The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Laptop connecting to other network at boot.

    Discussion in 'Networking and Wireless' started by MaX PL, Jun 3, 2011.

  1. MaX PL

    MaX PL Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    104
    Messages:
    1,042
    Likes Received:
    5
    Trophy Points:
    56
    For whatever reason, my laptop has been connecting to my neighbors unsecured network for the past few days at boot.

    I'm then forced to connected to my own network and everything is fine.

    But why is it doing this? I havent made any changes to my network settings or laptop settings. The option in windows to connect to a more preferred network is not enabled. And lastly, this does not happen to other computers in the home.

    HELP?
     
    MaX PL, Jun 3, 2011
    #1
  2. BeastRider

    BeastRider Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    63
    Messages:
    580
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Did you uncheck the auto connect check box of that particular network? Actually I experienced a similar thing with a neighbors unsecured network as well. But in my case it was worse, my laptop kept switching between my network and his even though the connect to preferred network option was off and the auto connect checkbox was on my network. I'm guessing it's just some sort of windows glitch maybe? Don't know any workaround, though checking the autoconnect of my network helped a bit..Meaning it reduced the switching, though it still switches once in a while which is very annoying since me and my friends play warcraft via LAN so we keep getting disconnected.
     
    BeastRider, Jun 3, 2011
    #2
  3. MaX PL

    MaX PL Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    104
    Messages:
    1,042
    Likes Received:
    5
    Trophy Points:
    56
    uhhhh, its still happening after i thought it went away.
    i even reinstalled my wireless drivers and intel software.

    doesnt happen on other computers so it isnt the network.
    i wonder if my wireless card in the laptop is simply dieing; but then again, i can stay connected to my own network all day with no dropouts so that would be odd.
     
    MaX PL, Jun 6, 2011
    #3
  4. MaX PL

    MaX PL Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    104
    Messages:
    1,042
    Likes Received:
    5
    Trophy Points:
    56
    ok i think ive found the problem, all it took was some common sense.

    i completely forgot about this laptop tracking software i installed last week called Prey.
    went into its settings and found options for connecting to surrounding networks, etc.

    i guess the software connects to all surrounding networks to triangulate the location of a missing laptop.
    i assumed it only did this when i reported the laptop missing within the online control panel, but i guess the software just runs 24/7

    now i'm not sure whether to report this as a bug to the dev. or if i'm simply overlooking something within the settings.
     
    MaX PL, Jun 6, 2011
    #4
  5. MeBuyBattery.com

    MeBuyBattery.com Company Representative

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    28
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    I didn't know about Prey. Looks pretty cool. I have to check it out. Thanks.

    Take care,
    Shannon
     
    MeBuyBattery.com, Jun 16, 2011
    #5