Network occasionally fails to be activated on bootup

Well I was hopeful that disabling the Wireless Assistant in the startup menu had resolved the problem, but today, the same problem occurred again - the bootup appeared to go normally, but the network icon remained with the blue circle on it and I couldn't launch the browser. On restarting the computer, everything was fine.

This is obviously just an occasional thing that happens but it's very annoying when it does. Can anyone suggest any other explanation/solution?

Bare Foot Kid said:

Hello again BruceUK.



Have a look at "Option Two" in the tutorial that your issue prompted me to create, at the link below.

https://www.sevenforums.com/crashes-d...-msconfig.html

Thanks Bare Foot Kid! I did read it but I also recall that, earlier in this thread, Kari suggested simply uninstalling the Wireless Assistant software as it's unnecessary anyway (even if I later wanted to go wireless).

Would that not be a simpler solution than editing the Registry (even though the tutorial makes it look quite straightforward)?

The other point I'm wondering about is: we seem to be assuming that the problem is being caused by the Wireless Assistant software, even though the problem has now occurred again after it has been disabled in the startup list. Is it possible that some other piece of software being launched at startup could be causing the problem? If so, any suggestions for a likely candidate?

It bothers me that this problem happens so randomly. Why would it occur only occasionally when all I've done is to switch the computer on each time? Surely the boot-up process should operate the same way every time if nothing has been changed?

Kari said:

This could also be a router issue. I have a very good Belkin N1 Vision wireless router, I'm very pleased with it, but about once a week I have to reset it because it refuses to connect anymore. A simple reset, and everything is fine again.

One sure thing to check is what encryption you are using. Windows 7, especially x64, does not like WEP. WPA2/PSK is recommended.

And, of course, check that you are using the latest chipset and video drivers.

Kari

Hi Kari,

I'm not actually using any wireless or bluetooth devices anyway, and have no plans to use them. I have the wireless touch button on the chassis set to "disabled". (Although the computer is a laptop, I'm only using it as a desktop machine.)

So in that situation, is there still any possibility that there could be a software-related issue along the lines you suggest? I'm not familiar with wireless technology and the associated use of encryption, so sorry if that's a silly question!

In an effort to get some more clues about the cause of this problem, I've listed below all the applications that remain enabled in the startup menu (the Wireless Assistant is the only one that I've disabled so far). They are listed in the following sequence:

Synaptics Pointing Device Driver (Synaptics)
HP MediaSmart Smartmenu (Unknown)
Java(TM) Platform SE 6 U14 (Sun)
RAID Event Monitor (Intel)
IDT PC Audio (IDT)
LightScribe (HP)
Calalyst Control Center (Advanced Micro Devices)
MUI StartMenu Application (Cyberlink)
HP Quick Launch Buttons (HP)
Norton Online Backup (Symantec)
MUI StartMenu Application (Cyberlink)
Adobe Acrobat (Adobe)
Easybits Recovery (Easybits Software)
hpwuSchd Application (HP)
Java(TM) Platform SE 6 U17 (Sun)
PHOTOfunSTUDIO version 2.00 (Panasonic)

The last entry (PHOTOfunSTUDIO) is the software for my digital camera. I assume I must have inadvertently told the installation program to add an entry to the startup menu when I installed it, so I can presumably disable that one. I think it launches automatically when I connect the camera via a USB port, but I have a desktop shortcut for it anyway if I need it.

The Norton Online Backup is presumably the application that has been prompting me to undertake a trial of their data backup facility. I've told it not to ask me again, so I assume I can safely disable that one?

I know Kari mentioned that the HP Quick Launch Buttons application is a waste of time, so I'll disable that one.

I'm wondering why the MUI StartMenu Application is listed twice. Any thoughts on that?

I'm not sure why Adobe Acrobat is in the list - does that need to be always active?

Regarding the other entries, are there any that you definitely consider unnecessary to have running at startup?

Again, many thanks for your continuing help on this - it's much appreciated! :)