I recently installed a Belkin Wireless G Desktop Card on my Windows ME PC, which connects to my wireless router and gives me wireless internet access. The wireless link works fine. However, if I disconnect from the wireless signal I can’t later reconnect. This is a problem because, since I keep hearing that always on means always vulnerable, I don’t want a permanent connection. The problem recurs no matter which method is used to disconnect: (i) Right-click on Belkin system tray icon and click ‘Disable’. If I later click ‘Enable’, the device claims to have picked up the router signal again but will not connect to the internet. (ii) In the ‘Belkin Wireless Networking Utility’ screen, click ‘Disconnect’. If I later click ‘Connect’, the device will not pick up the router signal. (iii) In the ‘Belkin Wireless Networking Utility’ screen, uncheck ‘Auto-connect’. This stops the wireless card automatically connecting to the router signal at startup, but if I later click ‘Connect’, the device will not pick up the router signal. In all cases, the only solution is to reboot (with ‘Auto-connect’ enabled). Is there something I can do to rectify this? Or, alternatively, is there a connection manager program for Windows ME (preferably freeware) that I can install that might work better than the Belkin utility? The only program of this sort that I can find is something called Connection Manager Lite, and, despite claims to the contrary on some sites, this doesn’t work with ME (I’ve tried). All suggestions gratefully received.

MEdunce, SWAG, sounds to me like your router firewall is blocking. Perhaps you need to resend your password or tell the router to allow it? Unsure whether it's you or the firewall, but suspect it's one or the other. HTH. Ed in Texas.

mmm... Not sure what's happening here... Meanwhile... have to say I found wifi with '98/ME less than a perfect experience... whereas with W2K/XP fine. This regardless of make of wifi card (and usb sticks have tended to be less than reliable for me too with '98/ME). I have started using the Devolo Microlink (85Megs) system; lan (ethernet) over mains-wiring. It works fine; certainly compares with wifi in terms of transfer rates etc. and a lot less hassle... Netgear have a similar system, but I went for Devolo as it seemed to get better reviews overall. Security is not an issue as there is a reasonable level of encryption and security for the system. There is a "homeplug" standard to which the priniciple makes conform, and thus allegedly allow mixing of product line...; but I'd be inclined to stick with one make if possible? Have not use wifi since; and if I need to go on-line in the garden/patio... I'd run out a mains extension and plug in to that. If you can't resolve your current problems - perhaps consider the lan over mains approach?

Thank you very much for your helpful replies, and my apologies for this late acknowledgement of them. I’ve had a look at the Devolo system, which looks like a possible solution, though I’d also need to install an ethernet card, which my PC currently lacks. I like the suggestion that I might need to resend my password to my router. From what I can make out, the password is buried in the advanced settings in the Belkin utility. Is there any way to force my PC to resend my password to my router? The ideal, I suppose, would be something similar to the dial-up connection dialogue box, but I can’t see a way of setting this up to deal with wifi, or find a similar program on the web which would do the same job. I entirely agree that wifi works less than perfectly in ME (whilst I’ve had few problems with an XP notebook). Another recent development that has been troubling me on my ME computer since installing wifi broadband is its new-found propensity to crash whilst I’m online. This happens intermittently and randomly, but the frequency of the crashes increases if I’m trying to update my anti-spyware programs (a-squared, AdAware, and, the worst culprit, Spybot). The computer either (i) restarts, (ii) restarts and hangs at the ME splash screen, or (iii) gives a blue-screen error message with varying error codes. I’m not sure if this is simply because my ageing computer struggles with broadband, or if it has something to do with the Belkin card / software. This may be material for a new thread, but in the meantime, any suggestions would be much appreciated. Thanks

I found the Belkin wifi card (or more correctly a usb-stick in my case) less than reliable; especialy with '98SE. Whereas a Speedtouch usb-stick worked fine (I have an Speedtouch 716g access-router). Generally from the trawls I did while back the concensus was that it was generally best not mix kit. If using say a Netgear router then use Netgear wifi cards, and similarly with say D-link (which incidentally I have found to be better kit overall - re' standard nic, print-server etc.). Also some of the Netgear access-routers are anything but OK in wifi mode... Re' the Belkin card again - regardless of it being presumably a pci-style(?) - perhaps try another make; but first determine which you might try - and then do a trawl (google etc.) for reports on their performance/reliability etc.? I have found some of the more current cards get good reports with W2K/XP, but don't seem to be too friendly with '98/ME - even though there may be drivers for those OS available. Overall if you can't get it working with wifi on '9x/ME the Devolo (or similar) route would be an answer. Incidentally - how did you set-up/configure the router initially - without a nic in the PC? From my "limited" experience with routers in domestic environs, one needs a hard-wire (Cat-5) connection initially to get it going; afterwhich one can run wifi - until it falls over etc... and one may then need to go hard-wire again to reset etc.? Most (access-)routers require you go on-line to their web-site to set-up/configure the unit; this for logon/passwords (changing the former/changing and/or resetting the latter), hiding/changing ssid, wifi access-control (mac-filtering, wpa/wep etc.)? Finally a standard 10/100-baseT nic cost peanuts these days; and a wifi model not much more (say a Brazil nut???).

Thanks for another very helpful reply. I may well end up installing an ethernet card and either going down the Devolo route or perhaps even running a long ethernet cable under the carpet. In the meantime I might cast around for other wifi kit. In terms of setting up the wifi connection, so far as I can remember, I simply installed the Belkin card, let it pick up the signal from my router, entered the password at the appropriate prompt, and that was all there was to it. Thanks again for your suggestions - I'm very grateful.

The Speedtouch 716G - there is more recent/current version now with a later model number - has been pretty reliable etc. for me and my brother. Perhaps have a look/see and maybe consider it as a possible replacement unit? Re' the Belkin - don't give up on it yet... If there is cat-5 connection to it (can't imagine that there isn't one), then once have installed a nic in the PC, you will be able to connect to the router via a cat-5 cable and achieve a stable connection/access to the Belkin site and thus gain access to the router's full setup-options and functions - at the admin level. There is an ip address for the router site; one which usually defaults with admin / admin as logon / password? Once at the router's admin-page(s) you will be able to see what's going on. At the back of my mind/grey-cell... there is nagging thought/recollection that there is an option to (auto) disconnect a wifi system after "x" mins ("x" being whatever time you set if not accepting a default setting) of inactivity... - somewhere either in XP or in the router setup - but for the life of me I can't clearly recall which/where... If this nag is correct... possibly that is part (all???) of the problem? http://www.jiwire.com/belkin-pre-n-... is a brief desciption of setting up a Belkin router; and in the first web-page illustration it shows an ip address - which is probaby the one to use to gain access router's full setup etc. And this reference clearly states the ip address to use to get to Belkin router setup page...; it's the same ip as in the link immediately above. http://www.satcure.co.uk/mac/router... This second link may be more use overall as it's more detailed etc...