Is it connected to Docking Station or Port Replicator.
If So Un-Dock it
OR / AND
Switch Off, wait for 30 seconds and start again you should be able to see that
OR
Make sure Network Connections Service is up and running
go to start > run > services.msc
locate network conections
stop
start

This may be obvious, but if it is a laptop, does it have a WiFi switch? (I've been caught by this before...)

Check that your laptop Wifi device is transmitting, if the laptop has a different wireless controller than windows zero-configuration (means IBM access connection or external wireless card manager) check that the radio is on

-- START > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > System Information > In the new window that pops up, Click on the tab TOOLS > NET DIAGNOSTICS. Run the test and see what the result.
-- Try running the ADD HARDWARE whizard from Control Panel again.
-- Check if ur NIC is disable in BIOS.

kamleshgwalani:Is it connected to Docking Station or Port Replicator.
If So Un-Dock it
OR / AND
*******no docking stn.*************
Switch Off, wait for 30 seconds and start again you should be able to see that
OR
********DONE , no change*************
Make sure Network Connections Service is up and running
go to start > run > services.msc
locate network conections
stop
start
*************could not find a specific service called Network Connections
found.........
Net Logon                          Manual      Local System
NetMeeting                         Manual      Local System
Network Connections            Started      Manual      Local System
Network DDE                  Disabled      Local System
Network DDE DSDM            Disabled      Local System
Network Location Awareness (NLA)Started      Manual      Local System
Network Provisioning Service            Manual      Local System



BrianMilnes:This may be obvious, but if it is a laptop, does it have a WiFi switch? (I've been caught by this before...)
**********Yes Wifi switch is ON


Srgrn:Check that your laptop Wifi device is transmitting, if the laptop has a different wireless controller than windows zero-configuration (means IBM access connection or external wireless card manager) check that the radio is on
******** I have the BLUE wifi light on which means I am transmitting, HP status says WLan is ON


Freya28:-- START > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > System Information > In the new window that pops up, Click on the tab TOOLS > NET DIAGNOSTICS. Run the test and see what the result.
********result said (see end of this posting)

-- Try running the ADD HARDWARE whizard from Control Panel again.
********tried it, no joy!
-- Check if ur NIC is disable in BIOS.
no option to disable NIC in BIOS


Freya28:or just uninstall the nic from device manager, reboot ro scan for new hardware, let the default drivers install and see hwat happens after that
Removed NIC and Wifi and they re-appeared all now working. Thank You


For the record...
these are all the test and ersults I got BEFORE i followed Freya28's advice and removed the network devices and then rebooted



ran ipconfig/all
it said
Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.

C:\Documents and Settings\aph>ipconfig/all

Windows IP Configuration

        Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : laptop01
        Primary Dns Suffix  . . . . . . . :
        Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Unknown
        IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
        WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

        Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
        Description . . . . . . . . . . . : NVIDIA nForce Networking Controller
        Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-16-36-69-0F-6E

Ethernet adapter Wireless Network Connection:

        Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . :
        Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Broadcom 802.11b/g WLAN
        Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-14-A5-B1-91-23
        Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
        Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
        IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.2.3
        Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
        Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.2.1
        DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.2.1
        DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.2.1
        NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Disabled
        Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : 16 September 2007 22:29:57
        Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : 15 September 2008 22:29:57

Looked at event logs
they said

The system detected that network adapter Broadcom 802.11b/g WLAN - Packet Scheduler Miniport was connected to the network, and has initiated normal operation over the network adapter.

Weird thing is, I have just restarted my HP DV6000 Laptop and I now have an Internet connection but still no icons in the system tray and nothing showing in Network connections under Control Panel. Normally I would see the NIC and the WiFi conections there.
The only thing I have done that is different is disabled my Firewall !!

Freya
TOOLS > NET DIAGNOSTICS. Run the test
- Network AdaptersFAILED

      + [00000001] Broadcom 802.11b/g WLAN (PASSED)
        Caption = [00000001] Broadcom 802.11b/g WLAN
        DatabasePath = %SystemRoot%\System32\drivers\etc
      + DefaultIPGateway = 192.168.2.1(Same Subnet) (PASSED)
      Pinging 192.168.2.1 with 32 bytes of data:
      Reply from 192.168.2.1: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=0
      Reply from 192.168.2.1: bytes=32 time=1ms TTL=1
      Reply from 192.168.2.1: bytes=32 time=1ms TTL=1
      Reply from 192.168.2.1: bytes=32 time=1ms TTL=1
      Ping statistics for 192.168.2.1:
      Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss)
      Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:

      Minimum = 0ms, Maximum = 1ms, Average = 0ms
        Description = Broadcom 802.11b/g WLAN - Packet Scheduler Miniport
        DHCPEnabled = TRUE
        DHCPLeaseExpires = 22:29:57 15/09/2008
        DHCPLeaseObtained = 22:29:57 16/09/2007
      + DHCPServer = 192.168.2.1 (PASSED)
      Pinging 192.168.2.1 with 32 bytes of data:
      Reply from 192.168.2.1: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=0
      Reply from 192.168.2.1: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=0
      Reply from 192.168.2.1: bytes=32 time=1ms TTL=1
      Reply from 192.168.2.1: bytes=32 time=1ms TTL=1
      Ping statistics for 192.168.2.1:
      Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss)
      Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
      Minimum = 0ms, Maximum = 1ms, Average = 0ms
        DNSEnabledForWINSResolution = FALSE
        DNSHostName = laptop01
      + DNSServerSearchOrder = 192.168.2.1 (PASSED)
      Pinging 192.168.2.1 with 32 bytes of data:
      Reply from 192.168.2.1: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=0
      Reply from 192.168.2.1: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=0
      Reply from 192.168.2.1: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=0
      Reply from 192.168.2.1: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=0
      Ping statistics for 192.168.2.1:
      Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss)
      Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
      Minimum = 0ms, Maximum = 0ms, Average = 0ms
        DomainDNSRegistrationEnabled = FALSE
        FullDNSRegistrationEnabled = TRUE
        GatewayCostMetric = 25
        Index = 1
      + IPAddress = 192.168.2.3 (PASSED)
      Pinging 192.168.2.3 with 32 bytes of data:
      Reply from 192.168.2.3: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=0
      Reply from 192.168.2.3: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=0
      Reply from 192.168.2.3: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=0
      Reply from 192.168.2.3: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=0
      Ping statistics for 192.168.2.3:
      Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss)
      Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
      Minimum = 0ms, Maximum = 0ms, Average = 0ms
        IPConnectionMetric = 25
        IPEnabled = TRUE
        IPFilterSecurityEnabled = FALSE
        IPSecPermitIPProtocols = 0
        IPSecPermitTCPPorts = 0
        IPSecPermitUDPPorts = 0
        IPSubnet = 255.255.255.0
        IPXEnabled = FALSE
        MACAddress = 00:14:A5:B1:91:23
        ServiceName = BCM43XX
        SettingID = {99229C80-14B8-4B68-81A2-8535494C286F}
        TcpipNetbiosOptions = 0
        WINSEnableLMHostsLookup = TRUE

      + [00000011] NVIDIA nForce Networking Controller
        Caption = [00000011] NVIDIA nForce Networking Controller
        DatabasePath = %SystemRoot%\System32\drivers\etc
        Description = NVIDIA nForce Networking Controller - Packet Scheduler
      Miniport
        DHCPEnabled = FALSE
        DNSEnabledForWINSResolution = FALSE
        DNSHostName = laptop01
        DomainDNSRegistrationEnabled = FALSE
        FullDNSRegistrationEnabled = TRUE
        Index = 11
        IPConnectionMetric = 1
        IPEnabled = TRUE
        IPFilterSecurityEnabled = FALSE
        IPSecPermitIPProtocols = 0
        IPSecPermitTCPPorts = 0
        IPSecPermitUDPPorts = 0
        IPXEnabled = FALSE
        MACAddress = 00:16:36:69:0F:6E
        ServiceName = NVENETFD
        SettingID = {FDC59726-4902-4167-9DAC-B63896384ABB}
        TcpipNetbiosOptions = 0
        WINSEnableLMHostsLookup = TRUE
      + [00000016] Microsoft TV/Video Connection (FAILED)
        Caption = [00000016] Microsoft TV/Video Connection
        DatabasePath = %SystemRoot%\System32\drivers\etc
      + DefaultIPGateway = 192.168.2.1(Same Subnet) (FAILED)
      Pinging 192.168.2.1 with 32 bytes of data:
      Request timed out.
      Reply from 192.168.2.1: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=0
      Reply from 192.168.2.1: bytes=32 time=1ms TTL=1
      Reply from 192.168.2.1: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=0
      Ping statistics for 192.168.2.1:
      Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 3, Lost = 1 (25% loss)
      Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
      Minimum = 0ms, Maximum = 1ms, Average = 0ms
        Description = Broadcom 802.11b/g WLAN - Packet Scheduler Miniport
        DHCPEnabled = TRUE
        DNSEnabledForWINSResolution = FALSE
        DNSHostName = laptop01
        DomainDNSRegistrationEnabled = FALSE
        FullDNSRegistrationEnabled = TRUE
        GatewayCostMetric = 25
        Index = 16
      + IPAddress = 192.168.2.3 (PASSED)
      Pinging 192.168.2.3 with 32 bytes of data:
      Reply from 192.168.2.3: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=0
      Reply from 192.168.2.3: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=0
      Reply from 192.168.2.3: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=0
      Reply from 192.168.2.3: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=0
      Ping statistics for 192.168.2.3:
      Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss)
      Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
      Minimum = 0ms, Maximum = 0ms, Average = 0ms
        IPConnectionMetric = 25
        IPEnabled = TRUE
        IPFilterSecurityEnabled = FALSE
        IPSecPermitIPProtocols = 0
        IPSecPermitTCPPorts = 0
        IPSecPermitUDPPorts = 0
        IPSubnet = 255.255.255.0
        IPXEnabled = FALSE
        MACAddress = 00:14:A5:B1:91:23
        ServiceName = NdisIP
        SettingID = {BA343273-E5F9-4BAD-B177-F2E4057173C3}
        TcpipNetbiosOptions = 0
        WINSEnableLMHostsLookup = TRUE

      - Network Clients

      + Microsoft Terminal Services
        Description = RDPNP
        Manufacturer = Microsoft Corporation
        Name = Microsoft Terminal Services
        Status = Unknown

      + Microsoft Windows Network
        Caption = Workstation
        Description = Creates and maintains client network connections to remote
      servers. If this service is stopped, these connections will be
      unavailable. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly
      depend on it will fail to start.
        Manufacturer = Microsoft Corporation
        Name = Microsoft Windows Network
        Status = OK

      + Web Client Network
        Caption = WebClient
        Description = Enables Windows-based programs to create, access, and
      modify Internet-based files. If this service is stopped, these functions
      will not be available. If this service is disabled, any services that
      explicitly depend on it will fail to start.
        Manufacturer = Microsoft Corporation
        Name = Web Client Network
        Status = OK