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Windows 7 "Unidentified Network" problem

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teenbus

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Joined
Aug 16, 2012
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I've been connected to the same network using the same wireless adapter for about a year now, and it all decided to go kaput. I can connect to the network, but it's listed as an unidentified network with limited access. The troubleshooter told me that the problem was with the router, but countless other devices are working with the same router perfectly.

Fixes I've tried:
  • Uninstalling Bonjour
  • Resetting the router
  • Using a different network adapter
  • System restore
  • Disabling IPv4
  • Uninstalling and re-installing the network adapter
  • Installing the Reliable Multicast Protocol
  • Setting a manual IP address
  • ipconfig /release and ipconfig /renew

Also, I've tried unsuccessfully to manually change my MAC address, but I can't find it in the properties for any of my adapters.

Here's an ipconfig /all that I ran:
Code: 
Microsoft Windows [Version 6.1.7600]Copyright (c) 2009 Microsoft Corporation.  All rights reserved.


C:\Users\Marcus>ipconfig /all


Windows IP Configuration


   Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : user-PC
   Primary Dns Suffix  . . . . . . . :
   Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid
   IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
   WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No


Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:


   Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
   Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . :
   Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Realtek RTL8168C(P)/8111C(P) Family PCI-E
 Gigabit Ethernet NIC (NDIS 6.20)
   Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 12-00-0C-00-AD-00
   DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
   Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes


Wireless LAN adapter Wireless Network Connection:


   Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . :
   Description . . . . . . . . . . . : D-Link DWA-131 Wireless N Nano USB Adapte
r
   Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-18-E7-C4-32-19
   DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
   Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
   Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::d153:d5f1:6f48:3cf7%16(Preferred)
   Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . :
   DHCPv6 IAID . . . . . . . . . . . : 234887399
   DHCPv6 Client DUID. . . . . . . . : 00-01-00-01-13-FB-47-60-00-21-9B-17-65-F4


   DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : fec0:0:0:ffff::1%1
                                       fec0:0:0:ffff::2%1
                                       fec0:0:0:ffff::3%1
   NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Disabled


Tunnel adapter Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface:


   Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
   Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . :
   Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface
   Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
   DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
   Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes


Tunnel adapter isatap.{462F6913-F3CA-4FA9-B4D0-3B70CFCE54F2}:


   Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
   Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . :
   Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft ISATAP Adapter #2
   Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
   DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
   Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Any suggestion of a fix would be very much appreciated.
 

Solution
Trouble
Yes that is a bit better at least it's now populating with an APIPA address, which typically means that it's not able to communicate with a DHCP server (likely your wireless router).
I think now would be a good time to go back to one of your earlier troubleshooting steps and reset the router again. Then do a ipconfig /release and ipconfig /renew.
If that doesn't do it, then get into your router's web interface and change the channel to 3 or 11 ( just far away from what it is now). Then release and renew again.
If that doesn't work, hit your wireless security. Switch it temporarily to "Open" none. See if that works. Then try WEP (windows 7 doesn't seem to like that much), see if that works. Then to WPA TKIP, see if that works if not...
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The first thing you need to do is enable IPv4
and then disable IPv6
Make sure in the properties of IPv4 that both IP and DNS are set to get addresses automatically
and then do another ipconfig /all
and paste the results again.
 

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Thanks a ton for the quick reply! Here's the ipconfig with IPv4 enabled and IPv6 disabled.

Code: 
Microsoft Windows [Version 6.1.7600]Copyright (c) 2009 Microsoft Corporation.  All rights reserved.


C:\Users\Marcus>ipconfig /all


Windows IP Configuration


   Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : user-PC
   Primary Dns Suffix  . . . . . . . :
   Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid
   IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
   WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No


Wireless LAN adapter Wireless Network Connection:


   Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
   Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . :
   Description . . . . . . . . . . . : D-Link DWA-131 Wireless N Nano USB Adapte
r
   Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-18-E7-C4-32-19
   DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
   Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes


Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:


   Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
   Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . :
   Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Realtek RTL8168C(P)/8111C(P) Family PCI-E
 Gigabit Ethernet NIC (NDIS 6.20)
   Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 12-00-0C-00-AD-00
   DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
   Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes


Tunnel adapter isatap.{06426E57-4FE8-4074-9721-79E47595CE89}:


   Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
   Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . :
   Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft ISATAP Adapter
   Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
   DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
   Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes


Tunnel adapter Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface:


   Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
   Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . :
   Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface
   Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
   DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
   Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes


Tunnel adapter isatap.{462F6913-F3CA-4FA9-B4D0-3B70CFCE54F2}:


   Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
   Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . :
   Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft ISATAP Adapter #2
   Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
   DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
   Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

All the differences I can see are just in formatting. Anything stand out?
 

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teenbus said:
Thanks a ton for the quick reply! Here's the ipconfig with IPv4 enabled and IPv6 disabled.
All the differences I can see are just in formatting. Anything stand out?
Click to expand...

Yes, something does. Both your network adapters reflect that the "Media State" is "Disconnected"
Can you advise if you are currently using the version 1.21 driver from here Link Removed
 

Upvote 0 Downvote
Great catch! I'm obviously no wiz at going over these things, so it's much appreciated.
Sadly, after reinstalling the adapter with the new driver, I'm having the same problem, but at least I'm getting closer. Here's the new ipconfig:

Code: 
Microsoft Windows [Version 6.1.7600]Copyright (c) 2009 Microsoft Corporation.  All rights reserved.


C:\Users\Marcus>ipconfig /all


Windows IP Configuration


   Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : user-PC
   Primary Dns Suffix  . . . . . . . :
   Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid
   IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
   WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No


Wireless LAN adapter Wireless Network Connection 5:


   Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
   Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . :
   Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft Virtual WiFi Miniport Adapter #
2
   Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-18-E7-C4-32-19
   DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
   Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes


Wireless LAN adapter Wireless Network Connection 4:


   Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . :
   Description . . . . . . . . . . . : D-Link DWA-131 Wireless N Nano USB Adapte
r #3
   Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-18-E7-C4-32-19
   DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
   Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
   Autoconfiguration IPv4 Address. . : 169.254.193.82(Preferred)
   Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.0.0
   Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . :
   NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Enabled


Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:


   Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
   Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . :
   Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Realtek RTL8168C(P)/8111C(P) Family PCI-E
 Gigabit Ethernet NIC (NDIS 6.20)
   Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 12-00-0C-00-AD-00
   DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
   Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes


Tunnel adapter isatap.{EBBC58AE-BDB1-4D5E-A003-9EC1F370C24F}:


   Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
   Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . :
   Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft ISATAP Adapter
   Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
   DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
   Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes


Tunnel adapter Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface:


   Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
   Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . :
   Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface
   Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
   DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
   Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes


Tunnel adapter isatap.{462F6913-F3CA-4FA9-B4D0-3B70CFCE54F2}:


   Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
   Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . :
   Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft ISATAP Adapter #2
   Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
   DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
   Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes


Tunnel adapter isatap.{346D6AE2-361B-49A9-9911-F85277BDE2BF}:


   Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
   Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . :
   Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft ISATAP Adapter #3
   Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
   DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
   Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

I've got an IP address now, so things are looking better. Are any solutions becoming apparent?
 

Upvote 0 Downvote
Yes that is a bit better at least it's now populating with an APIPA address, which typically means that it's not able to communicate with a DHCP server (likely your wireless router).
I think now would be a good time to go back to one of your earlier troubleshooting steps and reset the router again. Then do a ipconfig /release and ipconfig /renew.
If that doesn't do it, then get into your router's web interface and change the channel to 3 or 11 ( just far away from what it is now). Then release and renew again.
If that doesn't work, hit your wireless security. Switch it temporarily to "Open" none. See if that works. Then try WEP (windows 7 doesn't seem to like that much), see if that works. Then to WPA TKIP, see if that works if not try WPA AES see if that works.
You may need to release and renew after each change to provoke a DHCP solicitation.
Failing all of the above send me an ipconfig /all from another machine that is actually working on the network and we'll hard code the settings and see if that might resolve things.
Keep us posted.
Regards
Randy
 

Upvote 0 Downvote
Solution
Sorry for not replying, I've been out of town and without internet access. I probably should have mentioned this before, but although it's a home network, there is no security on it. Releases and renews didn't accomplish anything, so here's an ipconfig from the XP computer that's connected to the internet.

Code: 
Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600](C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.


C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator>ipconfig /all


Windows IP Configuration


        Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : stan-e7fff7448c
        Primary Dns Suffix  . . . . . . . :
        Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Unknown
        IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
        WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
        DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : socal.rr.com


Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:


        Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
        Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Realtek RTL8139 Family PCI Fast Ethe
rnet NIC
        Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-13-D3-59-41-6B


Ethernet adapter Wireless Network Connection:


        Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . : socal.rr.com
        Description . . . . . . . . . . . : NETGEAR MA101 USB Adapter
        Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-09-5B-31-42-5D
        Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
        Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
        IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.101
        Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
        Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
        DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
        DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
        Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Friday, August 24, 2012 4:31:01 PM
        Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Friday, August 31, 2012 4:31:01 PM
 

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Sorry one last thing to mention before we proceed any further.
Do you have a software product / security suite from McAfee installed on this computer that you are having this problem with?
The reason I ask is we've recently seen a rash of this type of issue and the solution has been to uninstall McAfee using the programs and features applet in the control panel and follow that up by running this vendor specific proprietary removal tools from here Link Removed
Replace it with MSE from here Link Removed due to 404 Error
Let me know if this pertains to your particular problem computer before we continue.
Thanks
Randy
 

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Good consideration. No McAfee software is installed on that computer. The antivirus I do use, avast!, doesn't seem to be causing any problems.
 

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OK, let's try it once the hard way.
Click start and type
ncpa.cpl
into the searchbox and hit enter
Select, then right click the problem adapter and choose properties
In the middle "frame" labeled "This connection uses the following items:"
Uncheck Internet Protocol Version 6
Then highlight (select) Internet Protocol Version 4 and click the properties button.
Select the "Use the following IP address:" radio button and enter the following
IP Address 192.168.0.222
Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0 (should auto-populate when you tab to it)
Default Gateway: 192.168.0.1
Select the "Use the following DNS server addresses:" radio button and enter the following
Preferred DNS server: 8.8.8.8
Alternate DNS server: 8.8.4.4
OK your way back out of there to save your settings.
Go ahead and reboot, although it is probably not necessary, and see if that helps the problem at all.
Let us know
Randy
 

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I'm not the same person, and I apologize for replying to an old forum, but I've been following this post and can't seem to get the problem fixed. The network is still unidentified, and I'm still limited to "limited Connection/No Internet Access"

Here is my Current state

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.1.7601]
Copyright (c) 2009 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.


C:\Users\90'sRPG>ipconfig /all


Windows IP Configuration


Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : ZidaneTribal
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No


Wireless LAN adapter Wireless Network Connection 2:


Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft Virtual WiFi Miniport Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 06-22-43-63-9F-90
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes


Wireless LAN adapter Wireless Network Connection:


Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Atheros AR928X Wireless Network Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-22-43-63-9F-90
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.222(Preferred)
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.68.0.1
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 8.8.8.8
8.8.4.4
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Enabled


Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:


Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Atheros AR8121/AR8113/AR8114 PCI-E Ethern
et Controller(NDIS6.20)
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-24-8C-28-F9-9F
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes


Tunnel adapter Local Area Connection* 9:


Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes


Tunnel adapter isatap.hsd1.co.comcast.net.:


Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft ISATAP Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes


Tunnel adapter isatap.{B0C7EF56-336D-49A5-8A84-22B69A0AC40A}:


Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft ISATAP Adapter #2
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes


Tunnel adapter isatap.{AF4095E3-7BD5-4B7F-AC07-49A5405BBE7C}:


Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft ISATAP Adapter #3
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes


Tunnel adapter isatap.{10279121-0F23-44D0-B801-0ACF70238F52}:


Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft ISATAP Adapter #4
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes


C:\Users\90'sRPG>


I'll be online for maybe a few hours or so, I'm pretty set on getting this solved. Thanks in advance!
 

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