Mutiple Wireless Network Connections in WinXP

[ajaju]

I didnt know how to explain this problem or to search on this board - so link a picture to clarify the issue.

CLICK HERE FOR PIC

If you look closely, the picture shows "Wireless Network Connection 12"

everytime I unplug my USB-adapter and plug it back on - it re-installs the driver and the connection no. increases by 1 (one)... i.e. so far I have unplugged and plugged the adpater 12 times.

I wonder what this phenomenon is and if there is a way to delete the previous 11 connections? I have run REGVAC (registry cleaner) - but no help.

any help will be appreciated.
thanks

 

[JackMDS]

I would worry not about the ?Previous connection? they are not really there, and there is no simple way to reset the Connection running number.

However the phenomenon of Drivers installed each time you insert the card might indicate troubled drivers. Try to log to the manufacturer site and see if there is an updates to the firmware and or drivers.

:sun:

 

[VirtualLarry]

There's something wrong there. It should not continue to increment the connection number. I know that with my LinkSys Wireless USB 2.0 'g' adaptor, under W2K SP2, it sometimes creates another entry if I move the adaptor around between USB ports, but as long as I leave it in the same port, it doesn't change. The included Wireless Client driver util included with it, dynamically enables and disables the actual wireless NIC device-driver, after changing the registry parameters for it. That still doesn't cause the connection profile number to change.

If you would like to get rid of all of the prior connection profile numbers for your NIC, then try this:

(stolen from another site and edited slightly)

Start a command prompt (Start->Run->CMD.EXE <enter>)
Type the following:
set devmgr_show_nonpresent_devices=1 <enter>
start devmgmt.msc <enter> (opens up in Windows)
Click View/Show Hidden devices
Find all references to your faded-out USB network devices and delete.

That should show, and help you delete, all of the previously-installed devices that are "not really there", but Windows' still keeps track of in the Registry. I do that with my USB devices from time to time, because Windows' seems to bloat the registry a little bit every time you plug a device into a different USB port.

Btw, you can also rename your network connection profile to whatever you want, FYI.

 

[ajaju]

thanks VL for the tip.
Well I too have the Linksys USB54G adpater - and this behavior is consistent with what you describe.
I did follow your procedure - however just found ONE entry which seemed to be hidden/not in use.- i wonder where are the other ones?

for now i have renamed the connection - but lets see how it works in future. Linksys doesnt seem to have any fix for this either.

thanks again.