Microsoft KB Archive/946481

= Error message when you try to connect to an ad hoc connection from a Windows Vista-based computer: &quot;Windows cannot connect to &quot; =

Article ID: 946481

Article Last Modified on 1/4/2008

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APPLIES TO


 * Windows Vista Business
 * Windows Vista Enterprise
 * Windows Vista Home Basic
 * Windows Vista Home Premium
 * Windows Vista Ultimate
 * Windows Vista Business 64-bit Edition
 * Windows Vista Enterprise 64-bit Edition
 * Windows Vista Home Basic 64-bit Edition
 * Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit Edition
 * Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit Edition

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SYMPTOMS
Consider the following scenario. You use a local area network (WLAN) device on a computer that is running Windows Vista (&quot;Computer A&quot;) to establish a computer-to-computer (ad hoc) connection that has WPA2 specified. You have another Windows Vista-based computer (&quot;Computer B&quot;) that also has a wireless adapter installed.

In this scenario, when you try to establish an ad hoc connection from Computer B, you may receive the following error message:

Windows cannot connect to

Note In this error message,  is a placeholder for the name of the ad hoc connection.



CAUSE
This problem occurs because Windows Vista does not automatically recover when a WPA2 ad hoc network connection times out. A time-out may occur if one of the following conditions is true:
 * Windows Vista detects no activity.
 * There is a busy network traffic load.
 * The network device drivers are outdated.



WORKAROUND
To work around this problem, reconnect the ad hoc connection from Computer B.



RESOLUTION
To resolve this problem, improve the reliability of Windows Vista in a WPA2 ad hoc environment. To do this, follow these steps:  Install the latest WLAN device drivers by using Windows Update. To do this, follow these steps:  Click Start, type Windows Update in the Start Search box, and then press ENTER. Click Check for updates. After the scan is complete, click View Available Updates. Select all updates that refer to networking drivers or to wireless drivers. Click Install Updates.</li></ol> </li> Visit the support Web site of the driver manufacturer to obtain the latest network device drivers.</li></ol>

<div class="status_section">

STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the &quot;Applies to&quot; section.

This problem will be fixed in Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1). An improvement in WLAN reliability is schedule to be released with Windows Vista SP1.

Keywords: kbexpertiseinter kbtshoot kbprb KB946481

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