Network occasionally fails to be activated on bootup

I have a standalone HP Windows 7 computer with internet access provided through an external cable modem via an ethernet connection.

On just a few occasions since getting the computer last month, it has failed to activate the internet connection during the bootup process. The network icon in the bottom right corner continues to show the blue circle indicating "busy" and, in that circumstance, I can't launch the browser. I have to restart the computer and invariably it boots up OK the second time.

In case this is relevant, I should mention that, as the last stage in a successful bootup, a window pops up in the bottom right corner confirming the status of the HP Wireless Assistant (either on or disabled). I obviously don't use a wireless connection but I currently have the wireless button set to "enabled"; however I have also experimented with having it set to "disabled" and the same problem has occurred with that setting, so I don't think this is particularly significant.

When the bootup fails to activate the network, the HP Wireless Assistant popup window does not appear at all. It's as if something happens (or fails to happen) that prevents this last step from being completed.

This seemingly random failure to activate the network connection is obviously irritating and puzzling. Can anyone suggest the cause and what action I should take to avoid this problem?

Bare Foot Kid said:

Hello BruceUK, welcome to Seven Forums!


Type "msconfig" without the quotes into the start menu / search box to open the config utility, under the "startup" tab see if you can identify any entry matching "HP Wireless Assistant" and see if disabling it at startup will sort the issue.

Be sure to post back with the outcome.

Hiya,

Thanks very much for your response. Yes there was an entry in the Startup list for the HP Wireless Assistant, which I have now disabled. The executable concerned is HPWAMain.exe. I restarted the computer, it booted up OK and all seems well. Of course I won't really know whether this has solved the problem until I've used the computer for at least a week or two without the problem recurring - but at least the change doesn't appear to have done any harm, so fingers crossed!

Thanks again for your help.

If that does not seem to fix the issue, please check your "system" event log for further details.

Kari said:

Bruce, HP wireless Assistant is, together with HP QuickLaunch Buttons, maybe the most unnecessary of all the HP apps. I have two dv7 series laptops and have never used nor installed them. BFK's advice was perfect, I would take it a step further and uninstall HPWA completely. Wireless on HP laptops works perfectly well without this app.

You know of course that in dv7, turning off the wireless also turns Bluetooth off? You mentioned you use ethernet connection, so if you don't want to connect any Bluetooth devices (mobile phones etc.) to your laptop, you can turn WiFi / Bluetooth off by pressing the WiFi button and keep off until you need WiFi / Bluetooth connection.

Thanks Kari. I may well take your advice eventually about uninstalling the Wireless Assistant - however, for now, I think I'll leave things as they are for a week or two and see whether disabling it in the startup menu has solved the problem. It may be useful for others to know whether this step on its own is sufficient to resolve it.

Bare Foot Kid said:

Hello again BruceUK.

Yes please do come back to let us know how it sorts out.

Will do. The problem hasn't occurred again so far since making the change.