Windows won't Auto Connect to my Wireless Network Anymore

[Ruahrc]

This is a strange problem- any ideas?

My computer hoooks up to our router via a wireless connection. Beforehand, everything was fine. The computer would automatically detect and connect to our network upon boot, and everything was peachy.

Now- when I first boot my computer, it won't pick up the connection. I have to go in manually and fiddle with the settings (I usually have to do this like twice to get it to connect too). This seems to only happen on a cold boot, for if I reboot my PC "warm" it seems to connect up fine. (When I say won't pick up I mean it has the little icon in the corner with the red "X" and it says Wireless Connection Unavaliable)

I haven't changed anything recently- and as far as I know my roomates have had no trouble connecting on boot. (But I could be wrong- since I think they leave their comps on all the time)

The other strange thing is- that I can only connect (at all) when I use my NetGear Wireless utility. If I try to connect via the built in windows method- it will detect and connect to the network, but there will be some DNS error which prevents me from surfing. If I connect through the NetGear utility though everything's fine. Also, if I connect to some uh.. local "unprotected" networks that I can see, I have no trouble connecting (using the built in windows method), but when I try to connect to my WEP protected network it has trouble. Could that be part of it?

If I go to the connection status and look at the details, the IP address is listed as "Invalid IP Address" and then I know it's not working. tried using the windows "repair" connection button- it gave me this error stating that it couldn't renew the IP address, and that it couldn't flush the DNS Library (Or something to that effect). Do those messages give any clues? I've tried this ipconfig /release and ipconfig /renew to no avail (still get the DNS errors) and I've run the network setup utility again to no avail as well.

What next? Uninstall the NetGear software and reinstall it or something?

Ruahrc

Just so you know, this router is 2 rooms over, the signal strength is strong and shouldn't be the cause of the problems.

P.S. Looky its post#1001! (Hehe the first time around this was going to be post 1000 but I decided maybe my 1000th post should be helping someone out not asking for help )
Does that make me an Ultimate Member now?

[meese]

quote:

"If I try to connect via the built in windows method- it will detect and connect to the network, but there will be some DNS error which prevents me from surfing. If I connect through the NetGear utility though everything's fine."


What OS is this?

What does an ipconfig /all show with the netgear utility? What does it show with the windows utility? Post the info here.

[Ruahrc]

I'm using XP Pro SP1.

Here are pics of the ipconfig /all:

[Ruahrc]

...and the other screencapture:

[meese]

Something to try is to setup TCP/IP statically. Right now you get an IP automatically from the router (with the netgear method). You don't get squat witht the window method. Right down the ipconfig /all info from the netgear image. Then open the properties for "Local Area Connection". Then open the properties for TCP/IP. Uncheck "Obtain IP address automatically" and "Obtain DNS IP address automatically". Then fill in the fields copying from the ipconfig /all image. Click OK. You may need to reboot. Then try the windows method again.