Vista Home Premium will not connect to Wireless non-broadcast SSID

[Josh T.]

Hello, I have a fairly new Acer Aspire 5920G laptop. The wireless card is a
Intel Wireless WiFi Link 4965AGN. I've successfully connected to many open
access points that broadcast their SSID, and have had no problem tracking
down and identifying access points in range of my laptop, no matter what kind
of security they use. (WEP, WAP, etc)

My current problem involves attempting to connect to a wireless AP that is
NOT broadcasting an SSID and uses WEP 128 bit encryption. For reference, I
have used a Windows XP machine and a laptop running Vista Business Edition,
both of which can connect to the AP, which resides 6 ft away. On the Vista
Home Premium laptop however, I get limited or no connectivity to the network.
For additional security, the AP has a MAC filter in place and I have
confirmed that my MAC is in the filter. Checking the packet transmission
information on the status window, it is clear that the laptop is broadcasting
packets without any issues, but none are being received. Logging into the
AP, it shows no signs that my laptop has attempted to connect.

I've installed the latest drivers available, and at this point am at a
complete loss as to why my laptop can seemingly connect to any AP but this
one. Especially since I can connect with other Vista versions, and with
Windows XP.

To ensure that I don't get a "did you plug it in reply" I would like to note
the following as well:

I have uninstalled and re-installed the wireless device from the Device
Manager

I have updated all drivers on the system both through the manufacturer, and
through Windows Update

I have all latest system updates from Windows Update as of this postin

I have ensured that the wireless device is turned on, and have connected to
an open network within range of my WEP enabled, broadcast disabled AP to
ensure that the wireless antenna is in fact on.

I have confirmed that I am in fact using the correct WEP key, and that I am
using the correct SSID.

I have confirmed that my MAC address is in the whitelist for the AP

I have confirmed that the AP works by connecting other machines to the AP.

Thoughts?

 

[Bob F.]

Sounds like it's your router, that is, it's in you possession and you have
control over it. If that's the case, I'd shut down all the protection and
sneak up on the problem. Turn on the security features, one at a time,
until you get to the fully protected stage. Or, is this an active hot
system and you can't do that?

 

[Mick Murphy]

Have you treid to see if a wired connection works?

 

[Mick Murphy]

Turn the SSID on, get it connected; then turn the SSID to not broadcast.

 

[Josh T.]

I'm running off a wired connection through a different router at the moment,
as the AP is in the ceiling. But yes, wired does work.

 

[Josh T.]

The AP is managed by the company I work for, and I do not have access or
control over it. As such the current security features in place cannot be
modified.

 

[Josh T.]

Unfortunately this is not an AP I control nor manage, and I am unable to turn
on the SSID, even for a moment. While I have worked in IT in the past, sadly
that is not my job title in my current role, and the call to enable/disable
would have to come from another state, so I'm trying to avoid that scenario
if at all possible.

 

[Bob F.]

ok, I understand, and this makes it a little harder. Since you do have
access at least, you do know the SSID then. The Vista network wizard should
be able to set that up. Go to Start > Control Panel > Network and Sharing
Center > Set up a wireless network, and click next. In this window there is
a place for Network Name (SSID) and the other parameters you need to set up.
You have to get it all perfect or no connection. Using the Manage Wireless
Network Wizard bring up only WAPs that Broadcast SSID and you just select
from a list. That doesn't seem like it will work for you. Does this help?

--
Regards, BobF.

Unfortunately this is not an AP I control nor manage, and I am unable to
turn
on the SSID, even for a moment. While I have worked in IT in the past,
sadly
that is not my job title in my current role, and the call to
enable/disable
would have to come from another state, so I'm trying to avoid that
scenario
if at all possible.

 

[Josh T.]

I have actually followed these steps in order to get to the "limited or no
connectivity" stage of the error. I can force it to try and connect using
the "connect even if SSID is not broadcasted" check box. And I have
confirmed that the WEP key is correct by trying incorrect keys and having the
process fail immediately. So it knows the SSID, it has the correct WEP
encryption, but it's receiving no packets back from the router, even though
my other test laptops (Windows XP and Vista Business) do get packets back.
Of note the wireless card in the other Vista laptop is identical in make and
model.

 

[Bob F.]

ok, we dive down a little more. How are IP's configures? DHCP probably.
Can you do a "ipconfig /all > <filename>.txt" from the command prompt and
post a copy to us <filename>.txt

 

[Josh T.]

I can, you'll have to forgive me if I redact a bit of info, I don't much like
having my MAC address posted on a public forum

Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : Tlaptop
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Unknown
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

Wireless LAN adapter Wireless Network Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Intel(R) Wireless WiFi Link 4965AGN
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-1D-E0-##-##-##
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration IPv4 Address. . : 169.254.238.59(Preferred)
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.0.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . :
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Enabled

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : ##########
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Broadcom NetLink (TM) Gigabit Ethernet
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-1E-68-##-##-##
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

As you can see the Local Area adapter is unplugged for this test, leaving
only the Wireless adapter active.

Currently I have an auto assigned private IP address, indicating that I have
failed to be assigned an IP automatically via DHCP. This is further
re-enforced by the fact that the status window of the wireless connection
shows no packets received from the AP, while many packets are sent.

 

[Bob F.]

That's ok about the MAC, Your network doesn't require a Domain name does
it? I agree with your analysis that you are not picking up a DHCP address.
....or a default gateway for that matter. But I can't see why. You are not
showing a node type either, show be "Hybrid". I'll have to look at this a
bit to see if anything hits me. Ah...just a shot, can you do an IP /release
followed by an Ip /renew. Maybe it needs a priming. Please check your
firewall settings for anything that might look out of place and also, what
AntiVirus are you running?

--
Regards, BobF.

I can, you'll have to forgive me if I redact a bit of info, I don't much
like
having my MAC address posted on a public forum

Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : Tlaptop
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Unknown
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

Wireless LAN adapter Wireless Network Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Intel(R) Wireless WiFi Link 4965AGN
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-1D-E0-##-##-##
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration IPv4 Address. . : 169.254.238.59(Preferred)
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.0.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . :
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Enabled

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : ##########
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Broadcom NetLink (TM) Gigabit
Ethernet
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-1E-68-##-##-##
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

As you can see the Local Area adapter is unplugged for this test, leaving
only the Wireless adapter active.

Currently I have an auto assigned private IP address, indicating that I
have
failed to be assigned an IP automatically via DHCP. This is further
re-enforced by the fact that the status window of the wireless connection
shows no packets received from the AP, while many packets are sent.

 

[Josh T.]

To help remove them as options, there are no firewalls active and no
anti-virus software installed.

Network does not require a domain name.

/release /renew has been tried many times, has no effect on a private IP
address.

 

[Bob F.]

It's about this point where all the wireless connections I bought up, came
up. What WAP product is your laptop talking to? Is the service well used?
That is, are there other users on the wireless part of the network so you
are sure wireless access works ok? The DHCP pool isn't full, is it?

 

[Josh T.]

I'm connecting to a Cisco b/g AP. The service is very lightly used, and the
DHCP is far from tapped out. As mentioned multiple times in earlier posts,
I've tested the AP with 2 other laptops at multiple times, both Dell
machines, one with an identical wireless chipset. One running XP, one
running Business edition of Vista.

 

[Bob F.]

I should have asked this earlier, but when you put in the security code for
you WAP access you did use the hex code sequence, right?...not the pass
phrase. You can use the shared key if using WPA. It's case sensitive,
careful.

 

[Josh T.]

Correct, I am using the full HEX key for WEP, no WPA is enabled. Security
settings are Open WEP only, 128 bit encryption.

 

[Bob F.]

I had to back and check the thread. You said you are using WEP128. Some
keys are 13 ASCII or 26 Hex Keys. Make sure the laptop matches the WAP.
This is a very common place for error. When I say "or" I don't mean you
have a choice. You have to use the right format. It varies by wireless nic
setup based on the driver.

 

[Bob F.]

Too bad. I've reached the end of my list. Sorry Josh. Do you have any
questions that might prompt a thought? One more, do you have an option to
enter these as ASCII characters as a test?

 

[Bob F.]

Hmmm
Intel Wireless WiFi Link 4965AGN does not seem to support WEP:
http://www.intel.com/network/connectivity/resources/doc_library/tech_brief/316286.pdf
What do you think?