Network key problem

Windows7 does not remember the wireless network security key... after disconnect or restart. I did change "Take ownership" of a couple folders. Everything was fine before this but now I have to type the network key everytime I need to connect to my wireless network and it's not fun since the key is 42 characters, auth is WPA2. The other laptop is doing fine on the same network in WinXP.

 

Check and see if you have the latest wireless driver for your device, best is a W7 compatible driver.

 

The drivers installed are Windows7 default drivers and they are the latest. It was working great before I don't see why suddenly it has no preferred network and it does not save the network key. How do I add a wireless network to preferred? I classified the wireless network as Home but no change. All wireless networks in range including mine have "connect automatically" checked, when I click on them. I'm out of clues.

 

AFAIK, the preferred networks are stored in the registry.

This is really a strange issue. What other background processes do you have running? Antivirus, etc.

 

I found the problem. It was really easy actually.

While connected to your wireless network you click the wireless icon in the taskbar then hover over your network SSID and then right-click on it and then click "Properties". It will open up a window with Security tab selected, choose the tab next to it called "Connection" and then check the first option "Connect automatically when this network is in range". DONE!

I had no option checked. It takes a while to learn all tricks in Windows7. I was doing the copy - paste thing for days for my network key.

Thanks for your help!

 

After reading the first post I knew it was a simple fix like the one above.