Windows – How to stop windows 7 from disabling wireless network

wifiwindows

I have simple problem on few laptops with Windows 7 64-bit. They uses wi-fi network and all works fine, but sometimes, after hibernating and restoring system, wi-fi network is disabled (Wi-Fi icon in notifying area is marked with red cross). To enable it, users have to open Windows Mobility Center and click "Turn on wireless connections" (name can be little different, as I use polish version of os and this is my translations of this button caption).
After doing that all works fine but this is little problem for my users as:

  1. Some users are so inexperienced in using computers, that this task is sometimes too complicated for them 🙂
  2. Necessity of constantly doing the same thing becomes little annoying.

I could not determine what conditions must be fulfilled for this situations to occur (if it happens, it always happens after hibernation, but not every hibernation causes this).

I suspect some settings responsible for energy saving (I have already disabled "Allow computer to turn off this device to save energy" setting for wifi adapter, but I don't know whether it will be enough. Sometimes, problem didn't occur for few days and one of the users who is most annoyed by this little problem is my boss 🙂 )

Have you any suggestions how to stop Windows from doing this?

Best Answer

I would register a scheduled task with the Task Scheduler, that triggers on logon or workstation unlock. Unfortunately, Windows doesn't provide a trigger for "resume from hibernate", but assuming that your Win7 installations are configured to require an unlock after a resume, this should allow you trigger a script.

Then, use the [devcon utility] (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/311272) to enable the wireless device. I have never used it personally, but a lot of people seem to have success with it. For some instructions, see this link:

http://wlanbook.com/enable-disable-wireless-card-command-line/

Alternatively, you can also have the task trigger on a event from the event log, if the wireless card or the OS logs something when the device is offline.

Devcon has a few options that you can apply to devices, and "restart" or "enable" should do the trick.

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