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When I attempt to create a network connection in Windows Vista, there is no "ad hoc network" option available. Why is this?

The options available are (translated):

  • Connect to the Internet
  • Configure a wireless router or access point
  • Create a remote connection
  • Connect to a workplace
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  • You need a Wireless Card to do Ad hoc.
    – Michael B.
    Sep 9, 2009 at 20:33
  • I assume that my network card is wireless since I can locate other computers, and the only network connection going through a wire to my computer is my internet connection. Regardless, is there any way to check whether or not a network card is wireless or not? In the device manager, the device is simply called "NVIDIA nForce Networking Controller."
    – Jakob
    Sep 9, 2009 at 20:40
  • After disconnecting my Internet wire I can no longer locate any other computers, so I guess my network card simply isn't wireless. Still, I thought there would be an easy way to find this out inside Windows. Is there?
    – Jakob
    Sep 9, 2009 at 20:49
  • 1
    Anyway the real question is, What are you trying to accomplish ? Why are you looking for an ad hoc connection, which is useless when already connected to the network.
    – Michael B.
    Sep 10, 2009 at 4:47
  • My guess is that 'starter' versions of Vista and 7 just don't have that option to create and Ad-Hoc connections.
    – user86591
    Jun 19, 2011 at 21:00

4 Answers 4

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Make sure your wireless network card is turned on.

Go in to the "Network and Sharing Center", and on the left click "Manage Wireless Networks", from here click the add button and "Ad-Hoc network" should be one of the options.

However, if your Wireless is on, you should be able to get to it from the screen you were on -

alt text

If it isn't there, it is possible you have some sort of other error.

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  • In my device manager under network cards, I have a single device named "NVIDIA nForce Networking Controller" that is not disabled. Additionally, I can find other computers when I activate "Network identification," so I would assume that the card is turned on.
    – Jakob
    Sep 9, 2009 at 20:20
  • Nvidia nForce Networking afaik is not wireless. Go to command prompt and type ipconfig and look at device name (or click start and type "network connections" take a look at how many interfaces you have and see if any of them say wireless. Sep 9, 2009 at 20:54
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I know that the question is for Vista, but if anyone is having this issue on windows 10, here is the solution.

  1. Go to Start and the new "Windows Settings" and select "Network & Internet".
  2. On the left side of the window, click "Mobile hotspot".
  3. Slide the switch to the on position.

-- OPTIONAL --

  1. Under "Network name" and "Network password", click the "Edit" button.
  2. Change the network name and password to what ever you want.
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  • From your description, it appears this does not refer to ad-hoc networks.
    – Daniel B
    Apr 29, 2018 at 20:49
  • @DanielB Is there a difference between an ad-hoc network and a hotspot?
    – ToMakPo
    Apr 29, 2018 at 21:56
  • Yes, very much so. Hotspots are access points. They run in infrastructure mode while ad-hoc is, well, ad-hoc.
    – Daniel B
    Apr 30, 2018 at 12:44
  • That wasn't helpful. An ad hoc network creates a WiFi signal so that other devices can connect to the internet. So does a hotspot. To me they seem like they are the same. Am I missing something.
    – ToMakPo
    Apr 30, 2018 at 16:12
  • I don’t know any better way to put it, sorry. They’re completely different operating modes. One is a mesh network, the other is a star network with the access point at its center. The OP in this question asked about ad-hoc networking.
    – Daniel B
    Apr 30, 2018 at 18:17
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To help others, not all wireless adapters can host a connection.

From answers.microsoft.com they suggest running:

netsh wlan show drivers

Look for "Hosted network supported". If you see no, you're out of luck

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  • Ad-hoc networking is supported on all 802.11 adapters. It’s not the same as hosting a network.
    – Daniel B
    Apr 29, 2018 at 20:47
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Another possible solution to this problem is:

net start wlansvc

..if the WLAN AutoConfig service has been stopped then Ad-Hoc Networking won't show up.

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