[TerryNet]

Logically there is no such thing as "ghost" networks, and you cannot be seeing more than one network from your router. Maybe you have defined (created profiles for) those extra networks. But, you've already looked at that issue.

OTOH, having seen some, I do believe in ghost networks. Twice when I had XP on my old Systemax laptop my D-Link PCMCIA card would not detect my network but "saw" one or more that I knew did not exist (having a Wi-Fi detector and other computers to check my sanity and available networks). The first time I tried "everything" to no avail. The solution both times was a System Restore to before the problem started. By the way, that card is still working fine with the current configurations of that laptop and my Dell laptop; so it wasn't hardware failure.

If your eyes have glazed over by now, the message is try a System Restore to before the latest problem started.

[hewwo2u2]

thanks TerryNet, I will do this and see what happens

[hewwo2u2]

Alright so now I have done a system restore, and one of the networks is gone (jessnet2) but the other one (unidentified network) is still there. Any other advice?

[TerryNet]

Depending on the adapter/utility a network for which SSID broadcast is disabled may not show at all or may be shown as "Hidden." Maybe with your adapter/utility what I see as "Hidden" may be shown as "unidentified"? If so, then it's simply a neighbor who (falsely) thinks he/she is securing his/her network.

[hewwo2u2]

No, it was not a neighbor, although I agree that that could have been a logical explanation. It was definitely coming from my network because I could partially connect to it using my password. It was very weird though because it did not show up as any of my managed networks. I reset the router and started over from scratch today. after 3 hours I'm back on the internet and the "ghost" is gone (for now). I guess we'll see how long this lasts!

[TerryNet]

Let's hope a long time!

[hewwo2u2]

ok so I'm back, and I have some new information. The problem staying connected is not my router because I have someone here right now who is connected via wireless connection to my network, ad I got disconnected again, but he did not.

When I get disconnected, attempting to diagnose and repair does nothing. I also want to note that under network connections, if I disable the wireless connection and then attempt to re-enable it, it will say it is enabling it and then it never does. It just stays disabled. The only thing that I can do in order to re-connect to the internet is to restart my computer.

It has to be something with my computer right? Anyone have any new ideas?

[TerryNet]

If your connection will not enable then, yes, it has to be a problem within the computer. I have few ideas on this. Try the stack/WINSOCK repairs, that we probably tried before.

(From a JohnWill post)

TCP/IP stack repair options for use with Vista.

Start, Programs\Accessories and right click on Command Prompt, select "Run as Administrator" to open a command prompt.

Reset WINSOCK entries to installation defaults: netsh winsock reset catalog

Reset IPv4 TCP/IP stack to installation defaults. netsh int ipv4 reset reset.log

Reset IPv6 TCP/IP stack to installation defaults. netsh int ipv6 reset reset.log

Reboot the machine.

[Jason08]

Had you tried uninstalling and reinstalling drivers?

[hewwo2u2]

TerryNet, I will follow these steps and let you know what happens.

Jason08, my computer says that the drivers are up to date, however, I am unable to know for sure as I cannot find them to to install myself. (see post #52-59)

[hewwo2u2]

Originally Posted by TerryNet

TCP/IP stack repair options for use with Vista.

Start, Programs\Accessories and right click on Command Prompt, select "Run as Administrator" to open a command prompt.

Reset WINSOCK entries to installation defaults: netsh winsock reset catalog

Reset IPv4 TCP/IP stack to installation defaults. netsh int ipv4 reset reset.log

Reset IPv6 TCP/IP stack to installation defaults. netsh int ipv6 reset reset.log

Reboot the machine.

I have done these steps and the problem is still not fixed.

[TerryNet]

When a non-Windows security application (firewall, security suite, anti-spyware, etc.) somehow gets messed up it can cause strange and "illogical" problems. I've never seen this unable-to-enable a network connection before; suggest you uninstall any non-Windows security application and test. If it is a paid for product, before you uninstall make sure you know the product key or whatever information you need to reinstall it w/o additional cost.

[hewwo2u2]

I have used 3 different anti virus programs since I started this post. I began with McAfee (the paid version) and was told it wasn't very good, so I uninstalled it and installed AVG (free). Then it was recommended to me that I use Avast so I uninstalled AVG and am now using Avast. I've had the internet problems through all three of these.

I also have MBAM but it was installed after I had the internet problems.

You think spybot could be responsible for this? Its the only thing I have on here that I haven't downloaded recently but I did recently upgrade to the new version ( I've had the internet problems before that though too). You think it could be spybot?

I was thinking it had something to do with my adapter since it says its not functioning when I try to configure it during the times my internet goes out...

[TerryNet]

Use the McAfee Removal Tool.

The free Spybot Search & Destroy that you run on demand is OK. I do not trust Teatimer, and immediately get rid of it when they sneak that in with Spybot. I know nothing about the for-pay Spybot, but, yes, I would suspect it in a situation such as this.

I was thinking it had something to do with my adapter since it says its not functioning when I try to configure it during the times my internet goes out...

Could be that the adapter is actually failing. I don't remember this "not functioning." Only remembered all our discussions/work on "ghosts" and then the inability to enable the connection.

[hewwo2u2]

I'm using the freeware spybot. I have been using teatimer and I'm not exactly sure what it does. I just downloaded it bc I trusted spybot. What I do know is eveytime something tries to change something in my registry, it tells me and asks me if I want it to allow the change or not which is kind of nice I guess. So you suggest I remove it? Would you mind me asking why you don't trust it? How do I remove just the teatimer?

As for the adaptor not funtioning, it is functioning now (obviously) and always functions again after a restart. It only says this when I try to configure it after I get disconnected...