Windows 7 Wireless Issue...please help

Okay so I got Windows 7 Professional for $30 for the main computer at my apartment. This computer was previously running Vista 32 Bit I believe. So I looked it up and found the thread to overcome THAT issue.

Created the ISO, burned it, installed Win7, and I thought that everything had gone smoothly.

HOWEVER after the initial setup I went to the bottom right to connect wirelessly to my Linksys router (WRT610N) and I chose to connect. It asked for the password of course and I put in what I thought was the right password. It said that it wasn't correct.

So I went into my file folders and looked it up to be doubly sure I was typing in the right words. And I was. Yet it still kept saying that it was "incorrect". I then plugged in an ethernet cable from the router to the back of the computer and of course the internet was flowing again.

However I don't want to use that cable. The wireless was working just fine with Vista and now it's not. There are 2 other laptops here (mine and my brothers right now) and both of them were able to disconnect and reconnect using the password we had created.

Just to make sure that it wasn't something to do with the router I logged into the router's homepage went into wireless security tab and changed the password. I then saved it.

Tried reconnecting with all 3 machines. The laptops had no issues but the Windows 7 machine is the one that refuses to connect wirelessly.

Am I doing something wrong? Or could something have gone wrong with the installation? I haven't entered a product key in yet and I have NOT activated Windows 7 yet? Could that be the issue?

Sorry for the long wall of text....I'm just really concerned and want to make sure I've given all the necessary info.

 

Hello surely there must be others on this forum who have had this issue. I just googled it and there a lot of threads on it but no has a concrete answer/solution.

 

There should be a button(hole that you stick a ball point pen) that will reset the router. Hopefully you still have the installation disk as you might need to reinstall the router to your computer.

 

I shouldn't have to reset the router...it was working perfectly fine before Windows 7. It's STILL working fine for the other 2 computers (laptops) in the house. As well as my iPhone.

I mean seriously reset is the only solution you can offer?

 

Whats wrong with reset--it would take all of 15 minutes to reinstall the router to 3 computers?

It happens sometimes that registry entries get borked and you have to reset the router. I don't like fiddling with the registry cuz I always end up more than I fix.

 

Are you saying that you did an in place upgrade from 32bit to 64?

 

It wasn't "inplace"...

I first had to download it from MS/digital river or whatever they're called.

Then I tried installing it. And since I downloaded the 64 bit version (on purpose) it said that I couldn't do it. Which sucked. I had thought you'd be able to do an inplace install no matter how you got your copy of Windows 7.

Anyways I followed the instructions in the other thread about how to create an iso image and then burned it to a dvd.

Then I installed Windows 7 Professional on the desktop. It all seemed to go smoothly. I formatted the C drive on the hp computer but I kept the "Factory Image" partition that I gess HP created....

Sigh...you may be right though agout the resetting the router. IT's just that i'm so tired and I don't even want to deal with that right now...

 

reseting the router might fix it, but its weird since your laptops can connect to the router without a problem. What security protocols are you using maybe you overlooked something.

 

I just reset it and it still won't work....

As for security before the reset I had the

5GHz band at WPA2-Personal with AES encrypt

the 2.4 band was WPA-Personal with TKIP encrypt...

This is just annoying. It never hapenned when I used Windows 7 in the beta and the RC as well as the RTM.

 

You said yourself that you aren't really sure that you even know the password to connect to the router.

Forgotten Password = reset the router

It's that simple.

 

Try connecting your computer via ethernet and download all available Windows Updates. There might be an updated driver for your wireless card.

Seriously, though, if you're only having problems connecting one laptop while all your other devices work fine, I wouldn't really go through the hassle of a router reset. Power cycle, yeah, sure. However, a full-blown reset? Nah, I don't think so. I've got way too many static DHCPs and port forwarding rules to make that a practical fix.

By the way, there's really no need to use the router's install disc. Windows' built-in connection manager works fine already. Most of the time, I find it works better than the device makers' software.

 

Since I am running Windows 7 Pro (no problems) I tried to duplicate your problem by deleting my router password (in my laptop) and start fresh. What I noticed from the beginning is that I never got a message that the password I entered was “incorrect” even I intentionally entered the wrong password. The password was always accepted except when the format was incorrect for the encryption type selected. I also tried by accessing my neighbors router (I have permission) since they use a different encryption than I do and got the same results.

When trying to connect I simply got a GUI with "Windows was unable to connect to networkname". Never at anytime did the windows wireless program detect that the password was incorrect (directly telling me so), even when trying to diagnose the connection problem (seems kind of strange). Of course when I went into my connection properties and entered the correct password I was able to connect again.

Are you using a third party wireless connection program? If so, try deleting it and just use the default Windows Wireless connection.

Password names are case sensitive, double check again.

Although the password issue shouldn’t have anything to do with a Virus or Internet Security Program, if you have one installed try turning it off to prevent it blocking any traffic, just for a test.

Edit:
If you are using the Windows Wireless Connection and are getting the password incorrect screen I would be interested in seeing a printscreen of the error message. I can't intentionally duplicate your problem with the error message.

 

And you clearly didn't read where I said that I looked it UP in my files. I print out and file away important stuff like that.

So I know for a FACT that I entered in the right password.

I even disconnected the other 2 laptops and reconnected using the original password.

Plus I RESET the router and it's still doing the same old crap.

 

UPDATE!

So I disabled the security for my router.

And then I tried connecting on the desktop that has Windows 7. And it WORKS.

So what's the issue though? Does Windows 7 not like passwords or something? Again I promise you guys that I was entering in the right passphrase.

Again though it was asking for "network security key"? Is that different that the passphrase that Vista asked for?

If anyone knows anything that can clear this mystery I would greatly appreciate it.

I do not feel comfortable at all with my network being unsecured.

 

I have run into password issues before
If its wrong ,you really don't know for sure
And it won't connect
Rep to deeastman for the suggestion

Alex

 

Like I said though the password I was entering wasn't wrong. I haven't changed it once since I set it up.

And when I set it up I took great care to print out every little detail about the settings I used, passwords, etc...

So there is something wrong with Windows 7 when it comes to wireless password settings.

It's kinda annoying that no one seems to believe me when I say I've done all the steps, checked, and rechecked everything.

As far as drivers are concerned I did a clean install of Windows 7 and formatted the partition that had Vista on the desktop. I left the "Factory Image" partition just in case.

After installining I setup Microsoft Update and did all the updates it suggested. Still didn't work (passphrase entering that is).

Then I went to HP's website which does have an higher number for driver version of the adapter. However when I tried to download it, I got an error message.

It said that, "the computer does not have the hardware/software required for this driver" or something like that. Error # 9998. This is an HP error code btw.

 

I do believe you; I have run into issues with passwords as well
Each o/s has different settings for security than the earlier versions and I personally get confused when it comes to the security setting
Running W7rtm I just use WEP and I have a hidden SSID and I can barely deal with those settings


Alex

 

I don't know if this is important but when I go under Devices it lists an "unknown device"

I right clicked to get properties and I says this, "Windows has stopped this device because it has reported problems. (Code 43)" inside "device status"

Could that possibly be something important? How do I start it or download the right driver without knowing what it is supposed to be?

 

In the details tab in device manager look for device id
It’s a series of letters and numbers
Do a Google search, it will give you a hint on what it is

Alex

 

"Network Security Key" is the passphrase, you are correct.

We are trying to help, honest!

Not that I am aware of.

.

I never said I didn't believe you, I did say that Windows 7 doesn't tell you that you entered an incorrect password. That is why I ask if you are using a third party Wireless Connection program. Are you? You chose not to answer?

I will stop trying to help if you wish or its not appreciated. Network problems are hard enough to analyze first hand let alone via messages.

I will ask one more question before you tell me to go away. Are you broadcasting your SSID? If not sometimes the network will refuse to connect even if the password is correct. On the Connection tab (next to the Security Tab where you enter the password) there is a box to check "Connect even if the network is not broadcasting its name (SSID)". So if you are not broadcasting your SSID try checking the box.

I don't know how to help you without asking all these annoying questions, sorry

 

There's a whole lot of "ids"...which do you want?

device description
matching device id
container id
hardware ids
compatible ids
Base Container Id : {51a2dfe0-bfd7-11de-b498-806e6f6e6963}

Is that one you're talking about?

 

I'm sorry if I've offended you. I'm just a little stressed out from school, work, and this whole Windows 7 thing is not going as I had planned. Plus I just wasted like 3 hours of my life with Microsoft support that did absolutely nothing for me...

To answer your earlier question I am NOT using a 3rd party program for my networking...

The SSID is being broadcast. It's our family's last name.

Since I reset the router it no longer has the latest firmware. Should I update that as well?

 

hardware ids is the one I was hoping to see
Is there a # next to it?

Alex

 

there are no numbers for that "Id"

Just this message:

"USB\UNKNOWN"

I dug deeper and I have the OPTION of uninstalling this driver. I have no idea what it is though or whether it's required.

Also my printer is not even being recognized by the computer so I don't know if this whole thing is referring to the printer itself.

 

Its not the networking issue
The hint is USB


Alex

 

I see so what now?

 

Now you need to set up some form of security on your network
And to do that you start with your router
You will need to adress it to change the settings
Have you done this before?


Alex

 

There already is...WPA-Personal...

I went to the adapter and under "Advanced" tab Smartscan, Carrier Detect, and another thing are all set at:

Value ---> Disable

Last but not least the driver according to Windows 7 is up to date....

 

You are adressing the router,through the cable
Do you have any other computers on the network wirelessly other than yours
If not you can reset the router ,start from scratch and put in the type of security and password in the router
Next repeat on you laptop settings
Alex

 

Yes I have other computers connected to the router.

I've already reset the router and "started from scratch"....

I'm just giving up. I'll reinstall it and see if it works properly next time. If not I give up and will get a refund.

 

Just to update you Tomcat...

That "unknown device" turned out to be the printer I'm pretty sure. I forgot that I had it plugged in from before I clean installed Windows 7. I unplugged the usb cable of the printer. Took it off completely, waited a few secs, then turned it back on, and plugged it back in. The drivers were installed automatically by Windows 7 and it recognizes it when I go to "Devices and Printers".

Also I did a clean install of Windows 7 Home Premium (I have 3 different versions of Windows here. 1 for the desktop and 2 for 2 laptops).

The SAME issue is occuring with the wireless network. When I put the mouse over our networks name it says that it is WEP. When I try to do it manually trhu the network and sharing center it gives me this message...

"The settings saved on this computer do match the requirements of the network."

And there is a big red x mark to the right of it. However it doesn't give me the option to disconnect from the network. To remove it and start over I have to go to "manage wireless networks" and remove it completely.

So to summarize. When I have my wireless security:

1) DISABLED ---> I can connect wirelessly just fine.

2) WEP ---> Connects wireless with no issues. I just have to enter the key generated from the "passphrase"

3) WPA-Personal ---> CANNOT CONNECT WIRELESSLY. No matter what I try. I've tried entering the passphrase a million times. Still doesn't work. I've tried entering the router login password. That results in "limited connectivity". I've tried resetting the router. Didn't do anything. And finally I've tried changing the properties of the connection in Windows 7 (see above).

I'm trying to download the drivers from HP's website but I keep get an error message.

 

I found out that sometimes if I just delete the wireless profile(s), re-start it from scratch using other comps in the network as template, and it'll work.

cheers ...

 

I already did that....

Anyways it doesn't matter. I went to another forum and another guy was able to help me find the right driver I needed.

 

I've ran into a scenario with Vista where on certain Linksys hardware it wants a key that is physically written on the bottom of the router NOT the security key. Not sure if this is what your running into or not but I've never had that issue with Win7 only XP & Vista when using the Intel ProSet Wireless software.

 

CassilineKnight, could you tell me how you fixed your problem? I'm having literally the same exact issue as you. I read this entire thread trying to figure this out, and I'm tearing my hair out. I thought Windows 7 was supposed to make things easier.

 

I downloaded the updated driver for my wireless adapter....the problem was that I wasn't sure what manufacturer it was.

The best advice I can give you is just go straight to the manufacturers website...that is the one who built the actual component that is giving you issues. Be it the wireless adapter or w/e.