wireless with XP -

[Greg Stark]

In a recent posting,
(http://www.google.com/groups?q=+"[email protected]&rnum=2),
I asked for some help resolving problems I am having with the software
driving a Motorola 802.11g network card I bought. After two iterations
with Motorola tech support, they are now ignoring my e-mails.

Their claim, as best I can underdstand, is that XP has a bug whereby
users without admin privileges are prevented from accessing the
wireless card.

So, my question is, does anybody have a working XP configuration with
the following properties:

1) You have an 802.11 (a, b, or g) wireless adapter to connect to your
network, AND

2) You have users with Limited accounts (or at least without Admin
privileges) AND

3) These lesser privileged accounts can connect to the net through the
wirless NIC.

If the answer is yes, please let me know which wireless card you have.
I'm especially interested if you have the same wireless card I have,
the Motorola WPCI810G or WN825G.

Thanks,

==============================
greg stark
(e-mail address removed)
==============================

 

[Steve Winograd [MVP]]

In a recent posting,
(http://www.google.com/groups?q=+"[email protected]&rnum=2),
I asked for some help resolving problems I am having with the software
driving a Motorola 802.11g network card I bought. After two iterations
with Motorola tech support, they are now ignoring my e-mails.

Their claim, as best I can underdstand, is that XP has a bug whereby
users without admin privileges are prevented from accessing the
wireless card.

So, my question is, does anybody have a working XP configuration with
the following properties:

1) You have an 802.11 (a, b, or g) wireless adapter to connect to your
network, AND

2) You have users with Limited accounts (or at least without Admin
privileges) AND

3) These lesser privileged accounts can connect to the net through the
wirless NIC.

If the answer is yes, please let me know which wireless card you have.
I'm especially interested if you have the same wireless card I have,
the Motorola WPCI810G or WN825G.

Thanks,

==============================
greg stark
(e-mail address removed)
==============================

Performing the initial installation and setup for a wireless card
requires an Administrator account.

After that, a Limited account should be fine. A Limited account can
connect to the net through every wireless NIC that I've tested:

Netgear MA111
Netgear MA401
Netgear MA521
Microsoft MN-520
SMC 2635W

It's possible that the Motorola software isn't written in accordance
with Windows XP coding standards. For example, there would be a
problem with Limited users if the software tried to write to a file in
the Program Files folder.
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

 

[Greg Stark]

....

Performing the initial installation and setup for a wireless card
requires an Administrator account.

After that, a Limited account should be fine. A Limited account can
connect to the net through every wireless NIC that I've tested:

Netgear MA111
Netgear MA401
Netgear MA521
Microsoft MN-520
SMC 2635W

It's possible that the Motorola software isn't written in accordance
with Windows XP coding standards. For example, there would be a
problem with Limited users if the software tried to write to a file in
the Program Files folder.
--

Thanks for the info, Steve. I did the initial install as Admin. I have
tried to isolate what/where exactly the privilege issue is occuring.
I've tried using tools like process explorer and filemon from
sysinternals, and looking in the event logs, but I still don't have a
clue. I've figured out (I think) which Motorola executables are
invloved, but I don't know what to try next.

I've heard from somebody else with the same problem, so I'm going to
assume it is a problem with Motorola's software. My advice to others:
DO NOT buy the Motorola WPCI810G or WNG825G adapters until this
problem is fixed.

 

[Steve Winograd [MVP]]

Performing the initial installation and setup for a wireless card
requires an Administrator account.

After that, a Limited account should be fine. A Limited account can
connect to the net through every wireless NIC that I've tested:

Netgear MA111
Netgear MA401
Netgear MA521
Microsoft MN-520
SMC 2635W

It's possible that the Motorola software isn't written in accordance
with Windows XP coding standards. For example, there would be a
problem with Limited users if the software tried to write to a file in
the Program Files folder.

Thanks for the info, Steve. I did the initial install as Admin. I have
tried to isolate what/where exactly the privilege issue is occuring.
I've tried using tools like process explorer and filemon from
sysinternals, and looking in the event logs, but I still don't have a
clue. I've figured out (I think) which Motorola executables are
invloved, but I don't know what to try next.

I've heard from somebody else with the same problem, so I'm going to
assume it is a problem with Motorola's software. My advice to others:
DO NOT buy the Motorola WPCI810G or WNG825G adapters until this
problem is fixed.[/QUOTE]

You're welcome, Greg. If there's an error message, when does it
occur, and what does it say?
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

 

[Greg Stark]

You're welcome, Greg. If there's an error message, when does it
occur, and what does it say?
--

There is no error message. It appears that the card is not enabled
until a user logs in. When a user with admin privileges logs in, the
green light on the card goes on and it seems to work. When I right
click on the tray applet I have the option to "Disable Radio" amongst
the other choices. If I choose to disable the radio, then
right-clicking will give me option to "Enable Radio". I can go back
and forth as many times as I want, enabling and disabling the radio,
as long as the account has admin privilege. On the other hand, when
logging in from any non-admin account, right clicking on the tray
applet gives me the "Enable Radio" choice. Selecting "Enable Radio"
does seem to do anything, and when I right click again I see the same
"Enable Radio" button.

Examining the services, I see that there is a service WLTRYSVC that is
running, and is set to automatic startup. It is set to log as a local
system account, and the box "Allow service to interact with desktop"
is checked. Now what is a little more interesting is the path to the
excutable is:
E:\WINDOWS\System32\wltrysvc.exe E:\WINDOWS\System32\bcmwltry.exe

so it appears the service takes as a command line argument the path to
another executable. When viewed in the process explorer, the service
wltrysvc.exe is indeed running as local system. Furthermore,
bcmwltry.exe is running as a subprocess but as the logged in user, not
as system.

 

[Steve Winograd [MVP]]

You're welcome, Greg. If there's an error message, when does it
occur, and what does it say?

There is no error message. It appears that the card is not enabled
until a user logs in. When a user with admin privileges logs in, the
green light on the card goes on and it seems to work. When I right
click on the tray applet I have the option to "Disable Radio" amongst
the other choices. If I choose to disable the radio, then
right-clicking will give me option to "Enable Radio". I can go back
and forth as many times as I want, enabling and disabling the radio,
as long as the account has admin privilege. On the other hand, when
logging in from any non-admin account, right clicking on the tray
applet gives me the "Enable Radio" choice. Selecting "Enable Radio"
does seem to do anything, and when I right click again I see the same
"Enable Radio" button.

Examining the services, I see that there is a service WLTRYSVC that is
running, and is set to automatic startup. It is set to log as a local
system account, and the box "Allow service to interact with desktop"
is checked. Now what is a little more interesting is the path to the
excutable is:
E:\WINDOWS\System32\wltrysvc.exe E:\WINDOWS\System32\bcmwltry.exe

so it appears the service takes as a command line argument the path to
another executable. When viewed in the process explorer, the service
wltrysvc.exe is indeed running as local system. Furthermore,
bcmwltry.exe is running as a subprocess but as the logged in user, not
as system.[/QUOTE]

Yes, those appear to be two programs associated with the Motorola
wireless card. If they don't allow Limited users to use the wireless
connection, I'd say that the problem is with Motorola's software, not
with Windows XP.
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com