Local area connection is identified as a unknown network and network location is set to public. I can not add a home group or connect to a home network.

JoeGH,

Since you failed to provide us with important information, like the make and model of your computer. You're using Windows 7, which was an upgrade. Did you install the drivers in the correct order?

How to Install Drivers in Microsoft® Windows® on Dell Systems

Withe Dell computers, you can go to Drivers & Downloads, enter your service tag number and download the Desktop/notebook Utility(if applicable) and the chipset drivers. These need installed first, or the rest of the drivers will fail to install. Since you have Windows 7 64-bit, then download the Vista 64-bit software/drivers and install them in the compatibility mode.

Right click on the drivers file, left click properties, left click compatibility. Change the compatibility to Vista. Then right click on the drivers, left click run as administrator.

Pure Networks has to do with Cisco, Linksys and Network Magic, just to name a few.

Did you do a real good scan for malware? Download Malwarebytes Anti-Malware update it and do a quick scan. Remove anything it finds.

Rick

thanks Rick & hi.

this is a Dell studio 1737 laptop.

After I upgraded the OS I updated the drivers but not in exactly that order. This is what I did:

1. Desktop System Software (DSS) or Notebook System Software (NSS)
2. Chipset
3. Video Adapter 
4.  Audio Adapter
5. Network Interface Card (NIC)
6. Wireless Network Card
7. Touchpad
8. Other Devices 

I guess I should have updated #5 then #4. I thought the order of the driver update didn't matter. What I thought is you needed to install in a certain order when doing a fresh install of windows on a blank drive.

I did go to the Dell Drivers & downloads. I entered my service tag, changed to Win 7 OS and downloaded the drivers it gave me. I didn't check if they said win 7 64bit or vista 64-bit but I can check on that.

I hope the drivers I downloaded are for win 7 64-bit. I don't like running drivers in compatibility mode but I will check and if they are vista drivers I will set them to their correct mode.

I have uninstalled all my cisco and linksys software. I will double check Network Magic but I think I remember getting rid of that right after I installed it. it was a trial version that came with the router software. Thanks on that I don't think I would have remembered network magic.

Actually I was cleaning up the system and getting rid of all the junk. I was removing all the software that I don';t need in order to speed up the malware cleaning when I decided to check the compatibility of Dell PCtuner

I will start malware cleanup 2morrow. im tired lol

JoeGH,

Make sure you have the Bios at Version A07 or A08. I had an issue with A08, because I have 3GB RAM(mismatched RAM), the graphice needs version A08. It's better to have matched RAM.

You need to download and install these in the Vista SP2 compatibility mode.

Dell System Software

Intel GM45 Express Chipset Family and Ricoh Card Reader R5C833

These need installed before the other drivers. If these are not installed first, the rest of the drivers will not install properly.

Does yout Studio 1737 have the fingerprint reader? How about the webcam? Do you have the factory disks for these?

Loook in the device manager for any yellow exclaimination marks or red x's. I had a problem locating the drivers for the Broadcom BCM5784M LAN or better known as Broadcom Netlink Gigibit Ethernet (64-bit drivers)

I wasn't sure what video or audio drivers you needed. I also do not know what wireless card you have, I have the 5100.

I do not use the Dell Support center, Dell Dock, Dell Remote (I tried but only trial version), and DataSafe. I did read somewhere that using Dell DataSafe with Windows 7 allows you to repair the system without having to lose any files and folders.

Any questions, please feel free to ask. I have a Studio 1737 that came with Vista Home Premium 32-bit, I then install Vista Home Premium 64-bit on a seperate partition. I then installed Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit on the Vista 32-bit partition. I can switch to Windows 7 when I need to. I use Vista 64-bit because of the mismatched RAM, Vista graphics is not giving the graphic issues. I do keep both operating systems up to date.

Rick

hey Rick

I am running into at least one virus that was not identified by Trend Micro Internet Security 2010. Systray.exe has been identified as a problem. It is slowing me down, so I will get back with you when I finish malware cleanup. It will be either late tonight or tomorrow.

I hate worms :emotion-41:

JoeGH,

You peobably should go and read

Please Read This Before Posting For Malware Removal Help then post in the DELL Malware Removal Forum. They are better equipped there to help you with removal and getting everything back to normal.

Rick 

Rick,

Im not going to post for malware removal help. I have Trend Micro Internet Security 2010. Trend Micro Support helps me with any malware removal, if I need help. I compleat a list of tasks prior to contacting them and then they will look at my Trend Micro HijackThis log to verify that the system is clean. I plan on learning HijackThis if I ever have time. I have 9 licenses active for Trend Micro anti-virus software. Best software I have ever used because the users don't have to do much.

Trend Micro has a banner that says they are Dell partners too.

When you asked me about a good malware clean up in your first post I got to thinking, I should really do that.

This system is now clean.

I tried to answer your questions that you posted prior to my last post 2 times. I clicked a link by mistake the first time. I hit the back button by mistake the second time. I will answer that last post later today and load all the drivers correctly.

Thanks for all you help.

Hi Rick

I talked with the Dell Tech today. He stated that this is a problem that Microsoft is working on a solution for. At this time There is not a solution. They have offered me a new hard drive with the original OS and factory software  installed. They would then help me upgrade the system to Win 7 x64 if I need help. The Dell Tech told me that it does not matter what order I install the drivers as long as I install the chipset driver first in the correct compatibility mode.

 I know this system was working properly so I want to load the drivers with the correct compatibility mode and see if thats the problem. I am just now about to reload all the drivers.

Make sure you have the Bios at Version A07 or A08. I had an issue with A08, because I have 3GB RAM(mismatched RAM), the graphice needs version A08. It's better to have matched RAM.

My Bios is Version A04. I do not have a usb Floppy drive at this time.

Is there a way to burn the flash installer to a CD -R and run it from that?

 I know in the past, you had to use a FDD. I know that u can flash bios from a command prompt in windows but it is not recommended.

Should I upgrade the Bios prior to reloading the drivers?

I think I can wait till after the drivers are reinstalled correctly. No new hardware on the system. I don't like flashing the bios unless I know for a fact thats the problem. This system does not have dual bios chips, I believe.

I have two 2Gb dual channel DDR2 PC2-6400 with the same part & serial# in slots 1 & 2.

You need to download and install these in the Vista SP2 compatibility mode.   Dell System Software   Intel GM45 Express Chipset Family and Ricoh Card Reader R5C833   These need installed before the other drivers. If these are not installed first, the rest of the drivers will not install properly.

Now that I think about it, I had a problem and was unable to install the "Dell System Software" so the first driver I installed was the chipset. I tried to load the Dell system software first because i thought it was the chipset driver. I didn't install in the correct compatibility mode so that may be why it failed.

I will go ahead and install everything in the order you have recommended.

Does your Studio 1737 have the fingerprint reader? How about the webcam? Do you have the factory disks for these?

I don't have the factory disks. I do have the webcam but not the fingerprint reader. The only disks I have are the Win 7 32-bit and 64-bit upgrade disks.

Look in the device manager for any yellow exclamation marks or red x's. I had a problem locating the drivers for the Broadcom BCM5784M LAN or better known as Broadcom Netlink Gigibit Ethernet (64-bit drivers)

Device manager is not reporting any problems.

I really thank you for all these links. Its going to allow me to do this so much faster.

I wasn't sure what video or audio drivers you needed. I also do not know what wireless card you have, I have the 5100.

On the audio, all i can tell u is that its an ATI High Definition audio device & IDT High Definition audio CODEC. I think the sound is integrated into the MoBo. I have Dell MoBo OP786H (U2E1)

I have an ATI Mobility radeon HD 3650 (Dell)

I have Dell wireless 1510

Wow, I have never done a dual boot system like that. I have always wondered why someone would want two OS's. I can see why u do if windows 7 doesn't like the ram. I tried to use an older sata hard drive as a backup drive and win 7 didn't like it because it was not a sata 2.0 hard drive. I ended up getting a sata 2.0 drive.

My old system went up in smoke a couple of days ago. It was a dual GPU system on Nforce chipset MoBo. I didn't go with liquid cooling so it was a little warm. The system lasted me 6 years and stayed on overnight a lot. It ran completely stable for the first 5 years.

 Don't OverClock, Build your systems to meet your demands don't fry your hardware early. lol 

JoeGH,

Had a long day. Download the BIOS A08, to your desktop and then double click on it. It will install for you, no problems.

Let me know what drivers you still need and I will help this afternoon.

Rick

Joe,

Bios is first, then the system utility and then the chipset drivers.

After that the order isn't as critical. On most computers, the chipset drivers need installed after the operating system, so this isn't really anything new, just time consuming. When I had to do my daughters H computer, the computer with reboot for about 3 hours before everything was installed.

Rick

Hi Rick,

My last post got deleted for bad language(I think). I m not sure what was offensive, no cussing or angry language. I re-read the terms of usage and still don't see it but. . .

I have loaded A08 then I reinstalled the drivers again. I had them all downloaded so it went fairly quick.

I spoke with a friend who runs a shop that fixes computers. He told me that he has seen a couple of machines that have the same problem. He was unable to correct the problems.  He said that he is waiting for a fix for windows 7, he is expecting it in about 2 more weeks.  He rolled the OS back to Vista, on the 2 machines he worked on, until Microsoft has a fix.

I am going to start working on the other system that has this problem, if you cant think of anything else to try. I'm out of ideas.

The other system has no errors and seems to be stable. I will be adding a better sata 3.0Gb/s hard drive.  I am going to install The OS on the new drive and use the old drive as a backup drive. 

I think that my issue will be resolved once I reload the OS. If it doesn't work I hope that I can catch it when it changes to unidentified public network. After all, I know that this worked at one point. I just don't understand what changed.

If someone were to click "set all future networks to public and don't ask me again", Would that keep you from changing the network location?

 I don't think that would be the problem but I'm not sure.

Joe,

When I loaded Windows 7 Home premium 64-bit on my Stusio 1737, I had Bios A04 on my computer. I installed the Vista Dell_System-Software_A02_R214475.exe in the compatibility mode. I don't know if this version of the Notebook system software will help or not. I then installed the chipset drivers. I put these files in a folder and burned them to a DVd so I have them in case I need them. I can give you a screenshot of anything you need, all I have to do is swtich partitions.

If someone were to click "set all future networks to public and don't ask me again", Would that keep you from changing the network location?

Tell me where this is located and I'll give you the screenshot from Windows 7.

Rick

Rick

I am willing to try just about anything. Im kinda like u, Im not sure that the older system software will work. I could be wrong but I think the new software should have everything ao2 had plus new improvments. I will try it but if it dosent work I put the newer NSS back on. In important info on this download states that it has to be loaded first when you are installing the OS.

[quote user="JoeGH"]If someone were to click "set all future networks to public and don't ask me again", Would that keep you from changing the network location?

Tell me where this is located and I'll give you the screenshot from Windows 7.

Well, I couldn't find what I am talking about. I believe that this was a pop up window when the wireless system identified a new connection. It asks you to set the network location and gives you a check box option to "set all future networks to public and don't ask me again". I am wondering if the system identified a new network connection and then, maybe, dad set it to public and checked the box. I don't think that would have effected the local area connection because it was set up prior to the new network connection. Im not sure I can rule this out without knowing  Win 7 better.

I might need to go ahead and roll back to vista and start over loading Win 7. Since I didn't load the drivers correctly the first time, maybe the problem can not be fixed without rolling back the OS and loading the drivers correctly.

 I did find a solution for this problem but the instructions were in spanish. It was weird because the person asking for help typed all of his posts in english. EVERYTHING else was spanish. The guy was real happy and praised his helper as the only one able to help him so far. I wish I knew spanish. lol

goodness, I need to double check my spelling b4 I post. lol

Joe,

Here's what I use...

Google Translate

Rick