A customer has a Dell desktop with a SKY USB Wireless NIC connecting to a NetComm wiress router. All was well before he installed SP2 and subsequent windows updates. During that process he lost connection wirelessly but still could connect be cable.

Nearly 2 months later he has come to me for help. The wireless network shows in the list of available networks, I can enter the (correct) WPA-PSK passphrase (verified by connecting with another XP PC) but Windows syas it can not conect because the router is an access point and the PC is not configured to connect to access point.

In fact, in the Wireless Networking Advanced panel it is set to connect to any type, acces point of infrastructure and to non-preferred networks. I can make the change to access point only etc butr on close I am told that one or more settings was unsuccessful, and the setting has not changed.

I have tried using the NICs own utility and disabiling Windows's configuration of the wireless device but the utility cannot make changes either.

So I have tried uninstalling SP2, not possible as not listed to be uninstalled, a restore to prior to SP2 but it says it ca not do that either and a Repair install but that fails as neither the Dell issued Windows serial number nor one from an OEM XP copy is accepted.

Next step is a re-install from Dell's recovery disk, but I'd rather not as he has heaps of software.

Re: Can't make Access Point be preferred connection

This just sounds like a small driver issue... Visit the manufacturer's website for the USB wireless NIC and see if you can grab some updated drivers, otherwise the Wireless NIC may just not be compatible with Service Pack 2, and he will be forced to buy a new one.

Re: Can't make Access Point be preferred connection

Thanks Michael. I have re-installed the drivers to no avail and tried a different USB NIC. Both the USB NICs with their factory supplied drivers work on another PC, so it is something unique to this box. It is something in the Registry I think as the changes to preferences (being standard Windows options - not the NIC's) are not saved.