Member Avatar for richtowel

Hello,

My school has a 'atheros ar5007 802.11b/g wifi adaptor' with an unsecured open connection.


My new HP dv9700 laptop with vista says i have a great signal but nothing worked. When I went to my college's office they said their wifi does not work with vista.

Is there any way I can download something or change something to make it work with vista?

It would help out a lot if I didnt have to go somewhere else with wireless do complete my class assignments cause the commute kinda sucks.

Thank you!

-Chris

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by MelechM

Dani AI

Generated

A compact troubleshooting checklist that builds on the points from , , and .

Start with the simple diagnostics:

  • Ask campus IT whether the network is an access-point (infrastructure) or an ad-hoc/peer-to-peer setup. Ad-hoc networks sometimes require driver support or matching settings on the client.
  • Update the wireless driver to the Vista-specific version from the laptop maker or the adapter vendor. Avoid unknown driver sites.
  • Use either the vendor wireless utility or Windows' wireless manager — not both. If a vendor utility is installed, try uninstalling it and connecting with Windows, or vice versa.

IP and authentication checks:

  • If the adapter gets an address in the 169.254.x.x range, DHCP failed. Open an elevated command prompt and run ipconfig /release then ipconfig /renew. If renew fails, try a manual IP (get an example from IT).
  • Confirm whether the campus uses a web-login (captive portal) or 802.1X (PEAP/EAP) authentication. A captive portal needs a browser to load a non-HTTPS page to show the login page; 802.1X requires correct EAP settings and possibly a certificate.

Practical tests and what to bring to campus tech:

  • Try connecting to another hotspot (coffee shop/home) to confirm the adapter/OS can work elsewhere.
  • If available, test with a known-working USB Wi‑Fi dongle or boot a Linux live USB to isolate OS vs hardware problems.
  • When you visit campus support bring the wireless driver version (Device Manager screenshot), ipconfig /all output, and the connection status screenshot. Ask IT about MAC filters, legacy-only APs, or special client software requirements.

If these steps fail, a supported USB adapter or campus IT enabling a compatible configuration are practical next steps.

Recommended Answers

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Member Avatar for HoustonIT

You mention an Atheros adapter, which appears to just be a wifi card. Are they using an ad hoc network?

Member Avatar for richtowel

whoops! that might be the adaptor in my laptop? in that case I have no idea. I just want to find a way to connect to their wireless network which for some reason is only compatable with windows xp....

Member Avatar for Ancient Dragon

Did you see

Member Avatar for MelechM

I'm sure your school has a tech teacher. He can actually see your laptop and will most likely have a better chance of helping you.

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