Windows 7 Wireless Issue

[BCXtreme]

I also had problems when I tried to switch my network to WPA-Personal some time ago. The Windows 7 computers all freaked out and I finally just went back to WEP. I'm still not sure what caused that. I had been hoping it was just me though ... sorry...

 

[TheAzzalleLion]

I also had problems when I tried to switch my network to WPA-Personal some time ago. The Windows 7 computers all freaked out and I finally just went back to WEP. I'm still not sure what caused that. I had been hoping it was just me though ... sorry...

So I'm guessing you're still using WEP? And that happened on all of your devices?

That sucks....

There has to be some way to fix this? I mean surely this is an issue with Windows 7? I mean I'm not blaming MS but I'd like to know who's responsible so I can get it working. WPA is a much more secure (not to mention easier) system for my parents to use as well as me.

And there are many devices that will be using the wireless here aside form the computers like my iPhone my siblings phones, friends who visit, gaming systems, etc....

 

[BCXtreme]

I also had problems when I tried to switch my network to WPA-Personal some time ago. The Windows 7 computers all freaked out and I finally just went back to WEP. I'm still not sure what caused that. I had been hoping it was just me though ... sorry...

So I'm guessing you're still using WEP? And that happened on all of your devices?

That sucks....

There has to be some way to fix this? I mean surely this is an issue with Windows 7? I mean I'm not blaming MS but I'd like to know who's responsible so I can get it working. WPA is a much more secure (not to mention easier) system for my parents to use as well as me.

And there are many devices that will be using the wireless here aside form the computers like my iPhone my siblings phones, friends who visit, gaming systems, etc....

Yeah, we're still on WEP here. I have read that compatibility with WPA-Personal is still sketchy, so it could be a combination of Windows 7, the router, the wireless card, the driver for the wireless card ... I really don't know how to figure this one out. I would love to switch to WPA as well, but as long as these problems persist ... at least I finally managed to memorize my 25-character alphanumeric WEP key!

Has anyone been able to succeed in getting a WPA-Personal connection on Windows 7?

 

[TheAzzalleLion]

I also had problems when I tried to switch my network to WPA-Personal some time ago. The Windows 7 computers all freaked out and I finally just went back to WEP. I'm still not sure what caused that. I had been hoping it was just me though ... sorry...

So I'm guessing you're still using WEP? And that happened on all of your devices?

That sucks....

There has to be some way to fix this? I mean surely this is an issue with Windows 7? I mean I'm not blaming MS but I'd like to know who's responsible so I can get it working. WPA is a much more secure (not to mention easier) system for my parents to use as well as me.

And there are many devices that will be using the wireless here aside form the computers like my iPhone my siblings phones, friends who visit, gaming systems, etc....

Yeah, we're still on WEP here. I have read that compatibility with WPA-Personal is still sketchy, so it could be a combination of Windows 7, the router, the wireless card, the driver for the wireless card ... I really don't know how to figure this one out. I would love to switch to WPA as well, but as long as these problems persist ... at least I finally managed to memorize my 25-character alphanumeric WEP key!

Has anyone been able to succeed in getting a WPA-Personal connection on Windows 7?

I see...you were the one who provided the links for the lite on wireless adapter in my computer right?

I'm pretty sure it's the 2nd/lower one that I need to download. However I accidently disabled the wireless adapter. Then I enabled it. And Windows 7 said that I could remove it. So I did just to see what would happen. Now it's no longer even in the adapter page.

Should I go ahead and completely UNinstall it and then install the new one?

Or leave it and install the new one from ralink and see what happens?

 

[BCXtreme]

I see...you were the one who provided the links for the lite on wireless adapter in my computer right?

I'm pretty sure it's the 2nd/lower one that I need to download. However I accidently disabled the wireless adapter. Then I enabled it. And Windows 7 said that I could remove it. So I did just to see what would happen. Now it's no longer even in the adapter page.

Should I go ahead and completely UNinstall it and then install the new one?

Or leave it and install the new one from ralink and see what happens?

I wasn't the one that provided those links. Sorry!

Something interested did just happen here, though. I switched my router to WPA2 Personal and it seems to be working fine on my Windows 7 netbook.

Do me a favor and tell me if your router's Wireless Security settings match mine right now:

Security Mode: WPA/WPA2 Personal
WPA Personal: Enable
WPA2 Personal: Enable
Encryption Algorithms: TKIP
Group Key Renewal: 3600

 

[TheAzzalleLion]

I see...you were the one who provided the links for the lite on wireless adapter in my computer right?

I'm pretty sure it's the 2nd/lower one that I need to download. However I accidently disabled the wireless adapter. Then I enabled it. And Windows 7 said that I could remove it. So I did just to see what would happen. Now it's no longer even in the adapter page.

Should I go ahead and completely UNinstall it and then install the new one?

Or leave it and install the new one from ralink and see what happens?

I wasn't the one that provided those links. Sorry!

Something interested did just happen here, though. I switched my router to WPA2 Personal and it seems to be working fine on my Windows 7 netbook.

Do me a favor and tell me if your router's Wireless Security settings match mine right now:

Security Mode: WPA/WPA2 Personal
WPA Personal: Enable
WPA2 Personal: Enable
Encryption Algorithms: TKIP
Group Key Renewal: 3600

Don't be sorry! I was just gonna say thanks again. It may help alot....who knows? Anyways here's the info you requested.

Okay I have Linksys Router (WRT610N)

When I login into the home page I clicked on "Wireless" and then "Wireless Security"

These are the only things that on the page:

Security Mode: WPA-Personal
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Encryption: AES
Passphrase: myfamilyslastname
Key Renewal: 3600 seconds

The following is under "Advanced Wireless Settings"

• AP Isolation: Disabled (Default: Disabled)
• Frame Burst: Enabled (Default: Enabled)
• Authentication Type: Auto (Default: Auto)
• Basic Rate: 1-2 Mbps Default (Default: Default)
• Transmission Rate: Auto 1 Mbps 2 Mbps 5.5 Mbps 6 Mbps 9 Mbps 11 Mbps 12 Mbps 18 Mbps 24 Mbps 36 Mbps 48 Mbps 54 Mbps (Default: Auto)
• N Transmission Rate: Auto mcs0: 6.5Mbps mcs1: 13Mbps mcs2: 19.5Mbps mcs3: 26Mbps mcs4: 39Mbps mcs5: 52Mbps mcs6: 58.5Mbps mcs7: 65Mbps mcs8: 13Mbps mcs9: 26Mbps mcs10: 39Mbps mcs11: 52Mbps mcs12: 78Mbps mcs13: 104Mbps mcs14: 117Mbps mcs15: 130Mbps (Default: Auto)
• Transmission Power: High (Default: High)
• CTS Protection Mode: Auto (Default: Auto)
• Beacon Interval: 100 ( Default: 100, Milliseconds, Range: 1 - 65535)
• DTIM Interval: 1 ( Default: 1, Range: 1 - 255)
• Fragmentation Threshold: 2346 ( Default: 2346, Range: 256 - 2346)
• RTS Threshold: 2347 ( Default: 2347, Range: 0 - 2347)

 

[BCXtreme]

Assuming the wireless card in question is enabled again...

Click the Network system tray icon, and right-click the name of your network in the list. Click Properties. In that window, go to the "Security" tab, and ensure that the settings there match the settings in your router. Note that there IS a difference between WPA-Personal and WPA2-Personal. Let me know your findings.

 

[TheAzzalleLion]

Assuming the wireless card in question is enabled again...

Click the Network system tray icon, and right-click the name of your network in the list. Click Properties. In that window, go to the "Security" tab, and ensure that the settings there match the settings in your router. Note that there IS a difference between WPA-Personal and WPA2-Personal. Let me know your findings.

I know the difference. And no it's not showing up in network adapters. I stupidly choose to "remove it safely". The computer thinks of it as a usb device. so I thought I'd be able to enable it easily. however now it's totally disappeared...

And before I did all of that I did make sure that the settings were WPA. Cuz like I told you when I move my mouse icon over the wireless network name it says, "WEP"

When I logged into the router's home page it clearly shows that I"m using WPA-Personal with AES encryption.

So I manually changed the settings in the Network and Sharing Center. And that didn't help. That led to the message I put in my first post this morning.

So now the adapter isn't showing up at all under "network adapter" and when I go into devices and printers it's there but with an "!" mark because it's "prepared for removal"

If you know of a way to undo that that would ble great.

But like I was saying I'm currently downloading what I THINK should be the most up to date driver for this adapter. SHould I just go ahead and uninstall the current one or leave it?

 

[BCXtreme]

Well, considering that the device currently isn't working regardless, I'd say you have nothing to lose by uninstalling the current driver first. If putting the new driver in doesn't reinstall the device, I'll see if I can find a way to undo the "prepared for removal" thing.

 

[TheAzzalleLion]

I've gotta go to work right now. I won't be back till late at night. Hopefully you'll still be up. I very much appreciate your trying to help...

Hopefully the ralink driver I'm downloading right now for the Lite On usb wireless adapter (66% and going up) will make a difference....I don't know it seems like this problem is going to be pretty difficult to fix.

 

[BCXtreme]

Well, the fact that I've been able to get it to work on my network indicates that Windows 7 CAN use WPA-Personal, so hopefully we will be able to find a fix for you.

 

[Kiko]

Hmm BCXtreme, do you happen to remember what exactly happened when you tried to connect to WPA networks? I'm currently having issues with my Intel 5100. I don't seem to get a properly assigned IP Address from my router (DHCP) and get stuck in Limited Connectivity. There are so many things to doubt here, and I never thought of blaming encryption.

Thanks

 

[BCXtreme]

Hmm BCXtreme, do you happen to remember what exactly happened when you tried to connect to WPA networks? I'm currently having issues with my Intel 5100. I don't seem to get a properly assigned IP Address from my router (DHCP) and get stuck in Limited Connectivity. There are so many things to doubt here, and I never thought of blaming encryption.

Thanks

I think that was exactly what happened to me a while ago when I tried to use WPA2-Personal. It seems to be fixed now, but I don't remember doing anyything different. Since Windows 7 stores its own encryption settings, though, checking this is always good:

Click the Network system tray icon, and right-click the name of your network in the list. Click Properties. In that window, go to the "Security" tab, and ensure that the settings there match the settings in your router. Note that there IS a difference between WPA-Personal and WPA2-Personal.

 

[kegobeer]

I use WPA2/AES for all of my wireless networks. My Windows 7 computers have no problems connecting. I use Atheros based chipsets, however. The chipsets for the USB device and the Intel wifi cards could be part of the problem.

If possible, use WPA2/AES instead of TKIP.

 

[Kiko]

Even if that does solve the problem, I'm not going to ask cafes or any wifi hotspots to configure their routers to satisfy my needs (or actually Win 7's). This has never been a problem and I don't see why it should be on Windows 7. MS's responsibility is to fix this mess, and soon enough. My whole Win 7 experience was ruined because of poor wireless performance regardless of how well other aspects have functioned.

 

[TheAzzalleLion]

Even if that does solve the problem, I'm not going to ask cafes or any wifi hotspots to configure their routers to satisfy my needs (or actually Win 7's). This has never been a problem and I don't see why it should be on Windows 7. MS's responsibility is to fix this mess, and soon enough. My whole Win 7 experience was ruined because of poor wireless performance regardless of how well other aspects have functioned.

That's how I'm starting to feel...I'm on break and I can't help worrying if I've made a huge mistake by upgrading so soon....

When I get back I'm gonna see if the driver I downloaded changed anything. If not I'll try WPA2-personal with aes instead....

 

[kegobeer]

Even if that does solve the problem, I'm not going to ask cafes or any wifi hotspots to configure their routers to satisfy my needs (or actually Win 7's). This has never been a problem and I don't see why it should be on Windows 7. MS's responsibility is to fix this mess, and soon enough. My whole Win 7 experience was ruined because of poor wireless performance regardless of how well other aspects have functioned.

I do not believe this is Microsoft's fault. A hardware manufacturer has to keep pace with new operating systems, and must release drivers that ensure their devices work. Also, the end user must also make sure that drivers are available for their hardware before they upgrade. If there are no drivers available, and the end user chooses to upgrade, then the end user has to live with limited or no use of those devices.

For example, I upgraded to Windows 7 knowing that my Canon MX850 did not have Windows 7 drivers (at the time RTM was released - they had Windows 7 drivers available prior to the official launch). I realized that I would have to find a way to make the printer work, or I would just not have network printing until Canon released drivers. If there were no drivers available for my wifi card, I would not have upgraded - I can't live without wireless on my laptop.

 

[Kiko]

Win 7 drivers were released a few days ago for my wireless card but the problem persists even after I updated my drivers. I still get Limited Connectivity quite often, but only when I shutdown/standby my notebook. Once I have internet access it never drops, but once I get limited connectivity I never get internet access either. Not sure you get what I mean.

 

[TheAzzalleLion]

YESSS! I FINALLY GOT IT WORKING!

The driver I downloaded from Ralink worked. And it automatically saw that the router was WPA-Personal. Then clicked on connect (trying not to get my hopes up at the same time) and it asked for the same "network security key". I put in the passphrase and this time it connected easily without any trouble!

Thank God that's over! Hopefully I won't suffer like this with my mom's laptop....

And kego I agree with you up till the point about the consumer. Your average consumer doesn't know that much and cannot be expected to have to like any of this.

All they know that MS told them that they could upgrade and that their system could handle it. That's all they care about. And if it doesn't work perfectly right off the bat chances are that they'll be blaming MS. And personally I think MS should carry some of the load of responsiblity.

 

[kegobeer]

Which driver did you end up downloading? I'm glad that at least one of the links I provided ended up solving the issue!

And - are you speaking in general terms that Microsoft tells people they can upgrade, or are you referring to the Windows 7 upgrade tool that scans a system?