Wireless network problem in XP user account mode

Posted January 16, 2007 · January 16, 2007

Wireless networking problems are notorious but I hope someone can help with mine.

1. My home set-up is a Fujitsu laptop and HP PC, both with Win XP HE SP2 and wireless network adapters. They connect to broadband via 3Com wireless router, protected by its firewall; Microsoft Wireless Firewall is switched off. All three items are in the same room within 5 metres.

2. Pressing a button on the Fujitsu activates the WNA. Odyssey Client [by Funk Software] pre-installed. I have not yet activated WEP [awaiting solution of this problem].

3. Until recently, both computers would access the internet without problem for all users. Now the PC remains fine but the laptop will only connect after a reboot if I open in the administrator account.

4. If I start up the laptop and go into user account, the WNA cannot find the network. In Odyssey, it displays <any> as the network name [sSID], remains ?searching for access point?; the Scan function searches and returns a blank network name with signal level, and fails to connect.

5. However if I open the admin account first, start the WNA, it connects rapidly. Also if I log off [which shuts down WNA automatically], log onto the user account, then start the WNA, it fires up and connects immediately.

6. If I start up the laptop, open the user account, fail with WNA activation, then log onto the administrator account, Odyssey displays the network SSID name, gives status ?searching for access point?, but fails to connect via commands Scan and Reconnect. So the solution then is to reboot and open up the admin account again.

7. I have read numerous forums and tried several ideas. No success with ?reboot router?; ?stop/start WZC?; ?change settings of WNC/ Use Windows to configure??. Some solutions set out reinstall TCP/IP settings but can this be the answer when I can connect in some of the situations described? Tried downloading SP2 Tools but MS will not allow HE users to access netdiag.exe.

8. The main event preceding the problem was tidying up user accounts so that private files are accessed only via limited user accounts. I may have converted an administrator account to user, and vice versa. Nothing major and I?ve no idea if this could be a cause.

I imagine there is a problem in the registry somewhere. I?d welcome suggestions. I have preinstalled XP and no disk, so cautious about major changes I can?t reverse.