Member Avatar for averym053

Hi all,

I have the exact problem Pulsewidth16 had in 2006 titled "Wireless Adapter Causes My XP to Freeze."
Pulsewidth16 stated their computer tech determined the adapter software was conflicting with the Windows XP wireless config program. I tried uninstalling the device software (SMCWUSB-G) and only re-installing the drivers. I also had Windows XP config my adapter. However, I get stuck when I try to connect to my network. My wireless network comes up with no problems, but when I try to connect and enter my WPA password, I never connect! It's not
that my WPA passcode is incorrect. I know 100% it is correct. For whatever reasons, it doesn't allow you to connect. I've tried calling ISP since they gave me the adapter for free, but when I do, the technicians don't know how to troubleshoot my adapter. I also called the adapter maker, SMC, but the calls are answered by technicians in India and
they work with me for 10 minutes and then tell me to check something and call back. They are just putting me off because they don't know how to resolve my problem and I've called them 4 times now.

Does anyone know how to fix my problem? I'm about to go nuts! Here is some more information:


*I am using an SMC EZ Connect G Wireless adapter (SMCWUSB-G) on Windows XP Professional (32 bit).
*My computer is a Dell Optiplex GX520
* I have verified all BIOS and drivers for my Dell Optiplex GX520 is up to date.
*I've tried moving the adapter to another computer, but it too crashes (It's an Optiplex as well).
*I've swapped out my SMC adapter for a brand new one and the same problem happens.
*I've tried using other USB adapters on my computer, but my computer still crashes.

Event Viewer:

03/07/2010 9:29:05 PM Tcpip Information None 4201 N/A MICHELLE The system detected that network adapter \DEVICE\TCPIP_{606A509B-E2C5-468D-B4A5-343A1B1D2DB2} was connected to the network, and has initiated normal operation over the network adapter.
03/07/2010 9:28:58 PM Service Control Manager Information None 7036 N/A MICHELLE The Wireless Zero Configuration service entered the stopped state.
03/07/2010 9:28:57 PM Service Control Manager Information None 7035 MICHELLE\averym MICHELLE The Wireless Zero Configuration service was successfully sent a stop control.
03/07/2010 9:28:17 PM Service Control Manager Information None 7036 N/A MICHELLE The Remote Access Connection Manager service entered the running state.
03/07/2010 9:28:15 PM Service Control Manager Information None 7035 NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM MICHELLE The Remote Access Connection Manager service was successfully sent a start control.
03/07/2010 9:28:15 PM Service Control Manager Information None 7036 N/A MICHELLE The Telephony service entered the running state.
03/07/2010 9:28:14 PM Service Control Manager Information None 7036 N/A MICHELLE The Application Layer Gateway Service service entered the running state.
03/07/2010 9:28:14 PM Service Control Manager Information None 7035 NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM MICHELLE The Application Layer Gateway Service service was successfully sent a start control.
03/07/2010 9:28:04 PM Service Control Manager Information None 7036 N/A MICHELLE The SSDP Discovery Service service entered the running state.
03/07/2010 9:28:04 PM Service Control Manager Information None 7035 NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM MICHELLE The SSDP Discovery Service service was successfully sent a start control.
03/07/2010 9:28:04 PM Service Control Manager Information None 7036 N/A MICHELLE The Terminal Services service entered the running state.
03/07/2010 9:28:04 PM Service Control Manager Information None 7036 N/A MICHELLE The Network Location Awareness (NLA) service entered the running state.
03/07/2010 9:28:04 PM Service Control Manager Information None 7035 NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM MICHELLE The Terminal Services service was successfully sent a start control.
03/07/2010 9:28:04 PM Service Control Manager Information None 7035 NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM MICHELLE The Network Location Awareness (NLA) service was successfully sent a start control.

  • 7 Contributors
  • 6 Replies
  • 292 Views
  • 1 Year Discussion Span
  • Latest Post Latest Post by winnyjoy

Dani AI

Generated

A short, practical troubleshooting checklist that follows from the thread (and builds on , and the others) to isolate whether this is a Windows/driver problem, a USB/BIOS issue, or defective hardware/firmware.

Start with capture and isolation

  • Disable automatic restart on system failure (System > Advanced > Startup and Recovery) so any blue‑screen shows the stop code. Configure Windows to write a kernel memory dump and make sure the pagefile is large enough.
  • Boot Safe Mode with Networking (as suggested). If the adapter can be inserted and the system stays stable there, the cause is almost certainly a third‑party driver/service.
  • Try the adapter on a machine of a different make and, if possible, with a Linux live USB. If the crash follows the adapter across OSes and across different-brand PCs, firmware/hardware is likely at fault (matches ’s report).

Practical next steps if Safe Mode is stable

  • Remove all wireless utility software and hidden/ghost network adapters (Device Manager > View > Show hidden devices). Use Autoruns or msconfig to disable non‑Microsoft network services, reboot and test.
  • Check for VPN/virtual adapters or NDIS filter drivers (virtualbox, OpenVPN, corporate VPNs). These commonly crash when a new NIC driver is loaded. Uninstall any such components and retest.
  • Turn off USB power‑save on all USB Root Hubs (Device Manager > USB controllers > Properties > Power Management) and try a powered USB hub and different physical ports (rear ports tied to motherboard are preferred).

If the problem still reboots Windows

  • Collect the .dmp and analyze with WhoCrashed / BlueScreenView to identify the driver name that caused the fault. Consider running Driver Verifier on suspect drivers (advanced — will provoke BSODs to expose bad drivers).
  • Confirm wireless encryption compatibility: mismatched WPA/WPA2 or AES/TKIP settings can prevent association (try a temporary, brief change to mixed mode for testing only). That may explain "won’t connect" symptom separate from crashes.

When to suspect bad hardware

  • If crashes reproduce on multiple OSes and multiple, non‑identical PCs (after the checks above), prepare for RMA or stop using the USB adapter and move to a PCI/mini‑PCI/USB adapter from a different vendor. Upgrading the OS (e.g., to Windows 7) can hide driver problems but won’t fix a defective device or buggy firmware.

Collect the stop code and driver name from any dump before posting further — that information is the fastest way to point to the exact faulty driver or component.

Recommended Answers

All 6 Replies

Member Avatar for petraarkanian

Does it work in safe mode with networking ? Also have you tried disabling wireless zero completely and using just the smc stuff (i'm sure you have just asking).

Member Avatar for SMCezconnectBAD

This is happening to me also! Same situation...

SMC EZ Connect G Wireless adapter (SMCWUSB-G) on Windows XP Professional (32 bit) makes Windows XP Reboot at the time I add my pen. Funny thing, It doesnt even Loads XP (the loading screen reboots again) unless I remove the USB pen..... tested with a Thomson 123g USB and worked just fine... SMC doesn't reply at all I will never buy a product from them in life.

Member Avatar for Cross213

Perhaps the software of that particular product or brand doesn't comply with XP

Member Avatar for skilly

maybe there's an update for the driver, check the SMC website(if they have one):)

Member Avatar for kingfemi2012

perhaps the system is an old model dat is only design for wired networks, and if nit, may be the hard drive has some bad sectors or the operating system is undergoing some problems before the installation of the wireless that u might not know.

Member Avatar for winnyjoy

switch over to windows 7....it will resolve all ur problems...i2 fACED similar problems wid winxp.....

Be a part of the DaniWeb community

We're a friendly, industry-focused community of developers, IT pros, digital marketers, and technology enthusiasts meeting, networking, learning, and sharing knowledge.