Thread: Vista unable to see any of the wireless networks

Hello,

I have lately purchased an Encore ENHWI-N Wireless Router as well as a similar ENUWI-N USB Wireless Adapter for desktop which is running Windows Vista Ultimate (32bit). These are 802.11n Draft 2 well-matched devices in the desktop. I have set up the router with out any difficulty, and my other two computers in the house - a MacBook laptop and a HP Pavilion desktop which are running XP SP3 – quickly founded out the network as well as got connected to it with any problem. Though, the Vista machine which is not only sees my new network, but also doesn't locate any of the wireless networks in the area and there are at least 5 which are within hundred yards from my area. The USB adapter which is also working fine, since when I have tested it out on my computer at work and my other home desktop and then quickly got the right driver installed in it and saw all the available wireless networks. And perceptibly, the router is also working fine since my other computer is able to see it and then gets connected to it.

Here is how the router is currently set up:
- DHCP turned on
- UPnP and other advanced features turned off
- 802.11n mode
- Channel Auto-Select
- WPA2-Personal + AES encryption

And here is what I have done on already, to save you from the preliminary suggestions:
- Updated the USB adapter with the latest driver
- Upgraded firmware on my router
- Attempted for all the encryption power on the router, as well as no encryption too
- Tried 802.x mixed mode and B and G only modes
- Installed all the obtainable updates for Vista
- Recycled power on cable modem & router & Vista machine multiple times
- Made sure WLAN AutoConfig Service which is set to be automatic and started
- Tried the Ralink Wireless USB utility supplied with the latest driver, and it too does not see any of the networks and says that my adapter is disconnected
- Also verified the USB Wireless Adapter which works by plugging it into my other desktop and then connecting to the network which is created by me.

I have not tried the Vista DHCP registry fix which Microsoft have released an article about it recently, this may be my next attempt when I get home tonight.

Any other ideas? Would be most appreciated. This problem has got me pulling my hair out. Thanks.

I believe that you may be missing something which is very simple here.... maybe the driver are not been installed in the computer properly for the use of USB adaptor – are you able to go to the device manager and check if there are any yellow marks or devices missing drivers?

Alteration may also help to expand the compatibility of Vista with the older networking devices:
Disable the IP Helper service:

1. Hold the Windows key and then type R, enter services.msc and lastly press Enter key.
2. Roll down to the IP Helper service, right click on it and select Properties
3. In the dropdown box which says "Automatic" or "Manual", set it to Disabled and then click on the "Apply" option.
4. Then click on "Stop" for stopping the service which is running in the present session
5. Click OK to exit the dialog box

Disable IPv6:

1. Hold the Windows key and type R, enter ncpa.cpl and press Enter key.
2. Right click on each network connection and select "Properties"
3. Remove the checkmark from the box next to "Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6)
4. Click OK to exit the dialog

Disable the DHCP Broadcast Flag:


1. Hold the Windows key and type R, enter regedit and press Enter.
2. Find and then click the following registry sub key:
3. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Servic es\Tcpip\Parameters\Inter faces\{GUID}
4. In this registry path, click the (GUID) subkey to be updated.
5. If the key DhcpConnForceBroadcastFlag does not exist, use the Edit menu, point to New, and then click DWORD (32-bit) Value. In the New Value #1 box, type DhcpConnForceBroadcastFlag, and then press ENTER. If the key exists, skip this step.
6. Right-click DhcpConnForceBroadcastFlag, and then click Modify.
7. In the Value data box, type 0, and then click OK.
8. Close Registry Editor.
The only program which I'm aware of that presently relies on IPv6 is the new Windows Meeting Space. The first 2 altering will also result that the program not to work - but will also leave all of your normal connections which are unchanged. If it reasons the problems that you can't overcome, merely revert back to the original settings.

The drivers in the computer are the latest version and the adapter has no error notifications in device manager.

Thanks for the tips. Like I told, I will be attempting the DHCP hotfix later tonight and will let you know if that works. I will also disable the IPV6, while I did not have to do that on my work computer running Vista, so I'm not sure how booming that will be. But I am most concerned in the IPHelper tweak which I was not aware about. Updates soon.

Also just a quick note, with the networking equipment I have bought a new one which is released in late 2008.

For quick update:
Disabled IPHelper service
Turned off IPv6 on the Wireless Adapter
Ran sfc /scannow (no integrity violations found)
Uninstalled the adapter, rebooted, let Windows install the driver via Windows Update
Disabled DHCP BROADCAST flag via regedit

...and not anything altered. Vista still unable to see any of the wireless networks. Any more ideas?