FIXING VISTA WIRELESS NETWORKING PROBLEMS - SEVERAL SOLUTIONS

[RevertingToXP]

I too have had this problem with Vista, even with a wired network. I have
tried many many fixes suggested on the web & am about to revert to XP. I've
wasted enough time on this. I've ready a lot of post from a lot of people who
have had this problem & I even know others who have it - it seems really
prevalent, but still I can't find a solution.
Not impressed

 

[Bob F.]

I too have had this problem with Vista, even with a wired network. I have
tried many many fixes suggested on the web & am about to revert to XP.
I've
wasted enough time on this. I've ready a lot of post from a lot of people
who
have had this problem & I even know others who have it - it seems really
prevalent, but still I can't find a solution.
Not impressed

Please include enough of the previous message(s) so that others trying to
follow this thread know what you are talking about. Also please try to
“edit out†the non relevant portions. It helps everyone. Go to:
Tools > Options > Send > check - “Include message in replyâ€

 

[Mysty723]

Well I wrote a Post earlier to inform people how I fixed my Internet Issues
with Vista; so Ill make this Post Short and Sweet. I went out and Bought a
Certified for Vista Router; since then I have not had 1 random Drop; nor have
I lost my Home Network; I used to have to reboot to get my Network Connection
Back; and I spent weeks applying hotfixes; taking advice from these Forums;
etc. I finally came to the Conclusion that it made sense to get a New Router
to take advantage of the Vista Options. It was an easy Fix; granted I would
have preferred not to spend the money on a new router; but after a little
over a week of a Constant Internet Connection not to mention the increased
speed it was well worth every $.

 

[Robert L. \(MS-MVP\)]

Thank you for sharing your experience with us.

--
Bob Lin, MS-MVP, MCSE & CNE
Networking, Internet, Routing, VPN Troubleshooting on
http://www.ChicagoTech.net
How to Setup Windows, Network, VPN & Remote Access on
http://www.HowToNetworking.com

 

[bob.williamson]

I've worked through several reinstallations of Vista on this one, configured
the registry key so as to not broadcast DHCP, I've manually configured my IP
to be an IP on my network, and none of it works. I've set the network for
wireless to be private.

I show the adapter as being connected, excellent signal strength, I have no
3rd party firewall software installed. When I ping my gateway with a manual
IP assigned it replies with the local IP I picked saying "Destination host
unreachable" - certainly to me seems like it's a problem within Vista
someplace. I have had numerous XP wireless machine connected to this without
a problem.

I'm even running Vista SP1

Here's what worked for me. Using Dlink plug in usb wireless on new
Dell machine running windows home premium and a d-link router.
o Disable the broadcast DHCP using the registry edit fix in the ms
knowledge base http://support.microsoft.com/kb/928233/en-us
o Disable TCP/IP V6
o Manually assign an IP number and DNS to the connection;
o Tell the router to manually assign same IP number to MAC address of
wireless adapter
o Revert from 128 bit WEP to 64bit (I suspect this was not necessary)
o (AND!) flash the latest firmware on the router.

Elapsed time nearly 2 hours... (mostly figuring things to try!)

Sure is amazing one has to do this! Perhaps some of the steps are not
necessary but I am not going to fiddle to find out.

 

[GordonK]

Buying a new Vista compatible router may well have resolved your problems but
it is incredibly wasteful if we all had to go out and buy a new router simply
because MS had rewritten their networking stack.

The right thing here is for MS to FIX this issue and TBH they should remove
the Vista stack and put the XP (WORKING!) one in in it's place....don't try
to fix (they dont seem to be anyway) something that is just plain broke.

One other thing I know of worth trying is to ensure that your Power
Management on your desktops/laptops ensure the Wireless (and USB if USB
Wirelss) adaptor is set to maximum performance and NEVER allow the machine to
switch it off to conserve power....that will help the dropouts but is not a
complete solution.

 

[Jack \(MVP-Networking\).]

Hi
Most Router manufacturer offer a firmware upgrade to make their Router
compatible with new major OS' when they come out.
If such an upgrade is not offered it usually indicates the device based on
old chipset that can not be upgraded any more.
In such case it is a good idea to get a new Router to begin with.
Decent routers can be found for $20 and up. Attaching inflated societal
verbal value to pieces of silicone and plastic does not serve any purposes
when its involves sums of money that are less than month fee for an Internet
connection.
Jack (MS, MVP-Networking)

 

[GordonK]

Sorry but i have to disagree with that Jack...try coming outside the USA and
buy a quality router for $20 (That's £10 here in the UK) - Try something
closer to $140 for a good quality router - like Netgear.

Also with a lot of homes on Cable Modems they can't upgrade Firmware in the
way you suggest.

In my own case using the most predominant ISP in the UK (British telecom)
you have to wait on BT upgrading their HOmehub - or buy a Netgear!

You are fortunate indeed to find yourself living in such a society where
things like this cost so little.

As I said before if my router worked with XP (and Mac's and Itouch and other
UPnP servers) and struggles with ONLY Vista then it is unrealistic to expect
users to upgrade routers (basic communications kit - unspecialised) to meet
the needs of Vista. Vista is expensive enough as it is... > $300 over here....

I am sorry I cannot agree with your post about costs to upgrade- it does not
recognise the commercial situation outside the US.