connected - seeking connection

Inspiron E1505
Windows XP Media Center Edition SP2
Actiontec Router

When I turn on my machine, the wireless icon in the lower right corner has a little gold ball moving back asnd forth under it.
Right click produces 'seeking connection', however, I am connected as you can see by my being here.
Verizon says their equipment, &c is ok .
Dell says go to a restore point when there was no ball. This works, but it means restoring every time I start.
The easiest way to get rid of the ball is right click the icon, open network connections, go to properties of wireless network
connection, internet protocol, ok, and the ball goes away.
As I can get on line anyway, I don't need to do this, but it is an annoyance having that little ball moving about.
Any ideas on how to correct this?

 

This happens to me too sometimes. I fix it by right clicking on the icon and clicking Repair.
Do this once and see if it keeps coming back.

Did you set a static IP address or are you using DHCP?

 

Wave, thanks for the reply.
I tried Repair once and it said it could not complete. But I'll give it another try next time I start up
I'm fairly new to wireless, so what is DHCP and static IP adress?

 

Static IP is a non changing IP address. Some internet providers give you a static address to prevent internet connection sharing. DHCP (dynamic) assigns IP addresses based on who needs a lease to the network device. For example, My laptop is lease 1. If I turn it off and then turn on my xbox 360, lease space 1 has been released and is now available to be used by the 360. If I then turn on my lappy again then it sees that space 1 is used and will then request assignment of space 2 and so on. I have a limit of 3 leases on my router but it goes up to 50.

 

Thanks, wingsbar,
my internet protocol under Wireless Network Connection says 'obtain an IP address automaticaly'. I suppose I should just leave it and not fool with it.

 

Obtain an IP Address Automatically is for DHCP and there is also a service for DHCP as well that should be set to auto.

 

Every thing I can find says 'automatically'.
Thanks for your interest and advice, it's much appricated.

 

Do you have a router by chance? If so can you post the brand and model number?

 

Actiontec MI424-WR - the I could be an L, it's hard to tell by the font used, but as all other letters are upper case, I should say it is an I.
I use it as wireless, but I can also plug the computer in, the Local Area Connection in the attachment above. At present it is about a foot from the computer, but I can use the computer on wireless any place in the house.

 

Have you updated your routers firmware recently? Also do you have the lastest updates for your wireless card?

 

According to Dell, I have the latest wirless card. As to the routers firmware, you will have to brief me on that. As I said, I'm new to high speed, and routers, and wireless.
The router is supplied by Verizon and I know little to nothing about it.
Also, I am not being informed of replies and if I don't check back here when I have a chance I don't know if there has been a reply. Thus my delay in getting back to you.

 

Your verizon thing, is it a standalone box like a cable modem or is it a wireless card that you put in the laptop? Also on your next post, put the model number for your dell computer so I can research a little on my end.

 

The Actiontec supplied by Verizon is stand alone, a wireless router, and can be pluged in to the computer if one wishes. It is optical wire or cable (I'm not sure what to call it, but it is not cable in the usual sense) from Verizon to the router. Verizon calls it FiOS Internet. If you are not up on Verizon, they are a telephone company.

The computer is Dell Inspiron E1505; Windows XP - Media Center Edition - Service Pack 2.

Verizon says it is not their system causing he problem, they checked it out, and must be in the computer. I was present when they installed it, and so far as I can tell they put nothing (programme or such) in the computer. All they did was use the computer to go on line to make the connection. This moving ball 'problem' only began recently. I have had the router since Feb. of this year, and this began about three weeks ago.

 

Below is from the Verizon Website **** On the date of your installation, a Verizon professional will come to your home and install Verizon FiOS Internet Service. They will need access to your home computer and will perform the following:

* Install special data wiring to your computer. If necessary, they will install any required wall jacks.
* Install the Verizon home networking router and software.

Do you have any software from Verizon on the computer?

 

The Special Data Wiring is the wire from their 'main line' to the router.

There is no Verizon software on the computer - the only thing about Verizon on the computer is two gif images of their logo.

As I said, the only thing they did with the computer was go on line to the FiOS web site and make the connection, email, &c. I have no idea what they mean by 'software'.

 

I see now. Well matofthemint I am out of options. My only suggestion is to remove the wireless network icon from the taskbar. You are able to get on the net which is good. Right click on the taskbar and go to properties. In the Notification Area uncheck the box for Network and it should go away. This doesn't change the functionality and can always be restored via the same process. Sorry I wasn't able to help fix it for you. Rep'd you for being so patient while we tried to work this out. You deserve it!

 

Wingsbr, many thanks for your time and effort.

 

I had a very similar problem - my Inspiron E1705 took a long time to acquire network address from the Verizon Actiontec router and would often time out, so I had to "repair" the network connection several times. The problem went away after I uninstalled Trend Micro PC-Cillin software that Dell preinstalled on my laptop.

It was not enough to stop all Trend Micro services - I had to uninstall it all the way. I guess PCCillin has a buggy TCP interceptor.

I bought the Inspiron in the fall of 2006 and never upgraded PC-Cillin. It may be enough to upgrade PCCillin.