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A Windows computer is connected to a network, and used to change the network's SSID through the administrative interface. After, the user attempts to connect to the newly named network, and enters the network password correctly but still gets an error "Windows was unable to connect to" the network. Other machines, not previously connected, have no problem. How can the original machine be connected?
Some attempts:
I first went in to Manage Wireless Networks and chose to Forget the old network, by right-clicking on the old SSID, and clicking Forget. However, this is insufficient. I also had to go into the registry, and browse to
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\NetworkList\Profiles
and under that there was a list, which I manually looked through to find one with the Description / ProfileName of the old SSID. (Screenshots here.) I right clicked on the folder and selected Delete, then restarted the machine. I still cannot connect.
Edited to also mention:
From an admin command prompt, the old SSID already does not appear in "netsh wlan show profiles." Attempting to delete via
netsh wlan delete profile name="oldSSID"
results in an error that "Profile 'oldSSID' is not found on any interface."
I have also tried disabling and re-enabling the wireless adapter, including through Device Manager. In Device Manager, I also clicked Update Driver and was told I was running the latest driver (confirmed with the manufacturer's web site).
I have also tried running the following commands in an admin command prompt:
netsh winsock reset
netsh int ip reset
ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew
ipconfig /flushdns
and restarted multiple times, but still cannot connect.
Unfortunately, the old SSID already does not appear in "netsh wlan show profiles" and attempting the delete results in an error that "Profile 'oldname' is not found on any interface." Thank you for the attempt though. – WBT – 2019-11-16T22:18:26.097
That may have been an incomplete deletion of the profile using the registry change. Can you connect to any wireless profile at this point? – John – 2019-11-16T22:20:19.087
Yes, any network except the newly renamed one, and any other device can connect to the new one, and the same device connected to the same network when it had its old name. – WBT – 2019-11-16T22:20:56.537
I am not sure at this point. If willing, remove the NIC itself (Device Manager). Be sure you have the driver on hand first. Restart and re-add the driver. I am not sure if this will correct the network stack. – John – 2019-11-16T22:25:22.113