Associate to Wlan before Login

[Denis]

Hi,

Is there a way to get Windows to Associate to the Wireless LAN before the
Login Prompt is displayed?

The normal behaviour is that the user first logs in to Windows using cached
information, then the Wireless Client associates to the WLAN network and gets
the IP address etc .... However, this means that the group polcies are not
applied during the login process.

I know that some network card drivers have additional features that allow
you to do this, but is there a way to do it from windows for all clients?

Any ideas appreciated.

 

[2Rivers]

Hi,

Is there a way to get Windows to Associate to the Wireless LAN before the
Login Prompt is displayed?

The normal behaviour is that the user first logs in to Windows using cached
information, then the Wireless Client associates to the WLAN network and gets
the IP address etc .... However, this means that the group polcies are not
applied during the login process.

I know that some network card drivers have additional features that allow
you to do this, but is there a way to do it from windows for all clients?

Any ideas appreciated.

 

[2Rivers]

Unless you have changed something else, the network connection on the PC
should be active before the logon process. You can check that by booting the
PC and leaving it at the ctrl-alt-del screen and ping from another computer
on the network.
Note: you will have to wait a little bit on the login screen; not just boot
and fly right on in not giving the net connection time to connect, wireless
or not.

There may be some setting preventing yours from connecting to the network,
but I have always had mine associate with the network before login, for the
very reason you are asking this question--group policy and kerberos ticket.

 

[Richard G. Harper]

This depends on how the Wireless LAN adapter driver loads. Some load as a
service and can start before Windows does, others load from a different
startup axis and won't start until the system is running. There's no way to
force the adapter to start before it is ready to start.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User] (e-mail address removed)
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[2Rivers]

If he uses the built-in Windows wireless utilities, couldn't enabling the
Wireless Zero Configuration utility achieve what he wants?

After the drivers are loaded for your specific card, try using Windows'
utility instead of the utility made by the card's manufacturer if you have
been using it. There is usually an option for "let Windows manage my
wireless connection" or something similar. Then, run services.msc and check
if the "Wireless Zero Config" is enabled and set to Automatic start up.

You will probably have to associate your computer with the network (key)
again, only this time use the Windows tool. Then restart.

See if that helps.