WinXP Wireless Network Problems. 2

[J741]

Issue #1: Windows XP Home Edition. USB wireless network adaptor (Linksys WUSB11, ver 2.6). Windows disconnects from the preferred wireless network every few minutes, and prompts that "mutliple wireless networks available" (even though there is only one). User must click on the appropriate wireless network connection (even though it is the only one in the "preferred networks" list) to re-establish a connection.

Issue #2: The USB wireless network adaptor has been moved to different USB ports a few times and now shows up as "wireless connection #5" even though it is the only one that has ever been on this PC, and is the only wireless network connection listed.

If anyone can help me resolve these two issues, it would be greatly appreciated.

 

[smah]

Don't have an answer for #1 other than making sure all drivers and firmware are up to date.

Follow the instructions in this article for #2. You should see all the hidden devices so you can remove them.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;315539

 

[J741]

Thank you. Device manager (with show hidden devices) does not show any phantom network adaptor, only the one that physically exists. It is the network connections folder that shows it as "wireless connection #5" when there is only one.

 

[smah]

Did you follow the KB Article referenced above? This will show much more than just the 'show hidden devices' option.

 

[scotch]

I have seen this problem with XP pro with this type of wireless adapter. Do you have encryption turned on ? I installed sp1 for XP and the problem went away.

 

[J741]

Found the solution at this location...

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/columns/bowman/02september09.asp

It indicated that I should disable 802.1x authentication.

I will try it soon (it's not actually my PC that's doing this).

 

[Playwfire]

I had the same issue with my XP and wireless. Every 58 to 63 seconds it would drop for about 2-3 seconds then reconnect.

Go into Control Panel, Admin Tools, Services

Select Wireless Zero Configuration and disable the services. Microsoft Zero Configuration Manager checks every minute for what I would call "sleep mode". It seems that its smarter then I want it to be.

Good luck.

 

[SecurityGeek]

I have the same problem with the Linksys WUSB11 and the XP Wireless Zero Configuration Service. The problem with disabling the Service is that it's required at boot time to detect AP's. So unless you have a wire card to get on, you'll have to keep disabling the Service every boot. Sigh...

I've written to Linksys about it, but it sounds more like a problem with the XP WZCSVC. I'v elooked for ways to tell the service not to do it's 1 minute scan for Access points but to no avail. If Linksys support sheds any lite, I'll post back.

 

[J741]

Well, I thought I had the problem solved, but now what happens is that I will suddenly loose my network connection, but no messages or otherwise will be displayed. Everything looks good, wireless signal strength is excelent, etc. However, after anywhere from 1 to 30 minutes (it seems to be random), internet downloads will suddenly stop, shared files can no longer be accessed, etc. If I try to pin my default gateway, or any other PC on the network, there is no responce.

Does anyone have any other suggestions !?!?

 

[mkery7]

Hi all,

Found this thread while searching for the same problem. Tried MS Knowledgebase articles:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;313242

and

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;324024

but with no luck. Tried playwfire's suggestion of diabling the WZC service and was able to keep a connection. But SecurityGeek is right... "The problem with disabling the Service is that it's required at boot time to detect AP's."

As soon as you remove the card, or reboot, you need WZC to "find" your AP.

Could this simply be an issue of the vendor (Linksys in this case... I'm using a WPC11 v. 3) not fully supporting the Wireless Zero "standard"? Their product specs have no mention of WZ, but are certified for WinXP.

If this is the case, maybe I'll try a different manufacturer...

 

[TacTicalMj]

I have come up with a solution that seems to work for me, regarding the signal drop or periodical ping problems.
you should disable the WZC service and then change it to manual, as another user said you will then be unable to find the AP next boot?? if windows cant do the job let Linksys do it... they did write perfectly good software for that specific purpose. Simply install the connection utility that came with your WUSB11.

 

[TAKGP]

TacTicalMJ can you be more specific on the sequence of how you got it to work. I disabled WZC , removed the old drivers and etc, reconnected the WUSB11 with WZC disabled, loaded the linksys drivers and etc. and then changed the WZC to manual and added the WEP. It was still dropping the connection for a short period of time. I could only get it to work by leaving the WZC disabled.

Is there a sequence to the madness?

 

[tasimpso]

i had the identical issue with my d-link router
i was about to throw the router out when i by chance noticed the serve, turned it off, and now my wireless connection NEVER gets disrupted. I would think that this is an XP service problem.

 

[MrConnected]

This problem also occurs in Windows 2000 Professional with SP3 installed.

I will be purchasing another brand USB adapter to pin point whether it is the Linksys causing the problem or a Windows based problem, I will post when I have results.

 

[TacTicalMj]

TAKGP... you explained the process quite well, in my expeiance you wil have to leave WZC off as it will continue to scan for other Access points every 60sec and interupt your connection.

 

[makelky]

I think I solved this problem completely, re-boot and all. I simply wrote a very small batch file and placed it into my startup folder that kills the WZC process, and it seems to work fine. Just did sp query in the dos window to find the service name, and simply put this line into the batch file: net stop WZC... (whatever the real service name is.) Startup seems to run after the AP is found, so no problem at all. No more skipping music! BTW I did try other USB adapters, and they worked fine, its only the linksys