing. it tries to log on & then goes off but never connects.

tried using netset on my desktop to use check if we set up the wireless connection properly, when it gets to checking wireless adapter, it says,

netset assistant was unable to detect a wireless adapter on your computer.

HELP!!!!

i am going crazy without my wireless....

1. update your router firmware to the latest version
2. do the same with your wireless adapter drivers
3. consider using WPA instead of WEP. The latter can be cracked in a matter of hours or even minutes..
4. if you are using the Windows wireless utility, try the one supplied by your laptop/adapter maker and vice versa.

any links to the firmware, i am google-ing it too.

is this the latest?

http://www.linksys.com/servlet/Satellite?c=L_Download_C2&childpagename=US%2FLayout&cid=1115417109974&packedargs=sku%3D1127782957298&pagename=Linksys%2FCommon%2FVisitorWrapper

tried it, still stuck.

how do i update the wireless adapter and on which machine - the desktop (my gateway) or my laptop?

i used the windows diagnostic tool and it says -

WIRELESS DIAGNOSTIC TOOL:

wireless - serivce disabled

wireless - user SSID,
action User input required, specify network name or SSID

wireless - first time set up

wireless - radio off

wireless - out of range

wireless - hardware issue

wireless - novice user

wireless - ad-hoc network

wireless - less preferred

wireless - 802.1x enabled

wireless - configuration mismatch

wireless - low SNR

Update the drivers on the computer you are having problems with. Either the laptop maker or the wireless adapter manufacturer webpage will give you the drivers.

Try setting up the network step by step. First, get the thing going without any encryption. Then try adding WPA, WEP, MAC filtering and suchlike.

WIRELESS DIAGNOSTIC TOOL:

wireless - serivce disabled
wireless - user SSID,
action User input required, specify network name or SSID
wireless - first time set up
wireless - radio off
wireless - out of range
wireless - hardware issue
wireless - novice user
wireless - ad-hoc network
wireless - less preferred
wireless - 802.1x enabled
wireless - configuration mismatch
wireless - low SNR

goto->admin tools->services
dbl-click Windows Zero Conf
set it automatic and then start it manually

then use admin tools->computer management to display your device manager

verify there's no red X and/or no yellow triangle with '!'

report back your findings

i went to the Realtek site and downloaded "realtek rtl8139 driver download", followed the steps and rebooted but no change. same thing - netset can not find wireless adapter or not enabled.

-------

the only yellow i see is a yellow question mark next to the

- Other devices, USB Controllers controller

all others are okay. could that have something to do with it,

Realtek 8139 is an ethernet chip, not wireless..

correction i upgraded for my compaq wL110 wireless card.

it seems does not detect the signal from the router or says very low signal and does not connect.

tried ipconfig, nothing.

Go to your router disable WEP key reset the router. Go to device manager and uninstall the wireless card restart pc install the wireless card back, if that works with out WEP key than you can go back and enable the WEP.

i tried all the tricks you guys suggested, i must have updated and even over updated the drivers.

at this point i had unplugged the fridge, phones, microwaves and plugged them back on - i was using elimination.

I TRIED EVERYTHING!

i unhooked everything set it back up again but as i was looking at my laptop i noticed just for a second the signal strength was EXCELLENT and then it suddenly disappeared.

it is like something started up that suddenly cut off the connection.

i then decided change my Mcafee VIruscan settings which is always SUPER FILTERING to allow all traffic since my firewall was on anyway, and VOILA!!!!!!

MY Laptop started working.

so the villain was the Mcafee. What more do you guys suggest I do to avoid this.