Automatically restore wireless network connection after hibernate & standby

[herkules]

Hi,

I just found a weird dependency after trying to get my wireless connection working automatically when returning from hibernate. In my case the wireless network is secured (WAP2-PSK, AES).

In order for windows XP to automatically restore the connection after hibernate or standby, it requires that the following services (in addition to the obvious ones like Dhcp, Nla), are set to automatic :
- Human Interface Device Access
- IPSEC Services
- Shell Hardware Detection

Is it just me or can you confirm? This is a T41.

[couttsj]

Shell Hardware detection should never be turned off. Your wireless connection could quite conceivably be using IPSEC Services, as could other network services. It is also quite possible that it requires Human Interface Device Access, although I personally have never found a device that requires it. Finding the appropriate set of services for your particular setup is largely a matter of trial & error. There are no magic cookbook recipes.

J.A. Coutts

[herkules]

Well, I've never had any problems having shell hw detection disabled. Anyone else being forced to have HID running with wireless network?

In fact, I keep also the following services disabled:

Application Management
COM+ Event System
COM+ System Application
Distributed Transaction Coordinator
MS Software Shadow Copy Provider
Print Spooler
Removable Storage
Routing and Remote Access
Security Accounts Manager
SSDP Discovery Service
System Event Notification
Uninterruptible Power Supply
Universal Plug and Play Device Host
WebClient
Windows Time
Volume Shadow Copy

I use this setup on multiple different systems having different devices (cameras, external hard-drives, printers, etc) with no problems at all.

[Black Viper]

Well, I've never had any problems having shell hw detection disabled. Anyone else being forced to have HID running with wireless network?

Depends on if that wireless network is a USB wireless card... ?

[herkules]

Depends on if that wireless network is a USB wireless card... ?

Nope, this is a standard T41 Intel PRO wireless LAN 2100 3B Mini PCI Adapter.
Tried with 3 different T41 machines.

[couttsj]

Well, I've never had any problems having shell hw detection disabled. Anyone else being forced to have HID running with wireless network?

I guess an explanation might be in order. The purpose of Shell Hardware Detection is to recognize and detect new hardware. I have found that the OS (XP or Vista) occasionally forgets about or gets confused about the existence/settings of certain hardware, especially the Network Interface card. By leaving this service running, it saves me the hassle of manually correcting the problem. Also, without it the OS won't be able to recognize hardware such as a memory stick plugged into the USB.

J.A. Coutts

[herkules]

Also, without it the OS won't be able to recognize hardware such as a memory stick plugged into the USB.

Interesting. All USB devices including mem sticks works beautifully in all my systems with shell hardware detection disabled.

[Black Viper]

Interesting. All USB devices including mem sticks works beautifully in all my systems with shell hardware detection disabled.

Depends.
Shell hardware detection is mostly for "auto play" of hardware events. Such as, plugging in your camera and opening up photo editing software.
Without it, it works just fine... just have to head to explorer and copy the files from there.