Hi. I'm stuck. I have multiple PCs in my home and recently installed a better modem/router to interface with the DSL to which I am subscribed. Actually, changing hardware was necessary since Frontier took over this region from Verizon and the old Verizon-customized modems aren't interfacing too well.

But actually, that isn't the issue with which I'm struggling. Now that I have a new modem/router, I am double checking that all of my PCs can connect to the home LAN okay. I am down to one stubborn problem, as my other 4 PCs handled the transition smoothly and without snag. All those other PCs are running WXP or higher. But I have this older Toshiba Tecra 8100 laptop that we don't use much anymore, and it is running W2K.

Now I SWEAR (subject to my aging recollection) that this laptop was operating just fine, wirelessly, interfacing to my previous DSL router through a rather cheap Encore brand cardbus wireless networking adapter; successfully secured with WEP password protection. But when I dug out this old Tecra, I was horrified to see that the network adapter had been removed from the slot. I located the adapter, safely stored in its original package, and reinserted it. The system recognized it just fine. I swear it was in there before and functioning at 100%!

But now things get ugly. I'm accustomed to WXP by now and forgot how primitive W2K can be. After inserting the adapter, its "Act" light started blinking regularly while its "Link" light was off (or vice versa), and the appropriate System Tray icon appeared with a big red "X", indicating "a network cable is unplugged". No huge surprise. I right-clicked the icon and didn't see my usual luxurious WXP choices; only just "Open Dial-up and Network Connections". From there, I could only open "Properties" for the LAN connection icon, no other luxurious choices! From there, I knew to click on "Configure" for the named wireless network adapter being employed. Now I'm getting warm. There, on the Advanced tab, I found a dozen or more mostly highly technical options, stuff like "Beacon Interval", yeech.

But one choice was for "SSID" and so I entered the correct value for my LAN's custom name. I also changed the "Channel" option to value=3 because that's the value I had set it to on my wireless router. After I applied those two changes, the adapter's "Link" light then came on steady while the "Act" light still blinked; but the "network cable is unplugged" big red "X" still showed on the System Tray icon.

So that's where things stand. I don't see where to specify my WEP key, or where Windows can scan for available networks, as it does under WXP; or where I can customize how my adapter can connect automatically or not, even if the particular network is not broadcasting its SSID (whcih I usually disable). I'm not yet connected. I'm totally at a loss. Any advice, please??

Many thanks in advance.

Oh hell, nevermind. I realize the problem completely now! I wish I could delete that post above but no way.

The solution lies in the fact that the adapter comes with its own fancy configuration program. All I had to do was locate that program already installed and mess with it. SORRY to have pestered you kind folks for nothing!