Can anyone check if Windows 8.1 RTM can see Ad-Hoc wireless networks?

Discussion in 'Windows 8' started by sciencefair, Sep 10, 2013.

  1. sciencefair

    sciencefair MDL Novice

    Sep 10, 2013
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    Hello,
    In Windows 7 and Windows 8, I was able to tether a Nokia phone to my Thinkpad X220 through the creation of an ad-hoc wireless network on the phone. The phone cannot create an infrastucture wireless network like iPhones and androids do so this is my only way to tether.

    It seems that in the Windows 8.1 Preview upgraded from the windows store, I can no longer see ad-hoc networks in the list of wireless networks to connect to. Can anyone tell me if the RTM of 8.1 restored this feature? If not, is it possible to restore the feature somehow?
     
  2. bootstap

    bootstap MDL Member

    Mar 25, 2012
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    hi,
    i'm using ad-hoc to connect 2 laptops (win7 and win8.1).
    unfortunately win8.1 preview and rtm are no more showing ad-hoc networks, so i use shortcuts in order to connect/disconnect.
    some choose third party solution.

    good luck.
     
  3. david_xross_2

    david_xross_2 MDL Senior Member

    Aug 31, 2012
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    #3 david_xross_2, Sep 14, 2013
    Last edited: Sep 14, 2013
    Can you explain how do you use shortcuts in order to connect/disconnect?..I too am using adhoc networks with some devices and find it ludicrous that windows 8.1 can't even "see" these adhoc networks

    Regards :D
     
  4. bootstap

    bootstap MDL Member

    Mar 25, 2012
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    #4 bootstap, Sep 15, 2013
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 20, 2017
    hi,
    with pleasure.
    let's assume that you have already manually created (on both computers separately) an ad-hoc network named XXXXX and stored its password.
    in case you need to know how to do that, let me know.

    1. shortcut to connect:

    Target:

    Code:
    C:\Windows\System32\netsh.exe wlan connect name=XXXXX interface="WiFi"
    where XXXXX is your ad-hoc network name.

    2. shortcut to disconnect:

    Target:

    Code:
    C:\Windows\System32\netsh.exe wlan disconnect interface="WiFi"
    Note: this shortcut disconnects all connected wifi networks.

    3. Bonus: auto connect ad-hoc at startup:

    as you know Windows does not support automatic connection to ad-hoc networks.
    but one can use a 'trick' to do that.
    a- open regedit,
    b- navigate to HKLU/Software/Microsoft/Windows/CurrentVersion/Run,
    c- add this string value (name it whatever you want, e.g. ad-hoc):
    netsh wlan connect name=XXXXX interface="WiFi"

    Note: to set autoconnect for all users just replace HKLU with HKLM.

    good luck.
     
  5. david_xross_2

    david_xross_2 MDL Senior Member

    Aug 31, 2012
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    #5 david_xross_2, Sep 15, 2013
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 20, 2017

    Hi,
    Thanks very much for your response :biggrin:

    How can we manually create (on both computers separately) any ad-hoc network named XXXXX and store its password..As the GUI for Manage Networks has been removed from Networking and Sharing Center in Windows 8.1..

    Regards :)
     
  6. Tito

    Tito Super Mod / Adviser
    Staff Member

    Nov 30, 2009
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  7. david_xross_2

    david_xross_2 MDL Senior Member

    Aug 31, 2012
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  8. bootstap

    bootstap MDL Member

    Mar 25, 2012
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    #9 bootstap, Sep 15, 2013
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 20, 2017
  9. david_xross_2

    david_xross_2 MDL Senior Member

    Aug 31, 2012
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    #10 david_xross_2, Sep 15, 2013
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 20, 2017

    Thank you very much bootstap.:hug2:

    This was exactly what I was looking for...:)

    Best Regards :D
     
  10. bootstap

    bootstap MDL Member

    Mar 25, 2012
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    hi david,

    you are welcome brother. glad for you.
    ---

    if administrators allow me, i would like to say this
    - there is no knowledge without sharing,
    - many many thanks to all people, who are supporting sharing, special thanks to those 'heroes' of the years: 2001-2009.
    many thanks to all.
     
  11. david_xross_2

    david_xross_2 MDL Senior Member

    Aug 31, 2012
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    Well Said...:good3:
     
  12. Aden Tengoku

    Aden Tengoku MDL Junior Member

    Aug 28, 2013
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    :biggrin: I already found a great software to be able to see adhoc connections again
    wefi.com/download enjoy!:dance:
     
  13. david_xross_2

    david_xross_2 MDL Senior Member

    Aug 31, 2012
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    #14 david_xross_2, Oct 14, 2013
    Last edited: Oct 14, 2013
    Can you verify if the software download is clean?..Read many reviews saying "This is malware that copies itself when you uninstall."
     
  14. Aden Tengoku

    Aden Tengoku MDL Junior Member

    Aug 28, 2013
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    malware :confused:?? its safe am already using it I have windows 8.1 RTM + zemna antiloger + bitdefender works great trust me :hug2:
     
  15. hb860

    hb860 MDL Expert

    May 7, 2010
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    Stop hovering to collapse... Click to collapse... Hover to expand... Click to expand...
  16. TreyG

    TreyG MDL Novice

    Oct 31, 2013
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    #17 TreyG, Oct 31, 2013
    Last edited: Oct 31, 2013
    I'd say 'No' to the original question that titles this thread.

    There is an issue if your Win8.1 box is a client and your virtual router is a WinXP box [Not capable of hosted networks]. In such a case, the adhoc wireless network beamed out from the WinXP box does not come up in the list of visible networks in the Win8.1 box.

    I cannot change the virtual router [much like the OP's Nokia phone], but only the client [Win8.1].

    Haven’t found any workaround to this problem yet; any help would be appreciated.

    The preceeding discussion has been helpful, thanks to all who have been participating. However, I feel the problem for the OP hasn't been resolved.
     
  17. david_xross_2

    david_xross_2 MDL Senior Member

    Aug 31, 2012
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    #19 david_xross_2, Oct 31, 2013
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 20, 2017
    Unfortunately there's no workaround to using adhoc networks through GUI..You can manually connect to them via appropriate netsh commands or create shortcuts to easily connect to them.

     
  18. david_xross_2

    david_xross_2 MDL Senior Member

    Aug 31, 2012
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    #20 david_xross_2, Nov 16, 2013
    Last edited: Nov 16, 2013