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Question

Network icon show red "X" even though wireless adapter is connected and working...

Applies To:
Running Windows 7 Ultimate and I recently tried installing the new softwarer/driver for the Netgear WPN111 wireless adapter. Before the install everything worked normally with the older version 2.1, but after installing version 3.0 it does not.

When the network icon in systray comes up you get the disconnected icon with the circle while it searches. Once it finishes it goes back to the disconnected icon, even though it is now connected to my wireless.

Here are somethings I've tried:

- clearing all network locations
- clearing tray notification cache using CCleaner
- uninstalling the adapter itself from device manager including checking delete driver
- removing the wireless network and adding it back manually
- hiding and unhiding the network icon in the tray
- uninstalling version 3.0 and reinstalling version 2.1
- uninstalling version 3.0 and reinstalling version 3.0
- restarting the Network Location Awareness service
- disabling and renabling the Network Location Awareness service after a reboot

Here are some things I've noticed:

- the network icon used to change to the wireless icon during connecting and once connected, now it always shows the wired network icon
- tried connecting to a wired connect and the same thing happens, it goes back to displaying the icon with the red "X" even though it is connected
- booted into safe mode with networking and the icon works normally in safe mode

Any suggestions or help would be greatly appreciated. It's one of those things that doesn't really affect the functionality of Windows, but it's annoying as all.
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mercmerc

mercmerc

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Answer

Hmm... a complete reinstall seems a bit premature at this point. Why not first try the following:

1. Clear all preferred wireless networks from your network configuration. Right click to manage, click wireless on the left, delete everything.
2. Ensure the network manager service is running.

A reboot may be required, but it was not in my case.
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Ted Nancy

Ted Nancy

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 I recently tried installing the new softwarer/driver for the Netgear WPN111 wireless adapter. Before the install everything worked normally with the older version 2.1, but after installing version 3.0 it does not.

I would say, it's a driver problem. I have recognized a similar behavior with an old RTL card/driver. The driver won't work whilst the other LAN network adapter works fine. Then I have had the  red x in my taskbar status area whilst the LAN was connected. It was not sufficient to deactivate the LAN adapter with the faulty driver.

I was able to solve it uninstalling the driver (I checked the option to remove the driver from my disk).

Did you tried to rewind to a system restore point before you installed the Netgear driver?
Gruß/greetings G. Born - Blogs: http://blog.borncity.com
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GBorn

Community Moderator
GBorn
Community Star
Blog: http://blog.borncity.com

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When I had the software/driver uninstalled I checked my wired connection and it still exhibited the problem even with the wireless driver gone. I think it may have changed a setting or registry entry that did not change back with the uninstall.

I was going to try a restore point, but it doesn't appear Windows created one when I installed version 3.0. The next one I have before that will make too many other changes to be useful. The restore point would most likely fix the issue, but I don't really have that as an option.
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mercmerc

mercmerc

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I've been having the same problem.
However, it wasn't due to a driver update.
Could this have been from a certain Windows Update?
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bbko

bbko

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No, I wish it was a Windows Update that caused it. That would be easier to fix. It happened right after I installed the new software/driver for my WPN111 wireless adapter. If you figure out which update caused your problem though, I'd be interested to know. It always worth a try to see if it did cause my problem.

At this point I'm considering just reloading Windows 7 and trying again. It's not my main computer so it's not quite as big a deal.
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mercmerc

mercmerc

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Not being able to view other devices on the same network is the only inconvenience it has caused for me so far.
This seems to be a very widespread problem for win7 so i think you should just wait it out a little longer if it is not too much of a bother to you.
Someone is bound to fix it somehow?
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bbko

bbko

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Hello Mercmerc,

Thanks for posting in the Microsoft Answers Forum! Although performing a clean install on your system could be possible solution, there are other options to try first. Try booting into Safe Mode with Networking and see if the problem still persists.

If that does not work, you may want to try a Clean Boot to see if the issue is still present. For directions on running a Clean Boot, please click here.

Please let me know if this helps J

Adam
Microsoft Answers Support Engineer
Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum and let us know what you think
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Adam_W_

Adam_W_
My CPU is a neural net processor, a learning computer.

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My computer is from HP and did not come with a Windows 7 disc.
Do you suggest buying a new copy of windows and installing that instead?
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bbko

bbko

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Hmm... a complete reinstall seems a bit premature at this point. Why not first try the following:

1. Clear all preferred wireless networks from your network configuration. Right click to manage, click wireless on the left, delete everything.
2. Ensure the network manager service is running.

A reboot may be required, but it was not in my case.
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Ted Nancy

Ted Nancy

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I own 2 Dell (an Adamo Admire and a 1440) with the Win 7 upgrade that have the same problem and know 3 friends with the same issue. This is a widespread issue I think. Surprised nothing has been done about it yet. Overall I think the whole network management system of Win7 is vastly inferior to Vista and even XP. For me,  it's just not acceptable on a $3300 laptop and I am returning it and buying a Powerbook.
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cuseguy

cuseguy

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Same issue here with Win7 Home Premium. Tried clean install which solved problem, UNTIL I reinstalled printers and critical updates at which point Red X appeared again. Although I don't have any network or Internet issues.

Not sure if it was printer installation or critical updates that caused it but can't be bothered to clean install again to find out.
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plot24

plot24
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