Vista Wireless Problems: Connected with Limited Access / Local Onlyetc

[Distorted Vision]

Hi,

I'm having problems with one of my desktop machines which has Vista
Ultimate 32 bit installed. It has a Netgear WG311T network card. It is
having strange intermittent problems with the wireless connection.
There are 3 other wireless machines on the network but they are
running Windows XP and Windows 2003 Server. I have had the wireless
running on this machine using the same hardware and even the same
driver for over a year. But with this fresh clean install its giving
me problems.

The problem is very intermittent. Sometimes it will connect if I do
diagnose this connection or ipconfig /renew. Sometimes I get local
access only. Sometimes it doesn't connect at all and doesn't even find
the network.

I've tried all the suggestions on websites I've read including:

Disabling power saving on the NIC
Disabling IPv6
Disabling QoS
Changing wireless channels

Does anyone have any other suggestions because I'm really stuck.

Many thanks!

 

[Spikey]

Hi,

I'm having problems with one of my desktop machines which has Vista
Ultimate 32 bit installed. It has a Netgear WG311T network card. It is
having strange intermittent problems with the wireless connection.
There are 3 other wireless machines on the network but they are
running Windows XP and Windows 2003 Server. I have had the wireless
running on this machine using the same hardware and even the same
driver for over a year. But with this fresh clean install its giving
me problems.

The problem is very intermittent. Sometimes it will connect if I do
diagnose this connection or ipconfig /renew. Sometimes I get local
access only. Sometimes it doesn't connect at all and doesn't even find
the network.

Had a similar problem with laptop connected to cabled network. In my case
when I disconnected the router and reconnected it was finding an incorrect
network with limited (no internet access). pulling the network cable out and
in fixed the problem but didnt want to be doing that everytime.

The workaround I used was to create an alternate IPv4 configuration using a
spare address from the subnet but outside of the DHCP pool.

 

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

This could be incompatible issue. Have you checked if there is a new driver
for NIC or firmware for the router.
Vista incompatible issues
Vista Incompatible issues. 1. Some switches or routers may not
compatible with Vista - Solutions: upgrade the firmware, disable the IPv6,
re-configure the ...
www.chicagotech.net/vista/vistacompatible.htm



--
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

 

[Distorted Vision]

I have a Netgear DG834PN router and it has the latest firmware. I'm
using the Atheros drivers for my network card which I was using using
without any problems with my previous Vista installation on the same
machine. I've also tried the Negear drivers but have exactly the same
problem. I've even tried a different wireless network card the Netgear
WPN311T and interesting it does exactly the same thing.

Any ideas anyone please?

 

[Big_Al]

I have a Netgear DG834PN router and it has the latest firmware. I'm
using the Atheros drivers for my network card which I was using using
without any problems with my previous Vista installation on the same
machine. I've also tried the Negear drivers but have exactly the same
problem. I've even tried a different wireless network card the Netgear
WPN311T and interesting it does exactly the same thing.

Any ideas anyone please?

Two recent problems I've had, I'll relay. Give them a stab, you got
nothing to lose.

I was just working on a friends Vista PC, wireless with a netgear router
and I was having troubles with only some web pages working. Google
would work, but no links on the search list would work, like Nascar.com.
HP tech (it was an HP laptop) said it was the new router the cable
company just installed. I have to agree with him. We are now working
on getting a new router. He suggested updating the firmware, but I'm
not sure I would since its not mine but the cable co's. But as a work
around he downgraded the WPA2 security to WEP and that fixed the
internet.

I also personally have an Actiontech router for my FIOS account at home
and the WPA2 encryption algorithm was set to AES/XXXX (not sure what
the XXX was but it was like TKT). Anyway I changed the algorithm to
AES only and it works now.

 

[+Bob+]

On Mon, 25 Aug 2008 08:04:50 +0530, dfamqwrkrten


Comments limited to some items, others trimmed.

1) Change the channel on your router from 6 to 12. Ultimately, I think
this was the most important thing for my situation.

This is a key item if there's interference from non-computer devices.
FWIW, only channels 1, 6, and 11 have unique bands, the others all
overlap one channel or another, so these are preferred to avoid
interference issues.

5) Switch the power setting on your Wireless Adapter to "Max" or
"Always On". Powering it up and down to save energy *might* cause
connection problems.

I assume by Max you mean the Vista power management setting. Also go
into Device Manager and set the device to never power down.

8) Enable "Broadcast my SSID" on your router. Some people think that
unbroadcasted SSIDs don't connect properly in Vista. A diagnostic test
on my machine flagged this too. It *might* cause connection problems.

I'm not a fan of doing this beyond the time it takes you to do
diagnostics. Note that disabling SSID will not stop serious hackers at
all, just amateurs, but it still feels nicer to hide.

9) Disable Wireless Security on your router. I've since turned this
back on (WPA-TKIP) with no connection problems, and it's critical to
turn this back on if you broadcast your SSID.

Shutting off all security is a popular way to resolve INITIAL
connection problems. I'm not so sure it matters with dropped
connections but who knows. Always turn it back on after resolving.

BTW, it's obvious after going through so many posts (including some
posts where MS staffers were asking questions) that Microsoft knows this
is widespread and doesn't know how to fix it yet. It's increasingly hard
to believe they didn't see this problem before they released Vista.

Ain't it just (obvious, that is!). Vista apparently has all sorts of
networking problems related to it's alleged enhanced security, alleged
enhanced power management, and just general mucking up the previously
working code by MS. But, they're too deep into their own superiority
complex to even begin to recognize the depth of Vista's problems in
the real world.

 

[craig]

The problem I have had appears similar in that downloads are slow and hang
the connection, and it's hard to get the connection back. However, surfing,
email etc works fine. Using a 100Mbit cable to the Netgear gateway works
fine. This is on a Toshiba laptop with Vista and a netgear gateway. My other
XP IBM laptop is fine. I've had Comcast come out and check but the problem
remains. It is just on relatively large downloads of any type of file, it
will generally hang within a few seconds.

 

[Barb Bowman]

check for a firmware update for the gateway and new drivers for the
network adapter. which exact Netgear Gateway? What network adapter
is in the problematic computer?

The problem I have had appears similar in that downloads are slow and hang
the connection, and it's hard to get the connection back. However, surfing,
email etc works fine. Using a 100Mbit cable to the Netgear gateway works
fine. This is on a Toshiba laptop with Vista and a netgear gateway. My other
XP IBM laptop is fine. I've had Comcast come out and check but the problem
remains. It is just on relatively large downloads of any type of file, it
will generally hang within a few seconds.

--

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

 

[craig]

I did disable QoS, IPv6, LinkLayer Topologies and switched power on the
wirelss adapter to Max. That has resolved the connectivity issue on
downloads. That's good! Now the problem is that downloads are slow <100KB/sec
on the wireless although the Comcast account I have supports 6MB/sec so I
should have plenty room for improvement on the wireless. Using Speakeasy.org
to test the upload/download speed looks good, and I'm seeing about 350KB/sec
download per file on a test of 3 concurrent file downloads with a 100Mbit
cable, which seems OK. So now I'm research wireless download speed
improvement tweaks. Thanks! Craig.

 

[Victor S.]

I have the same issue. My power has always been set to max.
Disabling/re-enabling the hardware (Fn-F2 on my Dell Latitude D610) brings
it back. I have problems with every access point I connect to but some are
much worse than others (from 2-3 dropped connections a day to a dropped
connection every few minutes).

 

[Material_Defender]

Have to admit getting very fed up with Vista's wi-fi issues. similar
issues to all of the above...one minute it is working ..next it
isn't..reboot PC..it works...I was using a lenovo X61 thinkpad and the
only thing i have changed so far is the power options settings to keep
the Wi-fi on maximum performance but I am not convinced it'sa fixed...

Channel numbers dont make any difference to me...though i admit I am
using Netgear router too..is there an inherent compatability with
Netgear and Vista Wi-Fi??

I too am fed up with Vista's Wi-Fi issues as well as my customer.
I've spent over 25 unbilled hours at the customer's house and
countless hours on the Internet, trying to get a new Toshiba Satellite-
Pro A300 to hook up to a new Netgear WNR834B wireless N router. After
all the troubleshooting from Netgear, Toshiba, and the ISP, and
replacing the cable modem, wired router, and wireless router with all
new equipment and updating everything, we still are having issues
connecting to Wi-Fi. Non Vista systems DON'T HAVE AN ISSUE. Toshiba
wants me to reformat the system now... which I know will not solve the
problem. And to the Microsoft parrot that cries out "new drivers,
update the drivers" I have with no results. From the looks of things
this issue has been going on for well over a year now, shame on
Microsoft for pushing a broken product onto its customers and not
SOLVING the issues. I am now recommending MAC for my customers and
Linux is definitely going onto my other machines. If you are going to
charge top dollar for a product perhaps you should make sure it works
before selling it. Wake up Microsoft, people want product that works
as advertised not the CRAP you've pushed onto them. Tired of the Bull
%#t.

 

[Cyberia]

If disabling/re-enabling the hardware fixes the problem, then the problem
is... (let's not always see the same hands)... hardware!

 

[KJ in Columbus]

On Mon, 25 Aug 2008 08:04:50 +0530, dfamqwrkrten


Comments limited to some items, others trimmed.


This is a key item if there's interference from non-computer devices.
FWIW, only channels 1, 6, and 11 have unique bands, the others all
overlap one channel or another, so these are preferred to avoid
interference issues.


I assume by Max you mean the Vista power management setting. Also go
into Device Manager and set the device to never power down.


I'm not a fan of doing this beyond the time it takes you to do
diagnostics. Note that disabling SSID will not stop serious hackers at
all, just amateurs, but it still feels nicer to hide.


Shutting off all security is a popular way to resolve INITIAL
connection problems. I'm not so sure it matters with dropped
connections but who knows. Always turn it back on after resolving.


Ain't it just (obvious, that is!). Vista apparently has all sorts of
networking problems related to it's alleged enhanced security, alleged
enhanced power management, and just general mucking up the previously
working code by MS. But, they're too deep into their own superiority
complex to even begin to recognize the depth of Vista's problems in
the real world.

I am becoming quite upset at this problem, I am losing my connection at the
worst times. Usually mine is when I power off and on. Instead of fixing this,
Windows 7 is coming smh

 

[Frank Parmelee]

Finally! After hours of reading, agonizing, phone calls, set this, set that,
uncheck this, check that - FINALLY - Houston we have contact. Still
occasionally after coming out of sleep I only have "local only" and have to
do a repair, but, it beats doing a complete reset of the network several
times a day. Oh and did I mention my network, both wireless and wired were
rock solid [3 XP machines had no problems] throughout the entire grueling
process.

The one thing that really stands out is the finger pointing that goes on
during a process like this - utterly amazing.

 

[Barb Bowman]

You are replying to a very old thread and haven't given any details.
Please start a new thread and thoroughly describe your problem and
provide system and networking information if you would like some
assistance.

On Wed, 18 Mar 2009 09:58:13 -0700, KJ in Columbus <KJ in

I am becoming quite upset at this problem, I am losing my connection at the
worst times. Usually mine is when I power off and on. Instead of fixing this,
Windows 7 is coming smh

--

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

 

[Frank Parmelee]

Please for give me for intruding Barb, but it appears to me that KJ has
described his problem very well as several others including myself have been
for quite some time. I understood KJ's dilemma and details perfectly and all
the others posting here looking to get help. Most of us are not technically
adept and don't know most of the jargon and can only describe our problems
the best way we can. Above and below this post are scores of others all
having the same complaint or problem or difficulty.

To me networking was pretty straight forward until I met Vista a couple of
weeks ago. Judging by all the posts I am seeing here, there must be
something wrong with vista, all our systems could not have been that screwed
up before Vista came a long. I am better off then I was two weeks ago but
still not out of the woods with my Vista machine.

Please understand Barb, I mean nothing personal but you must understand how
frustrated all of us are here. I don't know how to be any more detailed
than:

"The problems are 1) does not connect to the internet [local only], on
powering up and 2) coming out of sleep mode or 3) drops the internet
connection randomly."

There are scores of posts here all having and describing the same problems.
There are no error messages to quote just the little annoyance of having to
deal with this on an ongoing basis told to us by the little icon in the
lower right side of the taskbar.

 

[Malke]

Frank Parmelee wrote:

(much snippage)

Above and below this post are scores of
others all having the same complaint or problem or difficulty.

There is no "above and below this post" for those of us accessing Usenet
newsgroups with newsreaders (which means most of the regular helpers like
Ms. Bowman and me). That is why KJ was asked to create a new post fully
describing his/her issues. There are many networking issues and those of us
trying to help can't possibly guess what was in an old thread by someone
else.

About Usenet:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usenet
http://www.faqs.org/faqs/ - Usenet FAQs from the Internet FAQ Archives
http://www.usenetmonster.com/infocenter/
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Usenet - a brief explanation
of newsgroups

How to Post:
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Usenet
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375 - How to Ask a Question

Malke

 

[Frank Parmelee]

This pretty well sums them all up Malke...

"The problems are 1) does not connect to the internet [local only], on
powering up and 2) coming out of sleep mode or 3) drops the internet
connection randomly."

They might be worded differently but all say the same thing.

Perhaps we have found the real problem; "There is no "above and below this
post" for those of us accessing Usenet

newsgroups with newsreaders (which means most of the regular helpers like
Ms. Bowman and me)."

Perhaps you may want to use Windows Mail like the rest of us and then you
could see all the posts here expressing the same frustrations. Be that as it
may, I was simply stating that long before and after this post are and will
continue to be examples of the frustrating Networking problems with Vista.
for two weeks now, I have read scores of them but if people like you cannot
read them you can't understand or offer help if what you say is true; "There
is no "above and below this post" for those of us...

 

[Malke]

This pretty well sums them all up Malke...

"The problems are 1) does not connect to the internet [local only], on
powering up and 2) coming out of sleep mode or 3) drops the internet
connection randomly."

Again, if KJ in Columbus wants help, he/she should make a new post with
his/her *own* specifications.

If you are having problems, please do the same and I will look for it to see
if I can help.

EOT for me.

Malke