Network enable/disable repair - now unable to

Have recently set up LAN for ethernet hard drive, primarily to increase
storage for laptop.

In the past when connecting to networks I have been able to enable/disable
and repair both wired and wireless network connections when required or
necessary ( using an administrator account ) from the network connections
window.

I am now unable to do this,

with wireless

1) Repair - Get message in dialog, Unable to do this, unable to disable
wireless network adapter. Make sure network adapter correctly installed ,

- I have successfully uninstalled and reinstalled wireless network adapter.
No Change.

2)Enable/Disable - Get message in dialog, It is not possible to
Enable/Disable the connection at this time. This connection may be using one
or more protocols that do not support Plug-and-Play, or it may have been
initiated by another user or the system account.

with wired

1) Repair - Get message Anable to diable ARP cache

2)Enable/Disable - Get message in dialog, It is not possible to
Enable/Disable the connection at this time. This connection may be using one
or more protocols that do not support Plug-and-Play, or it may have been
initiated by another user or the system account.

I am able to do disable the devices using the device manager, but this is
really for faults with the devices.

I usually disable the devices when not networking ( most of the time) to
increase battery time.

I have checked Local Computer policy - none of the keys in

Local Computer Policy / User Configuration / Administrative Templates /
Network / Network Connections

are configured.

I have recently installed latest drivers from Dell support. This did not fix
the problem.

When only Wireless connection, has now started to stall for 20sec while
moving from one folder in network window to another.(Task manager shows
little CPU activity and NO network activity during stall ).

When changed to a sole wired connection this does not happen.

Is it possible to return to old settings with enable/disable repair
available from network connections window ?

Why has this now stopped working ?

Thank you in anticipation,

Chris Wrigley.



System - Dell 9300 Laptop Pentium M Windows XP SP2. Freecom FSG storage
gateway Network Drive - Server.