"It is not the fault of the server or wireless service as I have a backup computer when the first fails that has never had this issue. It connects instantly and stays connected. "

So it's your computer with the issue

The Network adapter is the first thing to try, uninstall it from device manger, reboot, windows will reinstall the adapter for you. Then see how things go.

Here's how.

Here is a link that might be useful: Reinstall-Wireless-Drivers

Thanks for the quick reply zep. I'll try it and report back.

Ok, zep, I'm working through the instructions you posted. I am at the part where it tells you to uninstall the Network Adapter that has "wireless" in its title. I don't see such a title. Under Network Adapters I have 4 things:

Broadcom 802.11b/g WLAN
MAC Bridge Miniport
Microsoft ISATAP Adapter #12
NVIDIA nForce Networking Controller

Pretty sure it is the first one, right?

Thanks.

This post was edited by marita40 on Sat, Dec 21, 13 at 17:17

Broadcom 802.11b/g WLAN

Right click on that, then choose "Uninstall" reboot the computer and surf around

I'd suggest rebooting the router too - keep it unplugged for at least 30 seconds.

Good call,

I agree... If the network adapter reinstall doesn't resolve it do that next...

Now I'm snookered. Did everything right in the uninstall, but the driver did not come back when I clicked Action at the top of Device Manager. Now what?? My wireless device is gone!

Not sure what you did there. Lets do a system restore.

Do that an tell me how things are.

Not going anywhere :)

Here is a link that might be useful: system-restore-vista

zep--so bizarre. I did a system restore to a point from two days ago, and the driver did NOT reappear. I did another system restore to a point one day ago, and it still did not reappear. Now what?

Sorry to take your time!

No, I'm sorry. I told you to uninstall it. It's a routine exercise and we should not have had any issues, but it's a machine :)

Lets go get the driver from see link, download it to the desktop, then double click it

This one:
Broadcom Wireless LAN Driver for Microsoft Windows Vista
Go to the web page in my link below, select operating system (Vista)

Then scroll down a bit. Look for Network driver this one
Broadcom Wireless LAN Driver for Microsoft Windows Vista and download it. You will see it on the web page.

Here is a link that might be useful: Broadcom Wireless LAN Driver for Microsoft Windows Vista

Ok, stupid question--but how do I download the link you've provided on the computer that can't access the internet? I'm on my backup computer (HP Mini, Windows 7) as I am talking with you here.

Not a stupid question. There's 2 ways to do it.

The first way is to connect the broken computer directly to the router with a Ethernet cable, that way it connects directly without needing wireless.

The other way is:

On the computer you're using now download it to a USB flash drive.

What I do is just download it to the desktop, then drag the file to the USB flashdrive.

Take the flash out and insert it into the broken computer, drag the file to the desktop and double click it.

I'll be here, the tree is all decorated so nothing else to do but help you.

FYI, I also see that there is a HP Backup and Recovery selection on the computer that says it "reinstalls factory shipped software programs and hardware drivers." Worth trying?

maybe connect the laptop by ethernet cable to the router? I bet the wireless adapter is dead and that's why it's not found and reinstalled.

You can get a replacement wireless adapter that slides into the pcmcia slot (if the laptop has one) or a usb connected external wireless card.

maybe connect the laptop by ethernet cable to the router? I bet the wireless adapter is dead and that's why it's not found and reinstalled.

Right..

Download the driver from the web page

Progress. I downloaded the driver to the zip drive and got it to the desktop of the broken computer. Double clicking it asks me where to save it. The default is c:\SWSetup\sp41675. Tried that, but don't know where to go next. It still doesn't appear under Network Devices.

c:\SWSetup\sp41675

Go to the "C" drive and look for SWSetup folder, double click it, inside that folder should be sp41675.exe, double click that. or let me know what's in the folder.

sp41675.exe

If you don't see that above in the folder, you simply may just click the setup in the folder.

Right clicking on setup brings up the Installshield wizard to install Broadcom 802.11 Wireless Lan Adapter. I have done that. It ends by saying "Set up has finished installing the Broadcom 802.11 software on your computer and has started Broadcom 802.11." I then clicked "Finish" and the Install box went away. So that's where I am. I don't know how to "attach" the driver to a network adapter since the network adapter is gone. Nothing else happens after the Install box goes away.

It worked! It came back after turning off the computer and letting it sit for a bit. The internet connection is restored.

Thanks for your patience zep. What is unknown is whether I'm just back to where I was in the first post, and I'm too tired now to try anymore. At least I got the connection restored.

Thanks zep!! Really appreciate the help.

First of all you don't right click on set up, you double click. You should not need to do anything else, the driver should auto install. You could reboot the machine. Then either try to connect or look for network adapter in device manager.

It looks like it installed so I'd reboot and see what happens, try to connect.

Hi marita40,

Have you made any progress getting the driver installed ?

I downloaded that driver and ended up with this
{{gwi:1511723}}

On the desktop, so it looks like I could just double click it, I don't want to do it because it will install and mess up my driver. Is that what you got when you downloaded it. Just curious here

This post was edited by zep516 on Sun, Dec 22, 13 at 18:20

Unfortunately, that particular HP model seems to have problems with the network adapter going bad. I had the same model, which I gave to my son, and we just finally gave up and bought a cheap USB adapter. Turned off the switch for the onboard adapter and use the USB one. It has worked perfectly for a couple of years.