Windows 7 Can't connect to home wireless-Limited Access

wwcx

New Member
Joined
May 12, 2012
Messages
10
A few hours ago I installed a Windows update, so my ACER Aspire 5733 restarted. I shut it down after the restart, not paying attention to the wireless. When I went to turn it back on, I couldn't get online because my home wireless connection has "Limited access."

The icon signifying signal strength on the taskbar has a small yellow star-shaped dot on it. When I click on it, it pops up and says "Not connected. Connections are available. It then says my wireless network name and says "Limited access" next to it. The signal strength is excellent.

When I disconnect and then reconnect it says the connection was unsuccessful because the computer has limited connectivity.

The same network is working on my other laptop and on my iPod, but not on my Aspire 5733.

Have absolutely no idea what to do. Help would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers
 


Solution
If you are both convinced that it is the result of a Windows Update then the likely cause is that you are allowing the Windows Update Utility to install hardware driver(s) for your network adapter(s) that are for some reason, less than optimal.
First get back to your normal operating condition where everything is working properly by doing one more system restore as you have done previously, then;
Right click computer
Choose properties
In the left column choose the link that says "Advanced system settings"
Select the hardware tab
then the Device Installation Settings button
Then the No, let me choose what to do
and the
Never install driver software from Windows Update.
Save changes
That should do it, and now you should be able to install...
Go to control panel, accessories, command prompt. Enter the following command:

ipconfig /all >desktop\ip.txt

and post the file ip.txt from your desktop for us to check out.
 


I've got some help and it's sorted. Thank you for being prepared to help.
 


Last edited:
Hi!

How did you resolve the problem? I'm having the same problem with my laptop after the latest Windows updates. I tried restoring to a restore point before the Windows updates and that solved the problem but after Windows downloaded and installed the updates again, the same problem happened.
 


You could always . . . Go to control panel, accessories, command prompt. Enter the following command:

ipconfig /all >desktop\ip.txt

and post the file ip.txt from your desktop for us to check out.
 


Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : e420
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection 4:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : PdaNet Broadband Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-26-37-BD-39-42
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Wireless LAN adapter Wireless Network Connection 2:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft Virtual WiFi Miniport Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 38-59-F9-DC-C5-DC
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Wireless LAN adapter Wireless Network Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : 1x1 11b/g/n Wireless LAN PCI Express Half Mini Card Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 38-59-F9-DC-C5-DC
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::c37:1680:a974:99f6%20(Preferred)
Autoconfiguration IPv4 Address. . : 169.254.153.246(Preferred)
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.0.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . :
DHCPv6 IAID . . . . . . . . . . . : 238574073
DHCPv6 Client DUID. . . . . . . . : 00-01-00-01-15-CF-B2-F9-F0-DE-F1-7B-9C-30
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : fec0:0:0:ffff::1%1
fec0:0:0:ffff::2%1
fec0:0:0:ffff::3%1
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Enabled

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Realtek PCIe GBE Family Controller
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : F0-DE-F1-7B-9C-30
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Ethernet adapter VMware Network Adapter VMnet1:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : VMware Virtual Ethernet Adapter for VMnet1
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-50-56-C0-00-01
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::589f:928e:3bbf:81fe%16(Preferred)
IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.42.1(Preferred)
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . :
DHCPv6 IAID . . . . . . . . . . . : 302010454
DHCPv6 Client DUID. . . . . . . . : 00-01-00-01-15-CF-B2-F9-F0-DE-F1-7B-9C-30
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : fec0:0:0:ffff::1%1
fec0:0:0:ffff::2%1
fec0:0:0:ffff::3%1
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Enabled

Ethernet adapter VMware Network Adapter VMnet8:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : VMware Virtual Ethernet Adapter for VMnet8
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-50-56-C0-00-08
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::e5fe:1a50:e4a3:e4c5%17(Preferred)
IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.88.1(Preferred)
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . :
DHCPv6 IAID . . . . . . . . . . . : 553668694
DHCPv6 Client DUID. . . . . . . . : 00-01-00-01-15-CF-B2-F9-F0-DE-F1-7B-9C-30
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : fec0:0:0:ffff::1%1
fec0:0:0:ffff::2%1
fec0:0:0:ffff::3%1
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Enabled

Tunnel adapter isatap.{F154A493-B3EC-46AD-A6E2-9F79A7BEDA78}:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft ISATAP Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Tunnel adapter Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Tunnel adapter Local Area Connection* 13:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft 6to4 Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Tunnel adapter isatap.{09F039F1-E8D9-4E7B-A47D-E0FD0EDD1A76}:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft ISATAP Adapter #2
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Tunnel adapter isatap.{85CE56E0-3E39-4D2D-907A-F4E72BA7F6D8}:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft ISATAP Adapter #5
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Tunnel adapter isatap.{3434C2AB-B70E-436D-B090-6249645CA761}:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft ISATAP Adapter #6
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
 


It seems we're in the same boat. I've established it is the windows update. I put that into the command prompt.


Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Tunnel adapter isatap.{A853CF1A-B1B6-4479-8DC3-414D864A0695}:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft ISATAP Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Tunnel adapter isatap.{8B41CF5D-9847-4CFE-A770-6D89861890D8}:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft ISATAP Adapter #2
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Tunnel adapter isatap.{DB44A348-23A0-4C10-B1A4-D8DD53A4511B}:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft ISATAP Adapter #3
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Tunnel adapter Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IPv6 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 2001:0:5ef5:79fb:2c8d:18f2:a154:185c(Preferred)
Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::2c8d:18f2:a154:185c%13(Preferred)
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : ::
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Disabled
 


If you are both convinced that it is the result of a Windows Update then the likely cause is that you are allowing the Windows Update Utility to install hardware driver(s) for your network adapter(s) that are for some reason, less than optimal.
First get back to your normal operating condition where everything is working properly by doing one more system restore as you have done previously, then;
Right click computer
Choose properties
In the left column choose the link that says "Advanced system settings"
Select the hardware tab
then the Device Installation Settings button
Then the No, let me choose what to do
and the
Never install driver software from Windows Update.
Save changes
That should do it, and now you should be able to install updates without being bother by hardware drivers from Windows Update.
Best of Luck
Randy
 


Solution
This entry for your wireless config:

Autoconfiguration IPv4 Address. . : 169.254.153.246(Preferred)

implies that you are not getting an IP address from your router. Go to Control Panel, Network and sharing centre, change adapter settings, right click on network adapter, properties, left click on Internet Protocol Version 4 click on properties. Make sure that both "obtain IP address automatically" and "obtain dns server address automatically" are both checked. Reboot and see if that sorts it. Even if it does, Trouble's advice is very important - I never accept device driver updates from Windows Updates - always check for drivers manually with the manufacturer's website.
 


Last edited:
Okay cheers guys, I've done both of them. One problem, however, every time I do a system restore the internet works on my laptop again. However, when I shut down it installs the updates.

I feel a bit stupid asking this, but how can I stop it installing the update that is no doubt causing trouble when I shut down?
 


Disabling the hardware driver download does not resolve the problem. One of the latest Windows updates is definitely causing this problem but I have no idea what the exact update it is because there were several of them. Upon further investigation, the problem happens after the IP lease expires. Windows 7 cannot renew or get a valid IP address after installing the latest Windows updates.

I can boot a different OS using the same laptop and have no problem getting a valid IP configuration and connecting to the internet.

Any other ideas or suggestions on how to fix this? I used static IP configuration as a workaround but I am hoping for a real long term solution. Disabling Windows updates is not an option because I don't want my system to be vulnerable.
 


I'm not sure the problem is down to Windows Update anymore. Last night I restored to a point where the Internet was working and it worked fine. I then shut down without installing any updates and when I powered up the computer the Internet was once again not working with the "Limited access" message.

I have now lost that restore point. This is turning into a nightmare. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
 


Hi wwcx,

Aside from doing a restore, I also tried uninstalling all Windows updates from May 5 onwards to resolve the problem. Can you make sure that there were really no updates installed? Go to your control panel -> windows updates -> installed updates and then sort the updates according to "Installed On". If you see updates from May 5 onwards then uninstall them first.
 


anybody has any updates on this? i still experience the same problem when I enable DHCP to get an IP address. restoring to a previous restore point before the windows updates were installed or uninstalling the windows updates resolves the problem.
 


Hello, I have a home network on WPA-2 Personal enabled and my Ipad and one of my laptops connect properly whilst my desktop PC on Windows 7 doesnt connect wirelessly as it gives limited connectivity but LAN seems to be fine. I have done the ipconfig instructions and the info is below. Please help:

C:\Users\Print Works>ipconfig/all


Windows IP Configuration


Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : PrintWorks-PC
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No


Wireless LAN adapter Wireless Network Connection:


Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Linksys Wireless-G PCI Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-23-69-DD-24-3A
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::18f:91c:691c:7228%12(Preferred)
Autoconfiguration IPv4 Address. . : 169.254.114.40(Preferred)
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.0.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . :
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : fec0:0:0:ffff::1%1
fec0:0:0:ffff::2%1
fec0:0:0:ffff::3%1
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Enabled


Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:


Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Realtek RTL8168C(P)/8111C(P) Family PCI-E
Gigabit Ethernet NIC (NDIS 6.20)
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-24-1D-23-BC-B5
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes


Ethernet adapter Hamachi:


Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Hamachi Network Interface
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-23-C3-13-C5-3F
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 5.19.197.63(Preferred)
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.0.0.0
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Monday, September 03, 2012 8:53:56 PM
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Tuesday, September 03, 2013 8:56:03 PM
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 5.0.0.1
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 5.0.0.1
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Enabled


Tunnel adapter isatap.{EE6F2B1B-C7C9-4DFE-9118-B55ECB83A7CE}:


Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft ISATAP Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes


Tunnel adapter isatap.{0123F709-A328-4EA7-97CB-A1561DB77DD9}:


Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft ISATAP Adapter #2
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes


Tunnel adapter Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface:


Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes


Tunnel adapter 6TO4 Adapter:


Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft 6to4 Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IPv6 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 2002:513:c53f::513:c53f(Preferred)
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . :
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Disabled


Tunnel adapter isatap.{B9E2132B-87FC-41BE-A1A5-CD91BCB3D6CB}:


Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft ISATAP Adapter #3
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes


Tunnel adapter Reusable ISATAP Interface {ABB5E99F-919B-4742-8CFD-BB4CD802AE5D}:




Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft ISATAP Adapter #4
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes


C:\Users\Print Works>
 


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