Wireless Network Adapter Appears as Disconnected

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This article was previously published under Q324024

SYMPTOMS

Some wireless network adapters may appear as disconnected even if the wireless network adapter is connected and is functioning properly.

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CAUSE

The problem occurs if the wireless network adapter does not support the Wireless Zero Configuration service. Windows XP expects all wireless network adapters to support this service.

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RESOLUTION

Service Pack Information

To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Windows XP. For additional information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

322389 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/322389/EN-US/ ) How to Obtain the Latest Windows XP Service Pack

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Hotfix Information

A supported hotfix is available from Microsoft. However, this hotfix is intended to correct only the problem that is described in this article. Apply this hotfix only to systems that are experiencing this specific problem. This hotfix might receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next software update that contains this hotfix.

If the hotfix is available for download, there is a "Hotfix download available" section at the top of this Knowledge Base article. If this section does not appear, contact Microsoft Customer Service and Support to obtain the hotfix.

Note If additional issues occur or if any troubleshooting is required, you might have to create a separate service request. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for this specific hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Customer Service and Support telephone numbers or to create a separate service request, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support (http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support)

Note The "Hotfix download available" form displays the languages for which the hotfix is available. If you do not see your language, it is because a hotfix is not available for that language. The English version of this fix has the file attributes (or later) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in coordinated universal time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time tool in Control Panel.

Windows XP Home Edition and Windows XP Professional

   Date         Time   Version      Size       File name
   --------------------------------------------------------
   16-Jul-2002  18:39  5.1.2600.43  1,633,792  Netshell.dll     
   16-Jul-2002  18:39  5.1.2600.43     56,832  Wzcdlg.dll       
   16-Jul-2002  18:39  5.1.2600.43     19,968  Wzcsapi.dll      
   16-Jul-2002  18:39  5.1.2600.49    190,976  Wzcsvc.dll       

Windows XP 64-Bit Version 2002

   Date         Time   Version            Size    File name
   --------------------------------------------------------------
   16-Jul-2002  18:39  5.1.2600.43     2,736,640  Netshell.dll     IA64
   22-Apr-2002  17:23  5.1.2600.43     1,633,792  Wnetshell.dll    X86
   22-Apr-2002  18:10  5.1.2600.43        56,832  Wwzcdlg.dll      X86
   22-Apr-2002  18:10  5.1.2600.43        19,968  Wwzcsapi.dll     X86
   16-Jul-2002  18:07  5.1.2600.49       190,976  Wwzcsvc.dll      X86
   16-Jul-2002  18:39  5.1.2600.43       115,200  Wzcdlg.dll       IA64
   16-Jul-2002  18:39  5.1.2600.43        45,568  Wzcsapi.dll      IA64
   16-Jul-2002  18:39  5.1.2600.49       441,856  Wzcsvc.dll       IA64

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STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article. This problem was first corrected in Windows XP Service Pack 1.

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