No wireless networks were found in range.

I'm having some weirdness with my new Dell laptop.

First off, I'm not using any firewalls or anything of that nature.

If I try using the Dell WLAN software to manage my wireless networks it acquires an ip address and then says 'connected'. After it says it's connected to the network the windows wireless icon continues to say 'acquiring network address". Of course I can't load a website but oddly enough I can connect through my ftp program.

So I uninstalled the Dell WLAN software so as to let Windows manage my wireless networks. When I open the 'choose a wireless network' screen it always says 'no wireless networks were found in range'. This is weird because there are at least four wireless networks broadcasting in a close proximity to me and all of which are seen using the Dell WLAN sofware.

I know this might sound a bit confusing, but I'm ready to just toss the bastard in the garbage at this point. Anybody have any ideas?

I've seen where the manufacturer's proprietary WLAN software conflicted with Windows' WLAN software. That's normally because they're both running at the same time, and the normal fix would be to disable the Windows program...not the manufacturer's program because it's optimized to be used with the internal wireless network card in your laptop.

I would reinstall the DELL WLAN software and disable the Windows software and see if it resolves your problem.

By the way, are you saying that the four wireless networks broadcasting near you are Dell wireless routers or access points?

__________________
Peter Orengo Consulting
http://www.peterorengoconsulting.com

As far as I know, I have turned off the Windows WLAN software when attempting to use the Dell software. Is there anything in particular I should pay attention to turning off?

The different networks being broadcasted include mine which is run from my desktop, two of my neighbors, and a small cafe right near me.

I think the issue might have to do with the Windows software still running but I just don't know what exactly I should be turning off. I've been through everything I can think of a hundred times but perhaps I'm just missing something.

Hi, phadedout.
Firstly, if your wireless software shows your 'connected' status, but you still can't connected to Internet as well as ping your access point, it's mean that your wi-fi card has found your access point, but it need some configuration parameters for creating connection. For this reason I would recommended you to do the next steps:
1. Reset to factory configuration of your access point.
2. Set ESSID and IP-addres of your access point.
3. Set the same ESSID and IP-addres from the same IP-subnet in your wi-fi card
4. Afterwards you have to make sure that you can ping your access point.

As for your second question, you don't see any wireless network because your wireless card is switched off, although you have its pictogram in the bottom right corner. You have to switch it on by using menu of wireless software or by the key in your laptop. For example in my notebook is the buttom wich activated/disactivated my wireless card. Earlier I have faced the problem like you, when my laptope didn't find wireless network, although they were.

Concerning a wireless card software, which you should to use - original or standard Windows, it depend on your desire or preference. As for me, the first thing what I do with my laptop when I get it - I uninstalled original software of wireless card. Now I am using standard Windows.

I HAVE DELL XPSM1330,AFTER INSTALLING XP DRIVER A PROBLEM WITH WIRLESS CONNECTION APPERED,
UNLESS INSTALLING MANY DIFFERENT DRIVER,I HAD CONFLICTION BETWEEN THEM. AFTER 2 DAYS IN GOOGLE SEARCH WITHOT ANY USEFULL RESULT,
FINALLY I REMOVED ALL DRIVER FOR WLAN CARD, AND THROUGH DEVICE MANAGER NEW HARDWARE,I INSTALLED DRIVER ONLY
FORM FOLDER THAT HAD R202964 UNXIPPED DRIVER(YOU CAN GOOGLEIT:Dell - Support)
AND UNEXPECTEDLY IT INSTALLED AND AUTOMATICALLY FIND THE WIRELEES NETWORK.
PLEASE BE NOTICE THAT INSTEAD INSTALLING ALL OF THE 33 MB DOWNLOADED SOFTWARE ONLY USE THE DRIVER FOLDER OF IT (A SUBFOLDER PART OF THAT UNZIPPED FILE)
IN THIS WAY YOU ONLY USE WINDOWS FOR MANAGING WIRLESS AND NO CONFLICTING CONTROLLER SOFTWARE INSTALLED.

HOPE THAT THIS WORK FOR YOU( YOU MUST FIND YOUR SUITABLE DRIVER FOR YOUR HARWARE: MINE: DELL WIRELESS 1490 DULA BAND WLAN Mini-Card)