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Error message when you try to connect to an ad hoc connection from a Windows Vista-based computer: "Windows cannot connect to <Network Name>"

Article ID: 946481

Article Last Modified on 1/4/2008

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

SYMPTOMS

Consider the following scenario. You use a local area network (WLAN) device on a computer that is running Windows Vista ("Computer A") to establish a computer-to-computer (ad hoc) connection that has WPA2 specified. You have another Windows Vista-based computer ("Computer B") 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 Network Name

Note In this error message, Network Name 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The network device drivers are outdated.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:
1. Click Start, type Windows Update in the Start Search box, and then press ENTER.
2. Click Check for updates.
3. After the scan is complete, click View Available Updates.
4. Select all updates that refer to networking drivers or to wireless drivers.
5. Click Install Updates.
Visit the support Web site of the driver manufacturer to obtain the latest network device drivers.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" 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

Microsoft KB Archive/946481

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