Windows 7: Wireless Network Adapter Says it's Working Properly But It's Not

Just tried the firewall and awareness program suggestion. No difference....thanks for trying though.

I uninstalled the adapter and deleted the driver, rebooted and windows found it, reinstalled and downloaded driver. I then reconfigured a manual connection and my router to match the new connection. It still has the big red X and doesn't even look for networks. I re-ran ipconfig and it changed slightly showing a new LAN connection (microsoft virtual miniport adapter).



Microsoft Windows [Version 6.1.7600]
Copyright (c) 2009 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

C:\Users\David>ipconfig/all

Windows IP Configuration

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

Wireless LAN adapter Wireless Network Connection 3:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft Virtual WiFi Miniport Adapter #
2
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 06-22-69-59-46-BD
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Wireless LAN adapter Wireless Network Connection:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Atheros AR5007EG Wireless Network Adapter

Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-22-69-59-46-BD
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : Belkin
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Realtek PCIe FE Family Controller
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-1E-33-5B-A2-59
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Tunnel adapter Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Tunnel adapter isatap.Belkin:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft ISATAP Adapter #2
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

C:\Users\David>

Very strange indeed, it's acting like it's not even turned on. Have you run a virus scan lately?
The Msoft wifi miniport is used if you set up a wireless access point with a program like connectify.

Malware bytes might find something that is keeping the connection from working but I don't have much else to go on here.

Same issue with my Dell XPS M140; upgraded to Windows 7 pro last night and it can't see any wireless networks. Can't test ethernet b/c everything is all wack-a-doo because of Vonage (VOiP).

- Tried the two different command prompt winsock resets ("netsh winsock reset" and "netsh int ip reset" ...and still "no joy" (like David- xRAYTANGOx).

- IPConfig opens for a split second and then...closes. Can't seem to get to it. All I saw in that minutae of time was "disconnected." I'm guessing it was the same as David's.

- Adapter (I believe this is the wireless adaptor; nothing in the Device Manager says "wireless" (though of course there is a wireless adaptor as I've been using it for 4+ years...): Broadcom 440x10/100 Integrated Controller.

Scoured the net for drivers; can't find anyting for Network adapters; plenty for other things (sound card, video card). I called Dell and after 90 minutes on the phone (constant transfers) they wanted $89 with no guarantee the solution would work so I declined (and not so politely).

This machine is not very well made, I'm afraid. I've had to replace the keyboard right off the bat and the optical drive only works sporadically (worked for my Wndows 7 disk unfortunately). I was prepared (anxious and willing) to restore to factory settings but you can't - I even used another machine to copy the files form the restore disk to a memory stick. "Install Windows XP" was grayed out.

Options? Thanks so much for your help - this is where i always find my answers.

- Cal



Try Disable, restart and then Enable?

I ran a complete scan with Malware Bytes and I am still tethered to my router. I think tomorrow I will back up my hard drive to my external, and say welcome back to Vista with my recovery disc, and pray my adapter is happier to see it return than I will be. I leave for St. Maarten on Friday and I don't think they will let me stretch a wire from the hotel lobby to my room. Thanks again to everyone who tried to help me.

David - I tried to use the Dell recovery disk but "Install Windows XP" us grayed out; you can't go backwards from Win 7.

I'd dponate this piece of ^&$# but that'd be mean...

Have you tried system restore?

Yes, I tried a number of system restores prior to reinstalling windows 7 last night hoping that would work. Thursday I bought and iPod Touch and downloaded iTunes. I think my problems were caused by Bonjour which was included in the download. I have gotten rid of it but I think the damage was already done.

I'm pretty sure I can solve this.. post the hardware ID for your wireless adapter..
Attachment 101827
I'll check to see whether microsoft may have misidentified it.. if that isn't the case, then your next move should be to reinstall windows again, but this time use diskpart from a command prompt on the windows install disk to zero the entire HDD first. I'll explain how if you don't already know. I have yet to see a problem of this nature that can't be solved using this method

Here are my IDs:


PCI\VEN_168C&DEV_001C&SUBSYS_042A1468&REV_01
PCI\VEN_168C&DEV_001C&SUBSYS_042A1468
PCI\VEN_168C&DEV_001C&CC_020000
PCI\VEN_168C&DEV_001C&CC_0200

If these appear to be correct I would appreciate you explaining the method of re-install you are talking about. Thanks.