Windows 7: Windows 7 won't remember ad hoc wireless connection.

Avoidance · 31 Aug 2009

I have an ad-hoc wireless connection set up on my Verizon XV6800 phone. I am able to connect to it and use the internet with no problem; however, Windows 7 will not remember the connection. Every time I restart the computer I have to click the network SSID on the list and choose "Connect" and the it prompts me for the network key. (It remembers the connection settings for a regular wireless network properly.)

I have Win7 running on two computers and it does this on both of them. The first time you connect, it asks you the network (home, work, public)...but nothing asks if you want to remember the network.

Is there any way to make Windows 7 remember the ad-hoc wireless network and connect to it automatically.

(One of the PC's is a Gateway M465e with an Intel Pro/Wireless 3945ABG with a driver version of 12.4.1.4 3/29/2009).

Barman58 · 31 Aug 2009

Why are you using an "ad-Hoc" network rather than set a standard network - AD-Hoc networks are by design for temporary net connections, for example to share information at a business meeting. If you set the devices up for a standard network you should have no problems saving and connecting automatically

Avoidance · 31 Aug 2009

Because it is the only way to share the internet from this phone (other than a wired connection)... I'm using an app called ICSControl that shares the phones data connection via the ad-hoc network. It won't let you set up a regular one.

Windows XP and Windows Vista remembered the connection...

shardul · 02 Nov 2009

Same problem here.. any ideas are appreciated

TimHood · 02 Nov 2009

I believe there is a general problem that has not gotten enough visibility with Microsoft on these re-connect problems. Connection seems to work fine, reconnection does not and NOBODY seems to know why many of us are stuck and need to revert to Vista for the solution!!!

speedy1979 · 05 Nov 2009

I am going to try installing network magic and see if maybe network magic will remember my ad-hoc network. Wish me luck!

speedy1979 · 05 Nov 2009

I am happy to report that Network Magic Essentials 5.5 does remember my ad-hoc network. I tested it by turning WMWifiRouter on my Touch Pro off and then turning it back on almost immediately Network Magic re-established the connection without my having to enter the pass key.

You can get it here: Cisco - Network Magic Essentials Features

It appears to be on sale for 20% off.

jaraco · 23 Feb 2010

Just because the connection is ad hoc doesn't mean it shouldn't be remembered. It just means that there's no centralized infrastructure. This appears to be yet another oversight in Windows designers limiting functionality.

Is there a workaround short of installing a different wireless manager? Is it possible to create the connection from the command line or enable a flag that allows ad hoc connections to be remembered? It's really a pain having to re-enter the key every time I want to connect.

aem · 23 Feb 2010

I believe that's the way ad-hoc works. Once you restart the machine, you need to re-established the connection. At least that was how it resulted during my testing.

vand3537 · 15 May 2010

I just created the same Ad-hoc network on my computer as was created by WMWifiRouter, I have to manually connect to it the first time, but then it will continually wait for other users (my phone), and I can turn WMWifirouter off and on and my PC will reconnect by itself

windows will complain about creating an ad-hoc network that already exists, so create it with the phone Wifi off, and then WMWifirouter plays it cool and connects to the existing identical network.