Windows stopped detecting wireless conenction but still get internet...

Hey all, haven't posted on this forum in a while but im in need of some help here...

A few days ago, maybe a week windows just sorta stopped detecting "wireless network" in my network connection... I have a USB wireless card connected to my router and it was working fine, but now under Network Connections it only says Local Area Connection, which is for my internal ethernet card. The thing is, im still connected to the internet through my wireless card. I disabled the network management program that came with the USB card and told it to use Windows when i first got it so i know its not that, and when i connect it still gives me "Internet connection" in widnows but the little pc that controls the wireless isnt on the taskbar and its not in network connections.

now this would be fine and all but i would like to set up a static ip again for my pc and i cant figure out how to do it without going through that little icon...

the wireless card is a Belkin f5d7050 v 4
linksys WRT54G router
windows XP Home

i thought maybe if i uninstalled the wireless card via device manager but i remember it was a pain to set up so id like to avoid that if possible.

any help greatly appreciated.

 

Start>Control Panel>Network Connections and right-click the connection will bring up the screen.
This is the full guide:
http://www.portforward.com/networking/static-xp.htm

 

you could also try using the wireless network wizard in windows to get the icon back.

 

thankls for the suggestion but apparently you misunderstood me. not only is it missing from the task bar but it is not listed under network connections in control panel either. the only one there is the LAN connection and the wireless doesnt show at all. The only places i see proof of a wireless connection in windows are that i get internet anyway and in device manager my wireless card is listed...

as for the wireless connection wizard suggestion by steimy i just tried that and as far as i can tell nothing happenned...

thanks for the suggestions, but i still dont know what the problem is >_<