Jo-Anne wrote:
I've been having a number of problems with my WinXP laptop (for example,
desktop icons lose their filenames, and I can't do anything but reboot--at
which point everything is fine again for a while). The latest thing that
happened is that I lost my wireless connection. I've been suspecting
malware, although Avira AntiVir, Malwarebytes, and SuperAntiSpyware report
no problems. Tonight I discovered that I can get onto the internet by
plugging the laptop directly into the wireless router.

Does this sound like a possible hardware issue?

Thank you!

Jo-Anne



Change OSes. Boot a Linux LiveCD, and try testing the wireless there.
Is it flaky in Linux ? If so, you could have a hardware problem.
You can get a nice LiveCD from Ubuntu.com . It's a 700MB download,
followed by burning a CD. Imgburn is an example of an application
that can burn a .iso for you.

It could be related to internal power regulation. Something takes
the 14V from the battery, and makes 5V for disk drive, 3.3V for logic,
and lower voltages for things like chipset and processor. If could
be that one of those "rails" is acting up.

An alternative explanation, is overheating. If the laptop has multiple
fans, the CPU fan still works, but some secondary fan that cools part
of the housing of the laptop is plugged, maybe that causes some of
the other, less hot chips, to start overheating. On some laptops, the
wireless module might be in the same bay as the memory DIMMs. Run the
laptop for a while, then shut down, remove battery and AC connection for
safety, then open whatever door exposes the wireless module and feel
the chips for heat. The wireless module will be the one with two
mini-coax cables leading from it, with miniature right-angle coax
connectors that mate the cables to the module.

Paul