Vista “unidentified network” can’t surf the net
Came across an interesting problem the other day where a friend could not surf the net as Vista was displaying ‘unidentified network’ when trying to connect to her wireless router. Wired (ie ethernet cable) was fine.
What I did notice was that from a command prompt, an ‘ipconfig’ command did not give an IP on the same subnet that other devices (in this case 10.10.10.x). Instead it gave an IP of 169.x.x.x. This is this is an Microsoft automatic private address assigned to computers that are not connected to the Internet.
Thinking it was a problem with the DHCP server on the modem, I tried to connect with my laptop and iPhone which worked fine. Ahhhhh, I thought ‘I bet it’s Vista or Norton’.
The troubleshooting started. I disabled Norton – no change. Googling around seemed to pretty much confirm it was Vista, and down below I have listed some things to check and try. Results were varied from what I read so if you are having issues, try these one at a time (which I listed from quick to more in depth methods in order). Note: I am assuming that the WEP/WPA key used was correct in connecting to the network , and that the issue is not getting a IP or any internet connectivity.
The first thing to try is giving a static IP to the wireless card. More than likely this will work, but having it set as auto would be more preferable, and you probably would want to know why you have to do it this way.
Wireless card drivers:
1. Right-click on “My Computer” and click Properties
2. Click on “Device Manager” from the left column
3. Expand “Network Adapters” Section
4. Right click on each network adapter and click “uninstall”
5.Click “Action” from the toolbar and Select “Scan for hardware changes”
IPV6 causing issue
1. Control Panel > Network and Sharking Center > Manage Network Connections > right click your Friendly Neighbourhood Network Connection > Properties
2. Under the Networking Tab, uncheck Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6)
3. Exit the dialogs.
Invalid MAC address in Vista for the wireless network card.
Now this is a very interesting one, and ended up being the problem with mine.
Vista does not preset a MAC address for the network card.
As a result the network card identifies itself as: 00-00-00-00-00-00
this causes problems with any standard equipment.
To fix this go to:
Device Manger and view driver details for the network card.
Select MAC, you will see that the option Not Preset is ON.
Check ON the option to set a MAC address and type in a 6 hex digits e.g.:
001a2b3c4d5e
Save and restart your network. It should be working now.
DHCP bug in Vista
Taken from a MS article located here,
This issue occurs because of a difference in design between Windows Vista and Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2). Specifically, in Windows XP SP2, the BROADCAST flag in DHCP discovery packets is set to 0 (disabled). In Windows Vista, the BROADCAST flag in DHCP discovery packets is not disabled. Therefore, some routers and some non-Microsoft DHCP servers cannot process the DHCP discovery packets.
Care: as the fix for this possible involves a registry change, please make sure you have all you important files backed up if things go haywire.
So as you can see, there could be a few things that are causing this issue. Please share any thoughts/experiences you may have had.
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solve your computer problem?
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thx a lot… i fix my problems… 3 days of searching…finally i fixed my laptop’s problem….
Thanks so much, IPv6 was causing a problem with my laptop, as soon as I found this I was able to fix it almost immediately.
Thank you SOOO much!! I have gone round and round with my computer for 4 hours with the same problem your friend had! I SOOOO appreciate your input and tips. My problem was the wireless card driver. You saved me $200 that Toshiba wanted to charge me to ‘troubleshoot’!
@Evan and @Monica – glad to hear that I was able to help.
Thank you so much! What had happen to me was I had accidentally changed my router’s security key to WPA2 instead of WEP. After changing it back, my laptop connected, but to a “Unidentified Network with limited access” after 2 days of using an Ethernet cable to find a solution, I came across this. Turns out IPv6 was causing the problem.
THANKs A TONNE! IPv6 was causing a problem with my laptop…
Thanks again…
I did everything what u said but is still didn’t work i have this problem for like 6 months please reply!
I have a HP compaq 6710b.
I’ve tried all of the above. I have a DROID pro with venison and a Toshiba a215 with vista. I have been at it for almost a month on the phone with Verizon n Microsoft. I am past angry about this sorry #$$ stuff. My laptop can pick up another phones wifi n my phone has connected to another laptop n went straight to the net. Im out of options. I just bought this phone a month ago n can’t afford another. Help if you can.
Hey bro, my laptop is able to connect to wifi but further its not connecting to internet. I made changes in IPv6 but no results. Help.
Thank you!!!!
Best article ever, no other website seemed to have the right solutions!!!
I am still havin issue connecting…pllllllllzzzzzz help!
Hi there…i’ve tried all these and am still having the same problem :s
Didn’t work for me : { mine all started when I uninstalled norton… I hate norton… any more suggestions email me @ ccopestick08@gmail.com please and thanks
ye i figured it had to be my Vista since since when I switched to Mac OS X it didn’t make any problems. thx alot dude!
What if my wireless network card driver details doesn’t show a section for MAC address?
Nothing else worked either. I can connect to unprotected networks and via cable but not to wireless protected ones. It worked for a short time after installing SP2 but then stopped working again >.<
Re: my previous message
Found the MAC settings – it’s under Advanced->Network Address
Still didn’t solve the problem, so all there is left to try is getting rid of Vista and getting Win7 :/
Thank You soooo much! Ive been trying to find a solution for days and finally you had it! I mean whats the sense in haveing a lap top if you can only connect by ethernet. I am sooo bookmarking this page in case It happens again in the future!
Thank you
I did try step by step and I still have the same problem, it didn’t work for me, I have a Averatec notebook, do you have another suggestion.
i had exactly the same problem and i found the solution! I had just to enable the DHCP.
http://www.ehow.com/how_5061881_enable-ip-addressing-dhcp-vista.html
Thanks a lot indi…:)
. thanks once again
i tried to search on net but solution is on no other website.
ipv6 was causing the problem in mine like many others. 1 more thing i would like to share is that i am using Win 7 and not vista… so u can change the name of this article
I tried all the steps and it still doesn’t work. What I don’t understand is this same computer worked elsewhere with an apple airport extreme and it is not working in a different location with an apple airport extreme. I’m also suspecting Vista issues.
Gonna give this one last shot and try getting drivers for my wireless card. Otherwise: two different registry edits to disable DHCP and IPv6, manual IP input, etc didn’t work. My MAC address is valid. Ugh! I mean, Win7 looks pretty baller but I wanted to reformat before upgrading. Now I don’t have much of a choice (especially since I can’t find my Vista Home disc D: ) But I will try with the wireless card oooone more time. The only network I can’t connect to is the one at home! Go figure.
I did everything as instructed above..it still doesnt work, and worst, now it cannot even connect locally… Please help…
THANK YOU SOOOOOOOO MUCH!
Step one worked for me. Uninstalled then reinstalled and it worked like a charm! A BIGGG THANKS!!
Hi, i dont understand this at all… I cant do itt :’(
I’ve tried to replicate this problem so I can try some other things to help you people out who are having difficulties, but I cant break it again now. Bizarre! Anyway, couple of other things to try – update your network card drivers, update the firmware on your modem , even try another modem if you know someone that can loan you one.
Thank you so much! Was unable to connect for days. Turns out it was the card driver.
Hi. The first 2 options didn’t work, so I’m trying the 3rd, BUT i’m having problems with your instructions:
“Device Manger and view driver details for the network card.”
How to you navigate to this option? Thanks.
Hi Tania. What operating system are you using? Either way, you would click on start>control panel and you should see it there. If not, type device manager in the top right hand serach bar (if using vista/W7)
Thank you so much! After much troubleshooting, updating the adapter driver fixed my problem!
The second option worked (IPV6 causing issue)but once i restarted my laptop it didnt connect to the interent i checked if the ipv6 was ticked, but it was not ticked so i am stuck PLEASE HELP
Thanks for the tips. I fixed the problem with the mac address fix, but it was a little different for me.
I went to Control Panal > Network and sharing > manage network connections > Right clicked on my wireless card and properties > advanced > and in the list was ‘Locally Administered MAC Address
It was set to ‘Not Present is On’. I click the radius button by the blank field, and enter the mac address 001a2b3c4d5e. I immediately connected.
Thanks for the info, Jason.
All these and other “searched” solutions didn’t work for me, but I did finally figure it out….(so far so good)
The date/time were incorrect on my router settings!
Simple overlooked issue for me.
(keeping fingers crossed)
tried all of the above to no avail. i think it must be vista, now doing a dual boot with ubuntu.
Hi,
I have somewhat similar issue, From yesterday I am not able to connect to internet from my HP machine( Eathernet & Wireless both). With the other computers net is working fine.
I’m also having this “unidentified network local access” issue. I’m able to sucessfully connect to the network but my computer cant identify it. I’ve tried all 3 steps and no avail
I also spent 3hrs on the phone with Sony and they werent very helpful. I was able to connect to my previous wifi network (4 days ago) but since moving to my new place, with new network connection, i cant connect. Is it possible that this “issue” can intermittenly happen” because I’ve seen my computer do this before but i just left it as i had no clue what was wrong and the next time i picked it up to check it ,it worked fine. Ahhhhh! Either way, this is really annoying me, as im paying for this wifi connection! 
Thank you thank you thank you! After a whole day of searching, this is the only post that could help me solve my problem!
I’ve tried everything. I bought a new WR1043ND TP-Link and got it working with my first laptop no problem. Then I tried my Toshiba Satellite with an Atheros AR5005G Wireless Network Adapter. I’ve tried everything above without success.
The machine appears to have an valid DCHP entry on the WR1043ND, it has an IP address, the only obvious sign is that no packets are being received. I happen to have LINUX on the same machine, tried that and hey presto … it worked!! Unfortunately, my wife insists on Windows, so that is not a solution.
So, then I tried turning off the WPA2(personal) security, and YES … if I don’t want any security it works fine. I’ve tried every combination of WPA2/WPA AES/TKIP, and the packets received just sit at zero.
After setting up a new router from Sky (D-Link) my laptop would not connect, but the PS3 and mobiles did. No help from Sky or nothing listed that I could find from Microsoft. Vista must be the problem. Thank you so much for your advice, after days of frustration im now able to use my laptop on my wi-fi network again. Your post is excellent! I followed both the wireless card driver replace and the uncheck the IPv6 setting. restarted and connected to a network. Enter the network key again and Bang! done, just like that. Once again, thank you for your advice, your a star!
I had the same problem. I updated the CCX diagnostic utility program and it fixed my problem.
D-Link DIR-615 router
Compaq pesario laptop
This website was great and was the only on that offered a working solution. I could connect by ethernet cable but not by wireless. I reinstalled the wireless driver via the search online for update and after it installed it worked !!!! Spent a few hours to sort this, thanks !!!