Wireless internet/Windows Vista problem, maybe you are a genius and can help

[pawsplay]

Box: Windows Vista
Router: Netgear wireless router and DSL modem

Ok, so my computer network was running basically smoothly. Then one day, my computer took a brief nap as it is wont to do when not in use. Ever since then, something named Virtual Profile now lives in my list of wireless networks and my computer no longer automatically connects itself to my router when it turns on. Removing the Virtual Profile just causes it to reappear at the top of the list when I turn my computer on. My computer now dithers and announces "Wirless networks are available" instead of assertively connecting to my home network which is set to connect automatically and not to connect to other networks even when it lives at the top of the list. Virtual Profile also likes to turn itself on to connect automatically even when i disable that option before restarting.

And, of course, connecting to Virtual Profile grants no Internet access.

What is really weird is Virtual Profile has the SSID of Netgear, the router default. This leads me to suspect that something is cached somewhere in my computer.

Googling has revealed that other people have had this problem, some people do not understand, and those that do, do not have an answer.

Help?

 

[Umbran]

We do have a Computers forum for such stuff, by the way. You might want to try there.

 

[pawsplay]

Ha, so we do. It never occured to me that a computer issue of this nature would belong in a particular forum.

 

[Vorput]

I had a similar problem once. Note: This was with xp.

Basically, there are two ways to manage your wireless networks. The built-in wireless manager that comes with windows, and the software that was probably installed along with your router.

Sounds like for whatever reason one of them activated when it shouldn't have.

Have you tried running msconfig (from the run prompt) and then disabling 'Virtual profile' from starting with windows? That'd be my first attempt.

There's also an option somewhere (dunno where on vista) to tell windows to automatically handle wireless networks. You can try tracking that down and activating it.

If that doesn't work, perhaps resetting and/or reinstalling the software for your router.

Good Luck!