Win98, Can't add any protocols

[joshdoe]

I just got an SMC2635W 802.11b wireless card for my laptop (Windows 98). The card installed fine, I can see networks and connect to access points. However, TCP/IP doesn't seem to work.

I checked the control panel, and saw the adapter listed but no associated protocols. I clicked the adapter, clicked Add, and then Protocols, but NOTHING happened. I even tried the others, and the only one that worked was Adapters. Thus, I cannot add TCP/IP, and thus cannot get on the Internet from my laptop.

Is there any CLI command to force add TCP/IP? Or some other way to add TCP/IP, or ...? Thanks for any help, I'm desperate!

 

[Zelmo3]

Is there a TCP/IP listed for another adapter? If so, you may just need to bind it to the wireless card.

 

[joshdoe]

Yes, TCP/IP was listed for a Linksys card, but under properties for the wireless card, under bindings, nothing was listed.

Now I'm in bigger trouble, because I thought I'd try reinstalling the network stuff. So I've removed all adapters, clients, protocols, and services (as well as uninstalled DUN). Then rebooted, and tried reinstalling everything, but the only thing I can add is adapters! I've even tried using inetwiz, the networking wizard, but protocols, clients, and services cannot be added. Unless I can find a solution, I suppose a reinstall of Win 98 is in order. :frown:

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: joshdoe
Yes, TCP/IP was listed for a Linksys card, but under properties for the wireless card, under bindings, nothing was listed.

Now I'm in bigger trouble, because I thought I'd try reinstalling the network stuff. So I've removed all adapters, clients, protocols, and services (as well as uninstalled DUN). Then rebooted, and tried reinstalling everything, but the only thing I can add is adapters! I've even tried using inetwiz, the networking wizard, but protocols, clients, and services cannot be added. Unless I can find a solution, I suppose a reinstall of Win 98 is in order. :frown:

Run LSP, it will fix you up.

 

[joshdoe]

Originally posted by: dmcowen674

Run LSP, it will fix you up.

Thanks for the suggestion, but it didn't do anything. I ran it, and it appeared to see nothing wrong. Regardless, I clicked "finished" and rebooted, but no change.

I then tried reinstalling TCP/IP files, as described here http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q181/5/99.asp , again to no avail. Sigh.

 

[dcaseley]

I'm having the exact same problem. If there's anyone out there with any suggestions, however wild, please, PLEASE help.
btw, what's LSP??

 

[scorpioLP]

i haven't personally used this, so if you try it you're on your own.... LSP Fix

There's some links at the bottom of the page that may provide more info.

 

[Fern]

Here's a wild suggestion fron a nOOb. When your situation has happened to me, it's always been because the wrong driver was installed. Yeah, the NIC looks fine, but after removing and hopefully with the help froma readme file somewhere on the disk, I get it reinstalled and it works. After reinstalling my NIC shows up with a different name, then I know I'm on the right track.

Good Luck with it.

 

[HondaF1]

Hi. I am guessing that there could also be a problem with your Winsock. Try getting a program that fixes the winsock, a winsock fixing program or whatever that just resets or whatever the winsock, and tey whatever you want to do.

 

[teglsbo]

I've had this problem too with the same SMC2662W adapter, I suspect a buggy install program of the driver. After tearing out a lot of hair I found the cause and the solution:


THE CAUSE:

In the registry in

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion

the key

DevicePath

determines where Windows searches for inf-files.
The default value is:

C:\WINDOWS\INF

but after the install it contained only:

c:\Program Files\SMC\SMC2635W 11Mbps Wireless Cardbus Adapter\Installer\WIN9X

And NOT

C:\WINDOWS\INF

Leaving Windows unable to find any protocols to add.


THE SOLUTION:

Change the value of the key

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\DevicePath

from

c:\Program Files\SMC\SMC2635W 11Mbps Wireless Cardbus

to

c:\Program Files\SMC\SMC2635W 11Mbps Wireless Cardbus;C:\WINDOWS\INF

(ie. add ";C:\WINDOWS\INF")


I hope this will save you from a reinstall.


LESSONS LEARNED:

Always keep a recent backup of user.dat and system.dat so you can restore old settings and compare exported .reg files to see what went wrong.

Keywords: can't add protocols, can't add protocol, nothing happens, tcp/ip