Wireless Adapter keeps disconnecting

[Waldy]

Hi there,
I recenctly bought a new machine that has Vista Basic installed
on it. I installed the latest drivers for my Netgear wireless adapter which
are supposed to be Vista compatible. However, although I can get connected,
I often have to mess around with the networking settings first and then the
connection will only last around 15 minutes before the adapters led stops
flashing. I then have to reboot to get a connection again. I tried the
adapter back n my old XP machine and it is fine. As soon as the XP machine
boots, the led indicator starts flashing and it doesn't stop until you shut
down. With the Vista machine, the adapter often doesn't start flashing
until you actually connect and then it will just stop after a short while.
I've been messing around with this for weeks now and got nowhere. I would
have suspected the adapter drivers, but it seems as though there are a lot
of other people with the same problem on different adapters, which would
suggest a fundamental problem with Vista.

Can anyone shed any light?

 

[Barb Bowman]

which netgear adapter? what router exactly and what version firmware
is in the router? please post text results of ipconfig /all as a
reply to this post
http://digitalmediaphile.wordpress.com/ipconfig-all-how-to-get-text-output/

Hi there,
I recenctly bought a new machine that has Vista Basic installed
on it. I installed the latest drivers for my Netgear wireless adapter which
are supposed to be Vista compatible. However, although I can get connected,
I often have to mess around with the networking settings first and then the
connection will only last around 15 minutes before the adapters led stops
flashing. I then have to reboot to get a connection again. I tried the
adapter back n my old XP machine and it is fine. As soon as the XP machine
boots, the led indicator starts flashing and it doesn't stop until you shut
down. With the Vista machine, the adapter often doesn't start flashing
until you actually connect and then it will just stop after a short while.
I've been messing around with this for weeks now and got nowhere. I would
have suspected the adapter drivers, but it seems as though there are a lot
of other people with the same problem on different adapters, which would
suggest a fundamental problem with Vista.

Can anyone shed any light?

--

Barb Bowman
MS-MVP
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/meetexperts/bowman.mspx
http://blogs.digitalmediaphile.com/barb/

 

[Jack \(MVP-Networking\).]

Hi
First make sure that you Wireless Router is Vista compatible (some Wireless
Routers are Not).
If it is compatible look at the advanced Power saving setting in Vista and
tale the Wireless card out of the saving system.
I.e it should be always On. Not saving power.
Jack (MVP-Networking).

 

[Chris Blunt]

Hi there,
I recenctly bought a new machine that has Vista Basic installed
on it. I installed the latest drivers for my Netgear wireless adapter which
are supposed to be Vista compatible. However, although I can get connected,
I often have to mess around with the networking settings first and then the
connection will only last around 15 minutes before the adapters led stops
flashing. I then have to reboot to get a connection again. I tried the
adapter back n my old XP machine and it is fine. As soon as the XP machine
boots, the led indicator starts flashing and it doesn't stop until you shut
down. With the Vista machine, the adapter often doesn't start flashing
until you actually connect and then it will just stop after a short while.
I've been messing around with this for weeks now and got nowhere. I would
have suspected the adapter drivers, but it seems as though there are a lot
of other people with the same problem on different adapters, which would
suggest a fundamental problem with Vista.

Can anyone shed any light?

This has just started happening on my Sony Vaio too. I know it worked
fine about a month ago, so something has changed quite recently to
cause it. I see there have been several other threads in this
newsgroup over the last few days also reporting the same problem, or
something very similar.

On my Vista system I can initially connect wirelessly and everything
works fine for a while. Sometimes its okay for 10 minutes, sometimes
for up to an hour or so, but then the problem starts. The networking
icon in the notification area then gets a yellow triangle with an
exclamation mark in it and the connection stops working. In Network
Connections, the Wireless Network Connection turns to "Disabled".
Enabling it does nothing, and the only way to reset it is to reboot.

I suspect it might have something to do with the windows updates that
Microsoft released earlier this month. Something else I noticed is
that the Network and Sharing Center now takes a long time to display
anything in its window (at least a minute), whereas it was previous
much faster. I'm not sure if this is related to the same problem or
not, but someone else in this group reported the same thing after
installing this month's updates.

Chris

 

[Waldy]

which netgear adapter? what router exactly and what version firmware
is in the router?

The adapter is a WG111T and the router is a DG834GT. The firmware version
was 1.02.04, but I upgraded it last night to 1.02.13. I actually managed to
use it last night for about an hour without a problem. I was dreading it
failing half way through the firmware upgrade. I will have to see if that
has had any effect.

please post text results of ipconfig /all as a reply to this post

Do you want to see that output from a working system or when the problem
happens?

 

[Waldy]

Hi
First make sure that you Wireless Router is Vista compatible (some
Wireless Routers are Not).

It's not listed on the HCL list, but according to Netgear it is OK.

If it is compatible look at the advanced Power saving setting in Vista
and tale the Wireless card out of the saving system.
I.e it should be always On. Not saving power.

That was the first thing that I did.

 

[Barb Bowman]

if it happens again, when it is in the problem state..

Do you want to see that output from a working system or when the problem
happens?

--

Barb Bowman
MS-MVP
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/meetexperts/bowman.mspx
http://blogs.digitalmediaphile.com/barb/

 

[Waldy]

which netgear adapter? what router exactly and what version firmware
is in the router? please post text results of ipconfig /all as a
reply to this post

Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : eMachine
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

Wireless LAN adapter Wireless Network Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : NETGEAR WG111T 108Mbps Wireless
USB2.0 Ad
apter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-14-6C-5E-50-65
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . :
fe80::a53f:c14d:7696:2c5%13(Preferred)
IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.2(Preferred)
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : 29 February 2008 21:25:36
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : 03 March 2008 21:25:36
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
DHCPv6 IAID . . . . . . . . . . . : 218109036
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Enabled

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Realtek RTL8139/810x Family Fast
Ethernet
NIC
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-15-58-C2-42-8A
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Tunnel adapter Local Area Connection* 6:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . :
isatap.{A357B583-2F7C-46E7-B58F-D80F20F9E
7E6}
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Tunnel adapter Local Area Connection* 2:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . :
isatap.{C1A5B560-CF6C-44D3-97A7-0B595A684
BA3}
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::5efe:192.168.0.2%14(Preferred)
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . :
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Disabled

Tunnel adapter Local Area Connection* 9:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 02-00-54-55-4E-01
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IPv6 Address. . . . . . . . . . . :
2001:0:4137:9e66:87e:1bf0:3f57:fffd(Prefe
rred)
Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . :
fe80::87e:1bf0:3f57:fffd%10(Preferred)
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : ::
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Disabled

 

[Barb Bowman]

first step is to unbind IPv6
http://digitalmediaphile.wordpress.com/ipv6-how-to-unbind-from-a-nic-in-windows-vista/

second step is to go into device manager and uncheck the box to let
the computer turn off the adapter to save power. right click the
adapter in device manager, then properties.

Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : eMachine
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

Wireless LAN adapter Wireless Network Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : NETGEAR WG111T 108Mbps Wireless
USB2.0 Ad
apter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-14-6C-5E-50-65
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . :
fe80::a53f:c14d:7696:2c5%13(Preferred)
IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.2(Preferred)
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : 29 February 2008 21:25:36
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : 03 March 2008 21:25:36
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
DHCPv6 IAID . . . . . . . . . . . : 218109036
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Enabled

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Realtek RTL8139/810x Family Fast
Ethernet
NIC
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-15-58-C2-42-8A
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Tunnel adapter Local Area Connection* 6:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . :
isatap.{A357B583-2F7C-46E7-B58F-D80F20F9E
7E6}
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Tunnel adapter Local Area Connection* 2:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . :
isatap.{C1A5B560-CF6C-44D3-97A7-0B595A684
BA3}
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::5efe:192.168.0.2%14(Preferred)
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . :
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Disabled

Tunnel adapter Local Area Connection* 9:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 02-00-54-55-4E-01
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IPv6 Address. . . . . . . . . . . :
2001:0:4137:9e66:87e:1bf0:3f57:fffd(Prefe
rred)
Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . :
fe80::87e:1bf0:3f57:fffd%10(Preferred)
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : ::
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Disabled

--

Barb Bowman
MS-MVP
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/meetexperts/bowman.mspx
http://blogs.digitalmediaphile.com/barb/

 

[Waldy]

Hi Barb,
thanks for replying.

first step is to unbind IPv6
http://digitalmediaphile.wordpress.com/ipv6-how-to-unbind-from-a-nic-in-windows-vista/

That seems to be a popular suggestion, but I've yet to come across anyone
reporting a successful outcome by removing it. I have done it though. I'll
see if it makes a difference.

second step is to go into device manager and uncheck the box to let
the computer turn off the adapter to save power. right click the
adapter in device manager, then properties.

That was the first thing I did, as I thought it might be that what was
causing the problem.

 

[Waldy]

second step is to go into device manager and uncheck the box to let
the computer turn off the adapter to save power. right click the
adapter in device manager, then properties.

I checked this setting again and found that it was ticked again. I rebooted
when the connection dropped again and tried to check that the setting had
saved and found that the Power Management tab has disappeared from the
properties dialog.

 

[Barb Bowman]

look at the USB ports in device manager. power management tab. don't
let the computer turn off power there.

I checked this setting again and found that it was ticked again. I rebooted
when the connection dropped again and tried to check that the setting had
saved and found that the Power Management tab has disappeared from the
properties dialog.

--

Barb Bowman
MS-MVP
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/meetexperts/bowman.mspx
http://blogs.digitalmediaphile.com/barb/

 

[Waldy]

look at the USB ports in device manager. power management tab. don't
let the computer turn off power there.

That's done.

What did the ipconfig /all output tell you?

What is the Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface shown in the output? The only
difference in the output between the network in a good state and a bad state
is that this adapter is shown as Media Disconected in the good state.

I assume that you are running Vista and are networking OK. Are you running
SP1?

 

[Barb Bowman]

the ipconfig told me that you didn't follow my suggestion about
disabling IPv6. Many routers just can't handle this as they were
manufactured before IPv6 was implemented, and some, while they have
firmware supposedly to fix this, still choke when it is enabled.
Teredo is part of the IPv6 piece.

That's done.

What did the ipconfig /all output tell you?

What is the Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface shown in the output? The only
difference in the output between the network in a good state and a bad state
is that this adapter is shown as Media Disconected in the good state.

I assume that you are running Vista and are networking OK. Are you running
SP1?

--

Barb Bowman
MS-MVP
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/meetexperts/bowman.mspx
http://blogs.digitalmediaphile.com/barb/

 

[Waldy]

the ipconfig told me that you didn't follow my suggestion about
disabling IPv6. Many routers just can't handle this as they were
manufactured before IPv6 was implemented, and some, while they have
firmware supposedly to fix this, still choke when it is enabled.
Teredo is part of the IPv6 piece.

Hi Barb,
you asked for the output before the suggestion.

 

[Waldy]

If my problem was being caused by the router, wouldn't I need to reboot it
in order to reconnect? I only have to reboot the PC to be able to connect
again, which surely has to be a problem at the PC end. I'm much more
inclined to think that it is a problem with the adapter driver.

According to Netgear, my router is compatible with Vista, although on the
Microsoft HCL there is only one Netgear router listed, and it's not my one.

What do I need to disable to take the new Vista features out of the
equation? I have unbound IPV6 from the connection. Is that enough?

 

[Barb Bowman]

with a computer WIRED to the router, try the test listed on
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/932134

If my problem was being caused by the router, wouldn't I need to reboot it
in order to reconnect? I only have to reboot the PC to be able to connect
again, which surely has to be a problem at the PC end. I'm much more
inclined to think that it is a problem with the adapter driver.

According to Netgear, my router is compatible with Vista, although on the
Microsoft HCL there is only one Netgear router listed, and it's not my one.

What do I need to disable to take the new Vista features out of the
equation? I have unbound IPV6 from the connection. Is that enough?

--

Barb Bowman
MS-MVP
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/meetexperts/bowman.mspx
http://blogs.digitalmediaphile.com/barb/

 

[Waldy]

with a computer WIRED to the router, try the test listed on
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/932134

Hi Barb,
the test said that it's fully supported. That was through the
wireless connection. I'll have to borrow a cable from work to test it
wired.

 

[Barb Bowman]

I would expect it to pass with a wired as well. There isn't much
more trouble shooting left to do on this one. You've turned off all
power management, unbound IPv6 and you've confirmed the latest
driver for the wireless and router.

However..

It would be good to know if you have the same connectivity issues
when you leave the computer wired to the router.

Hi Barb,
the test said that it's fully supported. That was through the
wireless connection. I'll have to borrow a cable from work to test it
wired.

--

Barb Bowman
MS-MVP
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/meetexperts/bowman.mspx
http://blogs.digitalmediaphile.com/barb/

 

[Waldy]

I eventually ditched the Netgear adapter and bought a D-Link one which now
works flawlessly. It took me a while to setup though until I found another
post from you about the DhcpConnForceBroadcastFlag. It would not connect
using WPA until I set that registry entry to 0.