Solved Unable to connect to this network - No Security

[qwerty017]

I am receiving the message "Unable to connect to this Network" when trying to connect to a WAP at my work. It is a Linksys with no Encryption or other policies so the stuff about Cisco not being able to be used because of WPA isn;t relevant I don't believe. When my laptop was running Windows 7 it could connect fine.
Specs:
Windows 8 Pro
Asus UX21e
AR9485WB-EG with he latest Windows 8 Driver from atheros.cz

 

[chev65]

In order to connect to an unsecured network you will need to change over to using a Public network. This is for security reasons.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/9837-network-location-set-private-public-windows-8-a.html

 

[qwerty017]

In order to connect to an unsecured network you will need to change over to using a Public network. This is for security reasons.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/9837-network-location-set-private-public-windows-8-a.html

This requires you to be connected to change the network. My problem is I can't even get the network to connect so I can set it to Private or Public.

 

[chev65]

In order to connect to an unsecured network you will need to change over to using a Public network. This is for security reasons.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/9837-network-location-set-private-public-windows-8-a.html

This requires you to be connected to change the network. My problem is I can't even get the network to connect so I can set it to Private or Public.

You should be able to turn off Public file sharing in the Advanced Sharing settings at the Network and Sharing Center.

I'm trying to think of a reason for anyone to leave a wireless network open without any security, especially a business.

I haven't experimented with these settings and you may need to know the connection settings of this Public or unsecured network in order to connect to it.

Maybe the other method will work.
Unidentified Networks - Set as Private or Public - Windows 7 Forums

Here is another tutorial on this same subject, maybe it will help.

From what this tutorial shows, you would make the choice to share or not share files before the connection is established, this choice determines if your network is Public "more secure" or not. After that, the connection is made.

Easy Windows° 8 > Chapter 13. Networking Your Home with HomeGroup > Connecting to an Unsecured Public Wireless Network - Pg. : Safari Books Online

 

[qwerty017]

Strange

Well I tried what you said and was unable to make it work but I did notice something just now that may be the cause though now this is just getting weird. Basically, when I try and connect to the open network and I watch the connection in the Network and Sharing area I see the Wifi very quickly disable then re-enable itself every time. I have never seen that before so really hoping someone else has as that may be my overall problem.

 

[qwerty017]

Well, I followed some instructions I found regarding the WPA EAS problems with the driver at How to connect to wifi / wpa 2 in Windows 8 | NOUS 3 and using that driver fixed my issue as well. Atheros really needs to fix the driver issue they are having cause this really sucks.

 

[chev65]

Well, I followed some instructions I found regarding the WPA EAS problems with the driver at How to connect to wifi / wpa 2 in Windows 8 | NOUS 3 and using that driver fixed my issue as well. Atheros really needs to fix the driver issue they are having cause this really sucks.

So the driver was holding you back, not surprising really.

I'm curious, did you need to change to Public network in order to connect to this unsecure network?

Windows updates may have had that driver for you but I always check the manufacture's website just in case.

 

[qwerty017]

Well, I followed some instructions I found regarding the WPA EAS problems with the driver at How to connect to wifi / wpa 2 in Windows 8 | NOUS 3 and using that driver fixed my issue as well. Atheros really needs to fix the driver issue they are having cause this really sucks.

So the driver was holding you back, not surprising really.

I'm curious, did you need to change to Public network in order to connect to this unsecure network?

Windows updates may have had that driver for you but I always check the manufacture's website just in case.

Yep. It was the driver the whole time. Very strange. I didn't need to change anything with the type of network, either Public or Private now works perfectly. The driver I can get from Windows Update and the latest from Qualcomm are both broken in that it doesn;t allow me on Open WAPs and others onto AES WPA WAPs. Now my new task is making sure Windows doesn't auto-update the driver and break everything again. lol

 

[chev65]

I was guessing from your title that you were having problems connecting to only this specific unsecured wireless network.

Before the driver update were you able to connect to other wireless networks?

You mentioned having the latest driver from Atheros but I'm guessing the driver that works is newer or older?

I'm just trying to figure out where the working driver was downloaded from for future reference.

 

[qwerty017]

It was an older driver. If you follow the link I posted it has a link as well as instructions to get it working. I was able to connect to WPA networks as long as they weren't AES which was fine since my home doesn't use AES but I couldn't seem to connect to any open networks.