How to enable Windows 7 Virtual WiFi

November

2009

We talked about Connectify a software which used a features which is baked into Windows 7 and and Other Hotspot Enabler Tools, ability to convert your computer running windows 7 into a HOTSPOT . Long Zheng @ istartedsomething came with an update which explains that

After downloading and installing the drivers (32-bit here, 64-bit here), assuming your WiFi chipset supports the functionality (which I can verify the 5300 can but 3945 cannot), a new “Wireless Network Connection” with the adapter name “Microsoft Virtual WiFi Miniport” will automatically appear in your network connections.

And that explained me why I was seeing this into my into my list of Network Connection, though in a disconnected state. Not sure if any update or connectify rolled out this since I have not installed it.

Windows 7 virtual wifi network

Long Zeng also explains how you can enable that without using Connectify and here is what you need to do.

Launch the command prompt with administrator privilage.
Type as below and you would see the output similar to me.
C:\Windows\system32>netsh wlan set hostednetwork mode=allow ssid=aryanwin7vwifi
key=loma#sexy#toma
The hosted network mode has been set to allow.
The SSID of the hosted network has been successfully changed.
The user key passphrase of the hosted network has been successfully changed.C:\Windows\system32>netsh wlan start hostednetwork
The hosted network started.
Change the bold marked username and password for yourself.
Now share your active internet connection to this Virtual WIFI.

I did all this and tested with my BlackBerry WIFI to see if it worked and yes it did. Here are the screenshot.

Windows 7 virtual wifi multiple network

win 7 virtual wifi

windows 7 multiple wifi network

About Author

Ashish Mohta

A Professional Tech blogger, Editor and Writer who talks about solving day to day problems of people who use computer. His expertise are in Windows 7, Microsoft Office, Software, Mobile Apps and Video Posts. Connect with me on Twitter | Google Plus | Facebook

Leyond

HI~
I want to know how can I use virtual wifi to connect another wireless network, but not just share your network with others?
thanks in advance.
- http://www.technospot.net/blogs/about-ashish-mohta/ Ashish Mohta
  
  Leyond : There is no official interface availble to do that.
http://twitter.com/orismology orismology

Hey, is it possible to set this up without a wifi key? I tried setting the password to blank, but it still shows up as protected.
Jordan

thanks for the great tutorial. I have a question though, does your connection have to be re-activated every time you restart? if so is there a way to save it?
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Anonymous

Hey

First of all. I don’t know how to get the damn Microsoft virtual wifi miniport. I am using connectify to make my windows 7 hotspot, but it shows up an error that i require Microsoft virtual wifi miniport.

Second. I tried your method but nothing seems to be working for mE!
I downloaded the intel drivers you gave and it doesn’t show any Microsoft virtual wifi in the network connections.

Tell me what should I do?
alex

I got this error. I am using cmd w/ admin privilage. Please help me what to do next or what have I missed?

C:\Windows\system32>netsh wlan start hostednetwork
The hosted network couldn’t be started.
The group or resource is not in the correct state to perform the requested operation.

Thank you in advance!
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dante

why does it doesent work on my psp
Joy

In my psp the network is showing but Security is showing as Not Supported >> Please help!!
Ju2tin

I have the same problem, on my PSP it shows Security : Not Supported
Why? And how to fix? Any suggestion?
Jalen

When using Windows 7 what is requuired to screen from my laptop Pc to my TV? Is there a feature that I have to turn on within Windows 7 or what?

On TV the commerical show it but it doesn’t go into the implementation
or whether or not their is a requirement the TV must meet.

Glen
Steve

Great, now how do I make it automatically start the service when the computer boots up?

netsh wlan start hostednetwork

is the needed command line but it has to be run as administrator and I don’t know how to add it as a startup item. Do the startup items in the registry run as administrator?
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lorna

Hello Mr. Mohta,

I am trying to connet a second Lap to the Virtual WiFi Miniport but I cant not get a valid IP Adress although a DHCP server should be started automatically and assign to the clients IP addresses. Do you know what may be the problem?

Thanks in advanced
Jon

Definitely interesting, but I can confirm that the 5100 doesn’t support this. Bit of a pity, as that would have been a great function.
Aju

please help…it shows no internet access
blacksheeptom

i have been getting the error message with code 5023 the group or ressource are not in the right state….. and was quite frustrated. solved my troubles now with an easy tweak of adapter settings… check your network settings. you need to see the wifi miniport and if not present look for a new wifi driver that matches your device. then check whether the miniport is active as once you install drivers it’s inactivated by default. that did it for me!
good luck
brendan

Genius!
Works Perfect on Win 7 x64 and Droid 2.

Thanks for the advice!
Phil

- Problems?

- Open Command Prompt
.. netsh wlan stop hostednetwork
.. leave this window open

- From Device Manager
.. Right-click on your wireless card and select ‘update drivers’
.. Browse my Computer for driver software (vs. Automatically)
.. Select your original wireless network (most likely by the manufacturer vs. MS)
.. Leave this app open to see the next step that the driver has been installed correctly

- Go back to Command Prompt
.. netsh wlan set hostednetwork mode=allow

- Look back at the device manager… the driver should be installed correctly w/o problems in the device manager window.
.. you may close this window

- Open Network and Sharing Center
.. Change Adapter Settings
.. see ‘Not Connected’ .. Microsoft Virtual Miniport Adapter

+++++++++++

- From the command window:
.. netsh wlan set hostednetwork mode=allow ssid=test101 key=password
.. netsh wlan start hostednetwork

- From the Network – Adapter Window
.. The Microsoft Virtual Miniport Adapter should show up

+++++++++++

- The only reasons that the adapter might not show up is if the adapter did not support use as an client and an access point simultaneously. This is different from either (1) wireless ad-hoc networking that uses your wireless as access point only (cutting out your connection to your regular access point… or (2) Microsoft’s original VirtualWifi (notice words are together) driver that turned the single wireless card into multiple client adapters (as well as this was a direct ‘net’ driver vs. a ‘netsh’ driver).

- The only other problem I’ve had was that occasionally when testing other integrations, it throws off the Winsock TCP/IP stack values of some of the temporary TCP variables.

TCP/IP stack repair options for use with Vista or 7.

a) Start, Programs\Accessories and right click on Command Prompt, select “Run as Administrator” to open a command prompt.

b) Reset WINSOCK entries to installation defaults: netsh winsock reset catalog

c) Reset IPv4 TCP/IP stack to installation defaults. netsh int ipv4 reset reset.log

d) Reset IPv6 TCP/IP stack to installation defaults. netsh int ipv6 reset reset.log

Reboot the machine.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

that’s it…

oh… also a great way to find out what going on with the whole virtual wifi state on a Windows 7 machine?

- Open a command window and type:

netsh wlan show all

……………..best regards
Phil

A couple more things….

- After starting the hostednetwork, I have seen at times that the other computer connecting does not always get local and Internet access.

- Check the Virtual Wireless Adapter IPv4 Properties: (hosting computer)
.. The IP should read 192.168.XXX.1 and the
.. Mask should be 255.255.255.0
.. (Note: The name of the adapter for the Microsoft Virtual Miniport Adapter may be “Wireless Network Connection XX”, where XX is normally ’2′ but may be anything – mine is ’9′ and my initial IP for that access point is 192.168.137.1 where it first started at 192.168.2.1)
.. (Note: The DNS settings have the button “Use the following DNS server” – vs. automatic, and the DNS addresses are blank. In Connectify only [vs. Virtual Router Manager beta], one DNS address listed was 192.168.2.1)

- If the DNS of the active (started) hostednetwork is showing these entries (the IP address) as blank or not of the format 192.168.xxx.1, then reset them while the adapter is active. Disable and Re-Enable it from Device Manager

- restart the hostednetwork using:

netsh wlan start hostednetwork

- Check to see now on the 2nd computer than connects to your access point.
.. the IPv4 properties should read:
…. IP Address: 192.168.XXX.XXX (where the first XXX matches the same address as on the new access point – in my case it was 192.168.137.46
…. Mask: 255.255.255.0
…. DNS Address should read: 192.168.XXX.1 (Where XXX is again the same as the access point above.

++++++++++++++++

IPv6: Though you can get the connections going without using IPv6, many of the enhancements to both wireless protocols as well as for IP to IP transfer in general are best optimized by leveraging the use of the IPv6 channel. On that note, allow me to suggest everyone also look at lanoninternet.com ….
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kang

thank you. very helpful for me
http://www.facebook.com/pbgangwar प्रकाश गंगवार

After this command ”C:Windowssystem32>netsh wlan start hostednetwork” I’m getting a message…

“Thehostede network could not be started .

.The group or resource is not in correct state to perform the requested operation…”"

What to do?
- fauzan39
  
  me too
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