W7 Network map tree with "?" between laptop and wireless router

Before I would bother myself with the network map:

What has changed to cause your system to not "automatically connect"? That's your real issue all of sudden. The reason you don't see "automatically connect" when you click on the signal icon is because you are already set to automatically connect. I would figure out why it's not doing that.

I would go change that NIC back to "allow computer to turn off" and see what happens.

sibbil said:

Before I would bother myself with the network map:

What has changed to cause your system to not "automatically connect"? That's your real issue all of sudden. The reason you don't see "automatically connect" when you click on the signal icon is because you are already set to automatically connect. I would figure out why it's not doing that.

I would go change that NIC back to "allow computer to turn off" and see what happens.

Click to expand...

I do agree with turning NIC power save back on. But, I am going to wait to see what happens after my next sleep cycle, since two instances isn't necessarily a problem and if you recall, I did not have a disconnect problem after my first sleep cycle. If I get disconnected again, I am going to revert my settings and see what happens, also, in case you were wondering, I do not have any problems with losing connection while actively using my laptop.

Sorry, thought it was three times. It really should not be happening. I mean, it's not hurting anything, but this does need to be checked out to see why it happens. It'll be interesting to see how often it happens with your current settings for power.

I wonder if your disconnect corresponds with your IP lease time expiring.

Update #4

Update #4
Laptop was inactive for 12 hours total. When I woke my laptop, I found that my connection WAS active, no disconnect. So far so good. I then proceeded to check network map, there was no issue there, other than the wrong icon representing my wireless router. I'm not too concerned about that, since the ssid name is correct and the connection is represented correctly, the green dashed lines. So I have no explanation for the previous 2 instances of "disconnection". :banghead:
Just have to see what happens next sleep cycle.

So since setting that NIC so that it is not turned off, you've never seen the infamous "?", right? Even after multiple screen refreshes?

Based on how often you used to see the "?", you would've likely seen it at least once by now, right?

Update #5

Correct. since I have disabled NIC power save, I have not encountered the mysterious "?". If you recall I had one instance of "Windows cannot discover any device or computer" message, other than that and the two instances of "disconnect, no real issues.

Update #5
Laptop was inactive for 13 hours total this time. When I woke my laptop I found my connection active and when I checked network map, I saw an accurate map. Also, the icon that represents my router in map is now, once again, the correct standing model, more reminiscent of my actual wireless router. Like I said before, the icon shifting isn't concerning me, the disconnect was. The disconnect instances are as follows:

Sleep Cycle #1: Connection active on waking.
Sleep Cycle #2: Connection "disconnected" on waking.
Sleep Cycle #3: Connection "disconnected" on waking.
Sleep Cycle #4: Connection active on waking.
Sleep Cycle #5: Connection active on waking.

I wonder what the disconnections were all about.

Update #6 & #7

Update #6

Laptop was inactive for 9 total hours. When I woke laptop my connection WAS active.
I proceeded to check network map, no problems.


Update # 7

This is non sleep cycle related. I have my laptop connected to my TV for extended view purposes. I had to move my laptop so I shutdown in order to disconnect cable. Before I did shutdown, I checked network map. I received accurate map. I then shutdown. When I turned on my laptop again, my connection was made automatically with no issues. I checked network map, and much to my dismay, I saw the dreaded "?" in between my laptop and my wireless router in the network map. I clicked on signal meter in task bar and clicked "Disconnect". I then clicked on signal meter once again and clicked "Connect". Once connection was made, I checked network map and the "?" was gone and I saw the correct map: laptop, dashed green lines, router, solid green lines, internet.

Once I was done using my laptop away from it's normal location, I shutdown once again, connected cable for TV extended view and powered up my laptop. I checked network map and I found myself staring at the "?" once again. I clicked on signal meter in task bar, clicked "Disconnect", clicked signal meter again, clicked "Connect". When I checked network map final time, I got the correct map once again.

While seeing the "?" mark again was not a good thing, I am glad to find that by "disconnecting" then "reconnecting" caused the "?" to go away.

Next time you see the offending "?" try just refreshing the page a few times to see if it disappears...

sibbil said:

Next time you see the offending "?" try just refreshing the page a few times to see if it disappears...

Click to expand...

I didn't put this in my update, and I probably should have, I did try refreshing when I saw "?" before disconnecting and reconnecting.

IMycroft said:

I didn't put this in my update, and I probably should have, I did try refreshing when I saw "?" before disconnecting and reconnecting.

Click to expand...

And the refresh corrected the map?

sibbil said:

IMycroft said:

I didn't put this in my update, and I probably should have, I did try refreshing when I saw "?" before disconnecting and reconnecting.

Click to expand...

And the refresh corrected the map?

Click to expand...

LOL, again, I should have stated this. No refreshing did not get rid of "?". Sorry for the confusion.

Now that's odd. It typically has corrected the map whem I've seen the "?" then refreshed it, maybe a couple of refreshes.

Update #8 & #9

I did not post update yesterday, so this update consists of the last two sleep cycles

Update #8

Laptop was inactive for 11 hours. When I woke laptop, connection was active. When I checked network map, no issues.

Update #9

Laptop was inactive for 13 hours. When I woke laptop, connection was active. When I checked network map, no issues.


Considering that the only time I have seen the "?" was when I shutdown laptop and not just out of the blue, and the fact that I was able to make the "?" go away, unlike before, I am almost ready to mark this thread solved.

Does seem rather consistent. If I would want more confirmation I would re-enable the power save feature just to see if I could make it appear again.

sibbil said:

Does seem rather consistent. If I would want more confirmation I would re-enable the power save feature just to see if I could make it appear again.

Click to expand...

Yeah, I know that's the next step, but I don't want to.
What if it does come back, and I can't get rid of it.

I will do that of course, have to make sure. I am going to wait a couple more days, make sure that "disconnect" issue doesn't pop up again.

Update #10 & #11

Update #10
INACTIVITY: 9 hours
INTERNET ON WAKE UP: connected
NETWORK MAP: no issue


Update #11
INACTIVITY: 10 hours
INTERNET ON WAKE UP: connected
NETWORK MAP: no issue

Update #12 & #13

Update #12
INACTIVITY: 13 hours
INTERNET ON WAKE UP: connected
NETWORK MAP: no issue

Update #13
INACTIVITY: 9 hours
INTERNET ON WAKE UP: connected
NETWORK MAP: no issue

So the disconnects haven't happened since #3? Both #2 and #3 were your only disconnects?

sibbil said:

So the disconnects haven't happened since #3? Both #2 and #3 were your only disconnects?

Click to expand...

Correct, I haven't had an instance, where my internet connection was disconnected on wake up, other than the two you mentioned.

Update #14 & #15

Update # 14
INACTIVITY: 9 hours
INTERNET ON WAKE UP: connected
NETWORK MAP: no issue

Update #14a
Prior to ending my daily use, I decided to check Network Map, I was shocked to find the "?" had returned. I saw: my laptop(named correctly), solid green lines, "?", solid green lines, my router(no SSID, just model number), solid green lines, "Internet".
I refreshed a few times and same results.
I proceeded to disconnect internet by clicking on signal meter in task bar, I immediately reconnected. Once connection was established, I checked Network Map, I got the correct map: my laptop, dashed green lines, my router(correct SSID), solid green lines, "Internet".

Update # 15
INACTIVITY: 9 hours
INTERNET ON WAKE UP: connected
NETWORK MAP: no issue