I have tried to follow those solved posts.  However I can't make any progress.

Eventually I have to unhide the network to connect it.

Having been able to connect to the hidden wireless network, I then hide the network again.  However the computer won't automatically connect to the hidden network again after the computer restarts until I unhide the network.  In this scenario, it seems to perform much worse than Windows XP.

• Edited by healee Friday, October 18, 2013 12:34 AM

Hi,

Regarding current situation, I suggest we try to set up a new connection or network again by following these steps:

1. Select "Manually connect to a wireless network" and click or tap "Next.

2. Enter the security information for your network in the spaces provided. Please check on the option Connect even if the network is not broadcasting.

Note Be sure to enter the information exactly as it was set up on your wireless router to ensure the connection. Once the information is completed, click or tap "Next.

3. Provided you entered the information correctly, youll receive a notice of success.

Then, please make sure that you turn off the power-save on your network adapter:

1. Open Network and Sharing Center.
2. Click the Change adapter settings link in the upper left of the navigation pane.
3. Right click the network connection you want to enable/disable power management support on and click Properties .
4. Click Configure .
5. On the Power Management tab, clear the Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power check box.

Then, please check the issue again.

Hope these could be helpful and keep post.

Thanks for the advice.

In fact I had already tried what you suggested before I posted the question.  I Googled and found that somebody had tried this.  I followed but it hadn't made any difference to me.  I have just tried again, but no difference.

I have to select to use the existing network.  The "Connect to a network" dialog never comes up and the invisible network is never connected.

In the meantime, my XP system is happily connected to the same hidden network wirelessly.

You are not alone with this problem.

There is a flaw in Windows 8.1 which prevents it from connecting to hidden networks even though the network profile exists and has been connected to successfully many times previously. This behaviour appears fairly random as I can get my hidden network connected automatically for some weeks and then mysteriously Windows will refuse to connect to it.

It's very frustrating to have to create a new wireless network profile for a connection which is already present and can and should connect automatically, particularly as Microsoft have removed the GUI to manage wireless profiles.

My Android phone and even my PS3 are able to connect to the hidden network without issue (and without fail each and every time) and yet Windows cannot manage this basic function of wireless networking.

Microsoft need to address this issue.