Wireless Network Adapter Says it's Working Properly But It's Not

[xRAYTANGOx]

Last night my wireless adapter (Atheros AR5007EG Wireless Network Adapter) stopped working. In the properties it says it is working properly, however, it will not find a single wireless network to connect to, only the big red X over the icon in the system tray. My wife's laptop which is 5 feet from mine, finds our network as well as several of our neighbors. I upgraded to Windows 7 last month, so this morning I tried updating drivers, installed these but still the big red X. My laptop will work with the ethernet cable plugged in, just not wireless. I am stumped because it says it is working properly in the properties menu and not returning any errors during troubleshooting. I know its not my router, as my xbox, ipod touch, android phone, and wife's laptop can connect and work fine. Since she and I have the same laptop, I made sure that our properties settings were the same this morning as well, and they match up. Any ideas?

 

[chev65]

Are you certain that the wireless switch on the laptop is turned on?

 

[xRAYTANGOx]

Yes, wireless switch is on on the laptop and i have tried disabling and then enabling on the software side as well.

 

[chev65]

If you can post a screen shot of your ipconfig /all typed into your command prompt when trying to use the wireless connection it may be helpful to figure out this problem.

 

[xRAYTANGOx]

Here is that info:




Microsoft Windows [Version 6.1.7600]
Copyright (c) 2009 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

C:\Users\David>ipconfig/all

Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : David-PC
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

Wireless LAN adapter Wireless Network Connection:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Atheros AR5007EG Wireless Network Adapter

Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-22-69-59-46-BD
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : Belkin
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Realtek PCIe FE Family Controller
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-1E-33-5B-A2-59
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Tunnel adapter Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Tunnel adapter isatap.{6E2FD2C8-4C13-4600-A34F-38B69A7EC5AD}:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft ISATAP Adapter #2
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Tunnel adapter isatap.Belkin:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft ISATAP Adapter #3
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

It says media disconnected but I have disabled and enabled, checked properties (still says device is working properly), rechecked switch on the front of the laptop to make sure wireless is on, and rebooted numerous times. Thanks for helping.

 

[xRAYTANGOx]

One thing I forgot to mention that may be part of the problem or maybe doesn't matter. Yesterday before it happened, I had installed iTunes and with that install came a program called Bonjour. I read this morning that Bonjour and Windows 7 weren't that friendly together, but I had already uninstalled both iTunes and Bonjour, and the wireless didn't come back on. Thanks again.

 

[chev65]

There isn't anything showing up here, no IPv4 address and no IPv6 address listing to speak of. The media disconnected message is typical and usually relates to the IPv6 address which only works on the LAN.

It's acting like something is blocking the connection, maybe an A/V software or third party firewall?

It may help to reset Winsock for windows 7.

1. Click start, type cmd in the Start Search box, right-click cmd.exe, click Run as administrator, and then press Continue.


2. Type netsh winsock reset at the command prompt, and then press ENTER.

Note If the command is typed incorrectly, you will receive an error message. Type the command again. When the command is completed successfully, a confirmation appears, followed by a new command prompt. Then, go to step 3.


3. Type exit, and then press ENTER. You should be prompted to reboot, if not you should reboot and test.

You should also try and reset the TCP/IP stack with this command. Type netsh int ip reset into your comman prompt then hit enter. Restart the machine.

Yes bonjour can cause these types of problems also but usually shows up as unidentified network, to insure that it's off your machine completely do the following.

To fix ...
Run MsConfig

Under the Services tab uncheck the service called "bonjour ##Id_String1.6844[... and then a bunch of numbers]" by Apple

To make sure it's removed from your system.

1. Navigate to C:\Program Files\Bonjour
2. Rename the mdnsNSP.dll file in that folder to mdnsNSP.old
3. Restart your computer
4. Delete the Program Files\Bonjour folder

 

[xRAYTANGOx]

I completed all the steps you laid out and restarted the laptop. Still no joy. I re-ran the ipconfig and got the same exact results as earlier. I then re-ran it with the wired connection plugged in and the IPv4 and IPv6 both showed under the ethernet adapter section, but the wireless still said disconnected. While I was in the services I noticed an Atheros Program called Jumpstart WiFi Protection Service. It was stopped so I started it and rebooted, but it did nothing to help my problem either. Any further ideas or should I get used to being tethered to my router? Thanks for the help.

 

[madtownidiot]

Try disabling the network location awareness service and the windows firewall. I was able to get a laptop to connect wirelessly by that means when nothing else worked

 

[chev65]

I completed all the steps you laid out and restarted the laptop. Still no joy. I re-ran the ipconfig and got the same exact results as earlier. I then re-ran it with the wired connection plugged in and the IPv4 and IPv6 both showed under the ethernet adapter section, but the wireless still said disconnected. While I was in the services I noticed an Atheros Program called Jumpstart WiFi Protection Service. It was stopped so I started it and rebooted, but it did nothing to help my problem either. Any further ideas or should I get used to being tethered to my router? Thanks for the help.

I would uninstall the Atheros jumpstart program and the driver from device manager then restart and let Windows 7 install it's own drivers. After that use the Win 7 manual wireless connection manager to set up the new connection using WPA2 and AES "not mixed" and also set to use wireless N or G only not mixed. Also go into your routers set up page and do the same thing using the unmixed settings instead.

 

[xRAYTANGOx]

Just tried the firewall and awareness program suggestion. No difference....thanks for trying though.

 

[xRAYTANGOx]

I uninstalled the adapter and deleted the driver, rebooted and windows found it, reinstalled and downloaded driver. I then reconfigured a manual connection and my router to match the new connection. It still has the big red X and doesn't even look for networks. I re-ran ipconfig and it changed slightly showing a new LAN connection (microsoft virtual miniport adapter).



Microsoft Windows [Version 6.1.7600]
Copyright (c) 2009 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

C:\Users\David>ipconfig/all

Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : David-PC
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

Wireless LAN adapter Wireless Network Connection 3:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft Virtual WiFi Miniport Adapter #
2
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 06-22-69-59-46-BD
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Wireless LAN adapter Wireless Network Connection:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Atheros AR5007EG Wireless Network Adapter

Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-22-69-59-46-BD
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : Belkin
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Realtek PCIe FE Family Controller
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-1E-33-5B-A2-59
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Tunnel adapter Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Tunnel adapter isatap.Belkin:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft ISATAP Adapter #2
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

C:\Users\David>

 

[chev65]

Very strange indeed, it's acting like it's not even turned on. Have you run a virus scan lately?
The Msoft wifi miniport is used if you set up a wireless access point with a program like connectify.

Malware bytes might find something that is keeping the connection from working but I don't have much else to go on here.

 

[Calliope19]

Same issue:Upgraded Win 7 XPS 140 can't see any connection

Same issue with my Dell XPS M140; upgraded to Windows 7 pro last night and it can't see any wireless networks. Can't test ethernet b/c everything is all wack-a-doo because of Vonage (VOiP).

- Tried the two different command prompt winsock resets ("netsh winsock reset" and "netsh int ip reset" ...and still "no joy" (like David- xRAYTANGOx).

- IPConfig opens for a split second and then...closes. Can't seem to get to it. All I saw in that minutae of time was "disconnected." I'm guessing it was the same as David's.

- Adapter (I believe this is the wireless adaptor; nothing in the Device Manager says "wireless" (though of course there is a wireless adaptor as I've been using it for 4+ years...): Broadcom 440x10/100 Integrated Controller.

Scoured the net for drivers; can't find anyting for Network adapters; plenty for other things (sound card, video card). I called Dell and after 90 minutes on the phone (constant transfers) they wanted $89 with no guarantee the solution would work so I declined (and not so politely).

This machine is not very well made, I'm afraid. I've had to replace the keyboard right off the bat and the optical drive only works sporadically (worked for my Wndows 7 disk unfortunately). I was prepared (anxious and willing) to restore to factory settings but you can't - I even used another machine to copy the files form the restore disk to a memory stick. "Install Windows XP" was grayed out.

Options? Thanks so much for your help - this is where i always find my answers.

- Cal



Try Disable, restart and then Enable?

 

[xRAYTANGOx]

I ran a complete scan with Malware Bytes and I am still tethered to my router. I think tomorrow I will back up my hard drive to my external, and say welcome back to Vista with my recovery disc, and pray my adapter is happier to see it return than I will be. I leave for St. Maarten on Friday and I don't think they will let me stretch a wire from the hotel lobby to my room. Thanks again to everyone who tried to help me.

 

[Calliope19]

David - I tried to use the Dell recovery disk but "Install Windows XP" us grayed out; you can't go backwards from Win 7.

I'd dponate this piece of ^&$# but that'd be mean...

 

[madtownidiot]

Have you tried system restore?

 

[xRAYTANGOx]

Yes, I tried a number of system restores prior to reinstalling windows 7 last night hoping that would work. Thursday I bought and iPod Touch and downloaded iTunes. I think my problems were caused by Bonjour which was included in the download. I have gotten rid of it but I think the damage was already done.

 

[madtownidiot]

I'm pretty sure I can solve this.. post the hardware ID for your wireless adapter..
View attachment 101827
I'll check to see whether microsoft may have misidentified it.. if that isn't the case, then your next move should be to reinstall windows again, but this time use diskpart from a command prompt on the windows install disk to zero the entire HDD first. I'll explain how if you don't already know. I have yet to see a problem of this nature that can't be solved using this method

 

[xRAYTANGOx]

Here are my IDs:


PCI\VEN_168C&DEV_001C&SUBSYS_042A1468&REV_01
PCI\VEN_168C&DEV_001C&SUBSYS_042A1468
PCI\VEN_168C&DEV_001C&CC_020000
PCI\VEN_168C&DEV_001C&CC_0200

If these appear to be correct I would appreciate you explaining the method of re-install you are talking about. Thanks.