Windows 7 puts numbers after my wireless network name

[yanichka]

Hello. I don't know how exactly to explain my problem but I'll try:
I connect to a wireless network whose name is for example "X" and I have a network connection but I don't have internet access. I disable and enable the wireless adapter and the name of the network is now "X 1" and so on... The problem is my internet is only working on number 9 and I don't know how to delete the other available settings (I am not sure if they are settings) so I can connect only to number 9, not to all other numbers to 10 in different orders - I mean if I disable/enable once it gives me a lucky number - not one after another. I don't know if you understood what I mean but I really hope so. Thank you

 

[Ztruker]

See here for info on removing unused Wireless networks: How to Remove a Wireless Network in Windows 7

Also, you can rename the network connection if you want.

[SIZE=-1]netsh interface set interface name="Local Area Connection 2" newname="Local Area Connection"

[/SIZE]Actually, you could make newname anything you want, like "Fred's Internet" or "My Wireless Connection".

 

[yanichka]

No, it doesn't rename it there. I told you I can't exactly describe my problem. I'll try like this:
You know where it says under the icon of your Network adapter "Enabled/Disabled"? This is where it puts numbers. The name of the network I am connected to is displayed as it's name is when I open "Properties". This is the only place I see this 1, 2, 6, 10 thing. And of course when I connect and I point on the icon in the tray where the wireless is it says "X 9" Internet access
Hope you got my point now

 

[kegobeer]

If you look under Manage Wireless Networks, how many are listed?

 

[yanichka]

Wireless network "X" is just one. There are other 2 in the list but these I use at home and university.

 

[Adrian]

Hello. I don't know how exactly to explain my problem but I'll try:
I connect to a wireless network whose name is for example "X" and I have a network connection but I don't have internet access. I disable and enable the wireless adapter and the name of the network is now "X 1" and so on... The problem is my internet is only working on number 9 and I don't know how to delete the other available settings (I am not sure if they are settings) so I can connect only to number 9, not to all other numbers to 10 in different orders - I mean if I disable/enable once it gives me a lucky number - not one after another. I don't know if you understood what I mean but I really hope so. Thank you

Do you connect to the network thru a wireless access/router?
If the router is secure do you have the encryption/wap/wep key?

 

[yanichka]

No. It's a local internet service provider and it's unsecured network. You sign in with a user and pass in their website to get internet access.

 

[kegobeer]

That's probably nothing you can control. The numbers are probably due in part to where/when you log in. If you have trouble logging in, you need to talk to the ISP about it. You could try to delete the wireless network, then reboot and see if the numbers reset to no number, then 1, 2, 3, etc.

 

[alphanumeric]

I think I know what the OP is trying to explain. He's talking about the name given to your Local Area Connection under Connect or Disconnect in the Network and Sharing Center. I've seen this happen it you have a USB wireless dongle and move it from one USB port to another. Windows doesn't consider it the same device, it loads the driver as if new hardware was detected and you end up with "Wireless Network Connection 2", if you move it yet again you get "Wireless Network Connection 3". If you go into device manager and "show hidden devices" you'll see them all listed under Network Adapters. I've seen it in windows XP and if you try to uninstall one of them it fails with a "this device may be needed for your PC to boot up". <Something like that anyway. After a lot of screwing around I found that if you uninstall the QOS packet scheduler you can then uninstall the extra network adapters in device manager.

 

[Ztruker]

Can you provide a screen shot? That would help a great deal:

Screenshot with Paint
How to Post a Screenshot in Seven Forums

 

[yanichka]

This is what I am talking about. I can't give you more screenshots for the next few months because I won't be in this part of the country since Easter. But I really want to understand how to fix it. Thanks

 

[alphanumeric]

Are you running windows XP mode or some other virtual PC on that PC? That "Microsoft Virtual WiFi Miniport Adapter" seems out of place to me.

 

[kegobeer]

This is exactly what I talked about in my previous post.

 

[yanichka]

Ok... How can I fix it?

 

[alphanumeric]

Open up device manager, then under the view tab, click show hidden devices. Now go and look under "Network adapters". Right click the ones you want to get rid of and select uninstall. I don't have a wireless card in this PC so I don't get the wireless menus. Someone else may have to give you instructions on sorting that out. I would delete all your network connections and create one new one. You might also have to re-think how you are disabling your wireless card. In stead of disabling it click disconnect.

 

[Ztruker]

Did you look at the directions in the link I provided earlier? How to Remove a Wireless Network in Windows 7

That should allow you to remove the ones you don't want.

 

[ReactorNo4]

You guys totally missed the point. Delete adapter blah-blah-blah - it's NOT the problem with the wireless adapter. The virtual adapter also has NOTHING to do with this.

He is connecting with real physical adapter to the wireless network, say "linksys", but Windows 7 gives it a name "linksys 2" and if you connect to it tomorrow it will be "linksys 3" and so on. It's the name of network that changes, not the adapter. This is the software problem, windows somehow treats a known hotspot as a different one.

My guess is it's somewhere in the registry, if you search hard enough, you can find where windows saves hotspots to which it connected before. Also check if your provider has multiple hotspots, it may connect to a different hotspot with the same SSID, so windows gets confused and assignes some weird numbers to differenciate.

 

[yanichka]

Finally someone who understands my problem
Thank you!

 

[Entangle]

Sorry for the minor necro post, but I came across this question and registered to answer it. Please note I am not responsible for any adventures into the registry.

The network profiles are easy enough to remove, and are located in the registry:

Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\NetworkList\Profiles

You can go entry by entry and delete profiles or simply delete all of the profiles and then reconnect to your WLAN and it should not have a number behind it. You do not need to reboot for this to take effect.

Have a nice day.

 

[Ztruker]

You can also do it without messing with the registry: How Do I delete or clear redundant network profiles (names) from my desktop and laptop running Windows 7?