Windows Can't Find AirPort Network
 

My job Windows notebook can't see the wireless network that I have created using AirPort Extreme and my iMac. Earlier a reboot helped, but now it doesn't.

This is a problem with Windows, so you'd probably be able to get more help in a Windows-centric forum.

Trevor

Windows people throw the ball back at Mac. Anybody know what this could be about?

Is your AirPort network hidden? I've ran into this problem with my hidden network. To my utter amazement, Windows people cannot connect to my hidden network (or don't know how to) even when I tell them the network name, security method, and password. I sometimes wonder how Windows people manage to get any work done when they spend so much time just trying to figure out how to make their computers work in the first place.

At any rate, I have found that I have to unhide my network for Windows people to find it so they can connect to it. Once they've connected that first time, I can then re-hide my network, and they can reconnect without any problems. It's that first connection that baffles them in Windows for some reason. So if you have a hidden network, that may be the problem.

Why would they do that. This has nothing to do with a Mac and everything to do with Windows' inability to join an 802.11 network. Neither Apple nor Mac is involved and you shouldn't even mention them. It just confuses the issue.

Chris

Seems they can't resolve the problem themselves so they put the blame on the small guy. I'll poke them a little more...

wireless networking is almost the same on both platforms. I would start by installing a wireless network stumbler on your PC and see if it can pick up any wireless APs.

Then from there you can narrow down security settings, router config, etc.

The PC can find at least eight neighbouring networks, but not my AirPort network (which is the closest).

Are you broadcasting an SSID?

Do You mean if I have an open or closed network? The network is open.

If you are broadcasting an SSID, everyone will be able to see it with in range. It will say apple airport, or whatever you named it.

Thanks, but how do I turn SSID broadcasting on and off?

everything should be able to be configured through the airport admin utility I believe. I actually don't use any apple networking hardware really that much so I can't remember unless i have it in front of me.

I had the same prob when I added a new Windows laptop to my airport network.

Check your security settings, WIndows can't seem to deal with WEP very well. Use WPA 2 Person, it a bit of a pain to set up if you have WPS set up, but its just a matter of going though the motions again and thats it.

THe First thing I Would do, is turn off ALL security. I think (i'm not at home now) that the SSID option is on the general setting page, it may be under the "Base station options" tab, or something similar, look around. Let me know what happens when you turn off all security

OK. We are getting closer to solving this problem. I have two AirPort Extremes, the first a base station and the second a WDS station that extends the network. When I shut the WDS station down, the PC could immediately see my network. As soon as I added the WDS to the network it again stopped seeing it. This could be the key?

I believe you must put one in bridge mode so both of the wireless APs are bridged and connected as one network.

This could be the cause of your problem, especially if windows is set to automatically only connect to preferred networks (which could be your airport)

^^ what he said, also I find it helps to make sure the network IDs are the same, for example I have to APs both have the name networkname "HellSpawn Network" windows will now only see one network, not two base stations.

Thanks tlarkin. I rebooted both computers (job PC and my iMac) and ran only the one basestation AirPort. The frigging PC is again blind as a bat! The joker seems to sporadically find the network and then lose it despite the signal is as strong as it gets. I'm losing my cool with the PC soon, so please help out...

if you pull up your wireless properties in windows by right clicking the wireless connection under control panels, network and then select properties. A window should pop up and in the middle tab it says wireless. Select that tab and type in all your network settings and apply. Then that network should be preferred and windows should always connect to it.

I don't run apple hardware at home or at work for wireless networking but I run wireless networks for windows and they work no problem. There could very well be a hardware compatability issue but just double check to make sure everything is set up right.

Also, you can right click the wireless icon in the system tray (bottom right hand side of your desktop) and choose the repair option. This will reinitalize your wireless card, and renew the IP. Sometimes it takes a few tries to get onto an AP.

Thanks again, but suggestions didn't work. "Repaired" at least ten times... Thanks for Your persistence tlarkin, but I still can't see the network with my PC.

Try not to worry man,WIndows has a habbit of making Wireless networks dissapear after a failed attempt making things a bit confusing (well for me atleast!! )

ok, jsut to recap, all security is off, and the "Create Closed Network" box is UNchecked (under Airport admin utility) make sure that you update after changing settings other wise the setting wont stick.
An update should take baout 45 seconds to 2 min

How To Make PC Finds AirPort Network
 

Hi Jonski,
It seems I know the problem. I've encountered the same problem then I finally find out that Most PC can't find AN AUTOMATIC CHANNEL setting from AirPort. Set the channel to your favourable (1 to 12) and try again. Enjoy.

http://adinoto.org

I had problems getting my partners windows box to find our airport network..... her daft laptop has a button on the top to turn the bloody wifi on and off - and it was off! :O

Solution
 

Simple answer: change the channel!

I have a set up with one mac laptop (which can always see the network) and one windows laptop (which recently mysteriously couldn't see the network), logged into the airport with the mac and changed the channel setting from "automatic" to a lower down channel et voilà the network works for the windows laptop.

Hope this is of some help.