Here is my problem, right now I am on my laptop, connected to the router that I'm trying to connect to on my desktop. My desktop is running Windows 7 and cannot connect. My laptop is running XP and CAN connect. It is NOT a problem with my adapter since I have tried 3 corresponding adapters that are supposed to work with the wireless N router (the one I'm using now is recommended by the manufacturer's website). I currently have the D-LInk DIR 655 router, and the Extreme N adapter installed. It is NOT a problem with the router, since I am connected right now on my laptop, as well as multiple other machines in the building. The wireless network shows up, has about 2-3 bars of signal strength, it says "not connected, connections are available". I tried connecting to it and every time it says "windows was unable to connect". When I check my adapter settings it says "Attempting to authenticate", and gets stuck there. The weird thing is that a few times it would just randomly connect, and then I would be able to go online for a bit, and then it would disconnect again. This is not an issue of me being to far away since right now I'm sitting exactly at my desktop and have full bars on my laptop connection. This is strictly a windows 7 issue, and its driving me crazy. Is there any way I can run my wireless network connection in "windows compatibility mode"? Any help would be appreciated!

Chances are it is the router and / or the Extreme N adapter at fault here, I see many fake N products have connection issues. Try to disable IP6 on the adapter and set a static IP, if tht works then you KNOW it is the DLINK stuff.

I disabled IP6, but how can I set up a static ip without having available ports open? Unfortunately I'm not the router administrator and I don't have access to it directly, my landlady is away. *edit, I set a static ip address, and it's still stuck at "Attempting to authenticate" *N.B. my iphone can also connect with no problems.

Hi, Sometimes there is a case that your network adapter is protected by an Antivirus program. The same problem happened to my Windows 7 machine. What you need to do is to check your network adapter properties to see there is any new item added to the network adapter. Many antivirus programs create such a protection. If you found a new antivirus-related item added, you could simply uncheck it and connect to the internet. Let us know what happens

Thanks for the reply, I turned off windows defender manually, and there was no change, and I have not seen any antivirus added to the adapter properties but I might also not know exactly what to look for. Here is what I have: Client for microsoft networks Jump Start wireless filter driver virtual pc network filter driver QoS packet scheduler file and printer sharing IP v6 (disabled) IP v4 Link-layer topology discovery mapper i/o driver Link-layer topology discovery responder Also, another thing I noticed, for some reason every once in a while when I run the diagnostic I get a second wireless connection that shows up under my network connections as "microsoft virtual wifi miniport adapter". This connection is disabled, but I don't know why it shows up. Would that have anything to do with it?

Hi pal, Try disabling Jump Start Wireless filter driver. The problem might be with that. By the way, Microsoft virtual wifi miniport adapter is a virtual device created on your computer when there is another wireless adapter available. once you disable your wireless adapter, this virtual adapter will also be turned off and removed. it is used for software access point SoftAP and does not have anything to do with your issue. Cheers

Tried disabling it, still can't connect.

What wireless adapter do you have? what driver? what firmware in the DIR-655 and what type of security? You should be using WPA2-AES. I am having no problems with a DIR-655 running the latest available firmware with any of my wireless NICs and I have a ton of them. On Wed, 30 Jun 2010 19:20:01 +0000, Spandy87 wrote: > > >Thanks for the reply, > > > >I turned off windows defender manually, and there was no change, and I have not seen any antivirus added to the adapter properties but I might also not know exactly what to look for. > > > >Here is what I have: > >Client for microsoft networks > >Jump Start wireless filter driver > >virtual pc network filter driver > >QoS packet scheduler > >file and printer sharing > >IP v6 (disabled) > >IP v4 > >Link-layer topology discovery mapper i/o driver > >Link-layer topology discovery responder > > > >Also, another thing I noticed, for some reason every once in a while when I run the diagnostic I get a second wireless connection that shows up under my network connections as "microsoft virtual wifi miniport adapter". This connection is disabled, but I don't know why it shows up. Would that have anything to do with it? Barb Bowman http://www.digitalmediaphile.com

Hi, Firmware version: 1.02 Adapter is the DWA 556 Like I said, I don't think it's an adapter problem but firmware might be an issue. The problem is that I am living in an apartment where i do not have admin access to the router so I don't think I can update it, that is if an update is required. I also do have the latest driver for my adapter, (took some time getting that but I managed to burn it on my laptop). Also I am using WPA2 AES

The router should be using at least firmware 1.31 - who provides your Internet access (who is your ISP?) When you say you managed to burn the driver to your laptop, I am not sure what you mean. the DWA 556 is a pci card for a desktop as I recall. There have been reports of issues with the DWA 556 and Windows 7. I do not know if these are accurate. What is the driver version that the desktop is using at the moment for the DWA 556? What is the version of the driver you "burned" to your laptop? The first step is to get the router upgraded. If this is a neighbors router and you don't have access to it, I would encourage you to get your own broadband modem and router. If the apartment complex owner had an arrangement with an ISP, normally a more robust commercial grade router should be used. On Wed, 30 Jun 2010 20:21:14 +0000, Spandy87 wrote: > > >Hi, > > > >Firmware version: 1.02 > > > >Adapter is the DWA 556 > >Like I said, I don't think it's an adapter problem but firmware might be an issue. The problem is that I am living in an apartment where i do not have admin access to the router so I don't think I can update it, that is if an update is required. > > > >I also do have the latest driver for my adapter, (took some time getting that but I managed to burn it on my laptop). > > > >Also I am using WPA2 AES > > Barb Bowman http://www.digitalmediaphile.com

By "burned on my laptop" I mean I downloaded the drivers to my laptop, burned them to disc, and then installed them on my desktop. I had the same problem with any of the other adapters I tried (I had similar compatible ones with the correct drivers), so I'm reluctant to think its the adapter. I live in the suite of a house actually, and do not have admin privileges to the router. My landlady is away so i do not have access to that either, nor do I wish to inconvenience other people on the network. Is there any way to remotely upgrade the firmware without admin? Also, I'm not totally convinced that it is the firmware. I was able to connect for a few hours yesterday but it seemed really random. My ISP is Shaw Cable by the way. Driver of adapter is version 2.0.0.74

Update on this issue. Still having problems but every once in a while it connects for a short period of time and then disconnects again. Any help would be appreciated.

Not much you can do without admin access (and it should WIRED access to update the firmware) to the router for firmware. But you really need to state the model / drivers version / firmware version and not post things like ..."I had similar compatible ones with the correct drivers"... unless they are on the HCL then it does not count as testing. I run a few "hotspots" for condos / RV parks / Golf Courses / motels They have 20 or more AP's per zone..most are Meraki mesh but some are just home grade linksys / engenius / d'link / and such. I get MANY (100's) connections a day, most issues I see are with folks using N devices in vista and 7 you, should try a known good device which is NOT some "hacked" version of the N protocol but something in B/G class (the dlink is using the Draft N not the final N specs but will also do B/G.) You can pick up a USB wi-fi devices online for less than 20.00 bucks plus shipping. This is known to work with win 7 and all the AP's I have come across (plus it has GREAT range, add a USB extention cable and that helps even more) http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=PT-H5D-L&cat=NET

Hi, I am wondering whether this problem is relating to one I have just started having since the last Windows Updates went through. I have a Windows 7 laptop which connects wirelessly to my own home network via a Buffalo WHR-G300N that is using the DD-WRT v24-sp2 firmware. I have a HP DV6799ea Pavilion laptop that uses an Intel 4965AGN chip. The wireless connection has been working flawlessly for the last 2 or 3 months, since I installed the router. However in the last day or so, since the last windows updates, it has suddenly started dropping the connection when the traffic load increases. This is normally when I am trying to copy a large file from my laptop to my Windows Home Server. What makes things worse is there are a number of other wireless routers within range of my laptop which I am can connect to, so Windows 7 starts trying to connect to one of these. I am convinced that the problem is with Windows 7, as I have made no change to the router's setup or firmware since I started experiencing the problem, whereas Windows has been updated with the following fix - Microsoft security Essentials Client update package - KB2254596 I hope this help track down the problem. I also have a related problem with losing a file, but I will post a seperate topis on this issue.

You might consider purchasing your own connection to Shaw so that you can have control. I also doubt your landlord has the proper skills to trouble shoot this and you do need the cooperation of the router admin to upgrade the firmware and experiment with settings. For all you know the router might be under attack. There are lots of variables. But without your having access to the router, this is impossible for me to assist you with. On Wed, 30 Jun 2010 23:57:47 +0000, Spandy87 wrote: > > >Update on this issue. > > > >Still having problems but every once in a while it connects for a short period of time and then disconnects again. > > > >Any help would be appreciated. Barb Bowman http://www.digitalmediaphile.com

so it stands to reason that if you uninstall MSE completely that the issue should disappear if your theory is correct. that would be a helpful diagnostic. you could then do a test and reinstall MSE or some other free AV program. On Thu, 1 Jul 2010 00:59:01 +0000, TonySelf wrote: > > >Hi, > > > >I am wondering whether this problem is relating to one I have just started having since the last Windows Updates went through. > > > >I have a Windows 7 laptop which connects wirelessly to my own home network via a Buffalo WHR-G300N that is using the DD-WRT v24-sp2 firmware. I have a HP DV6799ea Pavilion laptop that uses an Intel 4965AGN chip. > >The wireless connection has been working flawlessly for the last 2 or 3 months, since I installed the router. However in the last day or so, since the last windows updates, it has suddenly started dropping the connection when the traffic load increases. This is normally when I am trying to copy a large file from my laptop to my Windows Home Server. What makes things worse is there are a number of other wireless routers within range of my laptop which I am can connect to, so Windows 7 starts trying to connect to one of these. > >I am convinced that the problem is with Windows 7, as I have made no change to the router's setup or firmware since I started experiencing the problem, whereas Windows has been updated with the following fix - Microsoft security Essentials Client update package - KB2254596 > >I hope this help track down the problem. I also have a related problem with losing a file, but I will post a seperate topis on this issue. Barb Bowman http://www.digitalmediaphile.com

HI Tony, when you have many other wi-fi access points around, you should look for the clearest channel. A strong signal is only part of the connection usable bandwidth is the other, if you and the other AP's close to you are all on the same channel you all share the same feq space so traffic will be congested, end result is lost data which must retransmitted. Look at the networks. http://tools.meraki.com/stumbler most will be on channel 6 as it is the default channel The below ASSUMES you are using b/g mode in the US you should use 1 or 11 channels 1 / 6 / 11 are the only channels which do not overlap All it takes to degrade a working wi-fi nework is the guy next door plugging in a access point (N's are really bad news) to choke off the usable spectrum.