Wireless network - System Tray icon wrong


  1. Posts : 13
    Windows 7 & XP
       #1

    Wireless network - System Tray icon wrong


    Hi,

    I have a Netgear WN111 USB wireless adaptor on my PC (802.11n NIC).

    It works fine with my WiFi network, but it always displays the wrong icon in the System Tray when connected. It shows the signal bars greyed out, with a yellow star on top.

    I have tried a Windows update on the driver, but Windows (7 ultimate) says it's using the latest driver.

    Netgear only have a Vista driver for this NIC, tried this to no avail, same problem.

    I have no other NICs enabled on the box (wired Ethernet port disabled in BIOS and nothing in Device Manager).

    I have googled this issue and I'm not alone (and it's not just Netgear NICs affected). However all the solutions say remove & re-install the device. Done this, and it's made no difference.

    Anyone got any other ideas?

    Thanks & regards,

    Jock in a Frock
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 2,737
    Windows 7 Enterprise (x64); Windows Server 2008 R2 (x64)
       #2

    If a re-install is the fix, you may need to do a complete re-install. That is uninstall the software, then delete all the .DLL and .SYS files the uninstall leaves. Then delete the .INF and .CAT files, remove all Registry entries for this NIC. Reboot several times and double check everything is gone. You might need to check if there is a special service running for this NIC if there is you will need to disable the service, reboot, delete the registry keys, and then delete all the files for the service. I would reboot and double check again. Once you are sure it is gone. Then on a CLEAN boot, Don't open any programs and if anything starts automaticly like Yahoo Chat etc. Exit it and all other programs. Then re-install the NIC. That should get it. -WS
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 13
    Windows 7 & XP
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Thanks, I'll try that (never thought about removing all the .dll's etc). Will report back the effect in a few days.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 2
    Windows 7 Home Premium x64
       #4

    Were you able to resolve this issue?

    I'm having the same problem. It started when I install the Bluesoleil bluetooth driver package. Uninstalling it didn't restore my network icons to normal. It's displaying the wrong icon no matter what network device I'm using even if I disable all but the one I'm currently on.

    Thanks
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 13
    Windows 7 & XP
    Thread Starter
       #5

    Old post, I know, but just to answer Ethos101's question - I never did solve this, I have since reinstalled Win7.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 1
    Windows 7 32bit
       #6

    hey, I seem to have solved the issue
    I had this grey tray icon for three months and it drove me nuts, so I just entered the "Change adapter settings" section and disabled all the network connections except for the used one (apart from my regular wireless connection I had a bluetooth network, LAN connection and wireless connection 2)
    Then I turned my wireless adaptor off and on in the device manager, connected to my home wi-fi network and grey bars with an orange star changed for the original white bars indicating the signal strength. Didn't even have to reboot.
    Hope this method helps comeone
    Cheers
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 1
    Windows 7 Basic
       #7

    ambidexterous...excellent this worked for me... i was struggling with this for the past 6 months... thanks a zillion
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 20
    Windows 7 Ultimate Edition x32
       #8

    Same here, this worked for me...Disable any other connection. VPNs/Bluetooth/LAN/WLAN except the Wireless NIC which is facing the issue..
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 1
    California
       #9

    It worked!


    Thanks for the suggestion of disabling all other network connections. I went to the Network Adapters settings and found out that Windows 7 installed an updated driver for my old dial-up modem (default hardware on an older laptop). I couldn't disable it so I deleted it instead (didn't need it anyways). And now my Network Status Icon is working again! I searched many different forums and was getting frustrated--glad I stumbled across this old post.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 10,485
    W7 Pro SP1 64bit
       #10

    Welcome to the Seven Forums.

    Thanks for the added info.
      My Computer


 

  Related Discussions
Our Sites
Site Links
About Us
Windows 7 Forums is an independent web site and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Microsoft Corporation. "Windows 7" and related materials are trademarks of Microsoft Corp.

© Designer Media Ltd
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:50.
Find Us