Where to download a free wireless network utility?

Unable to access wireless network connections on Toshiba TE2300?

• This is mystifying me. Toshiba TE2300 laptop. Windows XP Professional installed. The laptop had Windows completely uninstalled and reinstalled due to a myriad of viruses that had infected it and was making it run impossibly, painfully and unbearably slowly. Since the reinstall, everything has been up to normal adequate speed, however obviously with the complete reinstall all the drivers were gone. No problem, I download the appropriate drivers off the internet on another computer, put them on a USB, installed them on the laptop and presto, I have sound and graphics once more. Not so with wireless connections. I have installed every driver and client utility that I can find that matched this laptops model, however its like wireless connections don't exist. The only place they are mentioned on the computer are in XP help, which gives me instructions on connecting to wireless networks etc, however in control panel etc the option isn't there. The wireless icon is not on the taskbar. In internet connections, the option to connect to a wireless network is not one given. I downloaded various client utilities which were apparently originally preinstalled on the computer and on all of them the option to connect to a new wireless network is greyed out. I know this laptop has wireless capabilities. It always used to be able to connect to wireless networks until the XP reinstall. It has a wireless switch (which is on). I also have a PC card that we used to use because our router used to be upstairs so we couldn't get a strong enough signal downstairs without it however its been moved and that shouldn't be an issue any more. Pretty much every driver related to wireless/LAN has been downloaded from here: http://www.csd.toshiba.com/cgi-bin/tais/support/jsp/modelContent.jsp?ct=DL&os=&category=&moid=539601&rpn=PT230U&modelFilter=TE2300&selCategory=2756709&selFamily=1073768664 or here: http://www.gzrcw.net/drivers/toshiba/Tecra/drivers_1192.html The manual for the laptop, found online at: http://www.elhvb.com/mobokive/edwin/laptops/toshiba-ug/SATELLITE%20PRO%20TE2300%20UserMan.pdf says it comes with XP Service Pack 1 preinstalled. Obviously thats gone but is there anywhere I can download it, or the appropriate components and would that work? Or are there any other solutions anyone has? Thanks in advance.

• Answer:

  Are you sure the wireless is turned on? On the left side of the unit there is a hardware switch to kill power to the adapter, if that switch is in the off position you can't install drivers or find the wifi adapter in the hardware list. Check the device manager, is the adapter even shown? Check it, my best guess is that the switch is off.