Can't Connect to WiFi (asking or User Name and Password when I select my network)

[MacInTO]

I'm trying to connect a mid-2009 15" MacBook Pro (2.53MHz/4GB RAM running OS X 10.6.8) to my home network. But when I select my network in the WiFi list, I get the following screen:

I'm not sure what the User Name and Password is for. I've got two other MacBook Pros (2012 running High Sierra) and various other devices on my network so that works fine.

I was able to connect to my phone in tether mode but I am unable to connect to certain WiFi networks. I've never seen this and kind of puzzled. I've deleted all of the WiFi profiles, keychain passwords and reset the NVRAM/PRAM and SMC on the machine. I still cannot connecting after all of this.

Any info would be helpful.

 

[DeltaMac]

(Where did this 2009 MBPro come from? Did you just recently start using it?)
The login window means that you have a login for a network (802.1X) configuration profile installed on your system. You would be required to login with that profile. Your system administrator would be the one to ask about that.
(hint - 802.1X is usually to use a company network)
If you are at home, and not connected to a business network (maybe through a VPN), but have a normal home-level network, then look in your System Preferences/Network pane, then click on Wi-Fi (from the list on the left side)
Click on the Advanced button, then the 802.1X tab. What is listed there, if anything?
If anything is listed there, do you know anything about that profile?

 

[MacInTO]

(Where did this 2009 MBPro come from? Did you just recently start using it?)
The login window means that you have a login for a network (802.1X) configuration profile installed on your system. You would be required to login with that profile. Your system administrator would be the one to ask about that.
(hint - 802.1X is usually to use a company network)
If you are at home, and not connected to a business network (maybe through a VPN), but have a normal home-level network, then look in your System Preferences/Network pane, then click on Wi-Fi (from the list on the left side)
Click on the Advanced button, then the 802.1X tab. What is listed there, if anything?
If anything is listed there, do you know anything about that profile?

It's a friend's MBP. I replaced the WiFi card on it and was going to upgrade the OS.

If it did require login to a company network, they haven't worked there for 5+ years so probably not easy to obtain.

On the 802.1X tab, the window is blank.

It can connect to certain wifi networks fine but some, it displays the above screen.

I should add, that I installed a different hard drive and it gave me the same thing when trying to connect to my WiFi network.

 

[Audit13]

Are the 2.4 and 5.0 Ghz network using the same SSID?

 

[MacInTO]

Are the 2.4 and 5.0 Ghz network using the same SSID?

They are two separate SSIDs. Both give the same result.

 

[Audit13]

It's possible the MacBook's WiFi card isn't compatible with the router.

How about using a wired connection?

 

[DeltaMac]

hmm...
Is "SHAW-3C0600" your home network?
If that's your expected network, how is it listed in your Network/Wifi, then Advanced - preferred network list?
Does THAT list also show SHAW-3C0600 using 802-1X security?
Try deleting that network from the preferred network list, then re-add it (?)

 

[MacInTO]

hmm...
Is "SHAW-3C0600" your home network?
If that's your expected network, how is it listed in your Network/Wifi, then Advanced - preferred network list?
Does THAT list also show SHAW-3C0600 using 802-1X security?
Try deleting that network from the preferred network list, then re-add it (?)

Yes that is my home network. I can't even get it on to my preferred network list as it asks me for a User Name and Password when I try to add it.

Weird thing is that my other two MacBooks are connected to the network fine. However, when I check in the settings my MacBooks show as connected with WPA2 Personal. This rogue MacBook wants to connect as WPA2 Enterprise. When I log into the router it shows as WPA2 Personal.

 

[DeltaMac]

You replaced the Wifi card.
Was the card an identical replacement?
You said that the same thing happens with a different hard drive (so a different system install)
Did you import all the settings (coming from a backup, or that other hard drive), so the replacement hard drive has the same network settings as the previous hard drive?
Or, did you set up your network settings for a fresh system install, importing nothing?

What remains the same, after swapping out the hard drive? The Wifi card...
Where did you get that replacement card?
Related question -- Why did you need to replace the previous Wifi card (what was wrong with the old one that you removed?)

 

[MacInTO]

You replaced the Wifi card.
Was the card an identical replacement?
You said that the same thing happens with a different hard drive (so a different system install)
Did you import all the settings (coming from a backup, or that other hard drive), so the replacement hard drive has the same network settings as the previous hard drive?
Or, did you set up your network settings for a fresh system install, importing nothing?

What remains the same, after swapping out the hard drive? The Wifi card...
Where did you get that replacement card?
Related question -- Why did you need to replace the previous Wifi card (what was wrong with the old one that you removed?)

Yes, it was an identical replacement because the previous card was not working. I got the Wi-Fi card in a box of parts that I already had. It was the exact same part.

I just popped in another hard drive that already had a similar OS X install that would work on this machine. I did not import any settings. Every time I tried to join the Wi-Fi network, it would give me the User Name + Password dialog box.

I will install one of these hard drives into one of my MacBooks that works and see if that causes any issues.

Thanks for your help!

 

[DeltaMac]

Was the other hard drive already basically the same setup to connect to your home network (so same network settings)?

I think it would be worth the time to try simply removing the network configuration files, then re-entering your network connections from scratch. Or, erase one of the drives, and install a fresh, "untreated" system.

But -- you have a laptop, easy to move. Do you get the same connection problem if you try in another location (and therefore a different router)?

I suspect that your wifi card is not exchanging information correctly with your router.
So (to recap), try fresh software, nvram/SMC resets, different router. If there's no improvement (or different "router-detection"), then your wifi card is no good. If a third card doesn't change that, you've got a bad logic board, and maybe a reason why the first card failed. I hope you don't get that far, and the wifi is working properly again.

 

[MacInTO]

Here's the latest. I moved the hard drive to my 2012 MBP but it was too old of an OS to load onto any of my 2012 MBPs. The 2009 MBP is 10.7 (Lion) and my 2012 MBPs are later versions.

I did a fresh install of 10.7 on the 2009 MBP. During the initial setup, I tried to select my network and it was not in the network list. I skipped it and when I tried to select the network after the setup was complete, it gave me the User Name/Password dialog box.

In the Network > Advanced > WINS , there is a NetBIOS that I was not familiar with:

There were also a few files in the Library/Prefrences/SystemConfiguration directory that I have never seen before:

In the com.apple.smb.server.plist is the NetBIOS Name entry:

I deleted the SMB files, rebooted and it made no difference.

I'm wondering how these files end up in the directory.
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It's possible the MacBook's WiFi card isn't compatible with the router.

How about using a wired connection?

It's not possible to use a wired connection as I do not have access to the router.

Are there known incompatibilities with MacBooks and routers? I've owned almost every version of MacBook Pro from 2008 to 2012 and have never had a problem on this router.

 

[DeltaMac]

Everything that you have said leads me to suspect that your replacement card is faulty.

What happens when you move your MBPro to some other location (completely different router) and try connecting to wifi there?
Does it still try to connect incorrectly to that different router?

 

[MacInTO]

Everything that you have said leads me to suspect that your replacement card is faulty.

What happens when you move your MBPro to some other location (completely different router) and try connecting to wifi there?
Does it still try to connect incorrectly to that different router?

The card works. It connects to other networks.

I think it has something to do with the NetBIOS name. At some point this machine was configured to connect to a corporate network and somehow it still thinks it needs to do that. But I can't figure out how to undo it.

Does the info come from a boot ROM? Is that possible to restore?

 

[DeltaMac]

So, try changing the NetBIOS name.

It's one of the network config names that I often will change on a new setup. So, computer name, and the local hostname (both in the Sharing pref pane), and the Network/Advanced/WINS NetBIOS names are related, but I change the default names so if some network issue comes up, I know for sure which of my Macs is the source.

 

[MacInTO]

I figured it out. It was my router. The security was set to WPA2-PSK. I set it to Auto (WPA-PSK or WPA2-PSK) and it connected fine.

It's strange because I checked in About > System Report > WiFi and it is connected as WPA2. So I'm not sure why but at least it works!

Thanks for your help!

 

[mcmac77]

Hello there, my brother gave my son his 2012 macbook for school. We did a factory reset, he was able to login to home wifi network, but he can't log in to his school network. It asks for account name and password. He used his info but that's not it, he used my brothers old one and that's not it either. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Audit13]

Hello there, my brother gave my son his 2012 macbook for school. We did a factory reset, he was able to login to home wifi network, but he can't log in to his school network. It asks for account name and password. He used his info but that's not it, he used my brothers old one and that's not it either. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

He probably needs a username and password from the school administrator.

 

[mcmac77]

Hello there, my brother gave my son his 2012 macbook for school. We did a factory reset, he was able to login to home wifi network, but he can't log in to his school network. It asks for account name and password. He used his info but that's not it, he used my brothers old one and that's not it either. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

He probably needs a username and password from the school administrator.

the school administrator has also provided attempted to do this and no other kid has issues with logging in to the school wifi but his computer is still asking for the same things -account name and password.

 

[Audit13]

Hello there, my brother gave my son his 2012 macbook for school. We did a factory reset, he was able to login to home wifi network, but he can't log in to his school network. It asks for account name and password. He used his info but that's not it, he used my brothers old one and that's not it either. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

the school administrator has also provided attempted to do this and no other kid has issues with logging in to the school wifi but his computer is still asking for the same things -account name and password.

Does the network use MAC filtering?

 

[DeltaMac]

I agree... It's likely that the school needs to add the Macbook to the school network. That's probably why the password doesn't work yet. You will need to contact tech support at the school. They will likely need the hardware MAC address to do that.

 

[mcmac77]

I am hoping that will do it, all the other kids who have MACs didn't have to do this, is there something additional i need to let the tech support at school to try, so they can resolve? I just don't understand why all the other kids who have a MAC laptop didn't have any issues connecting to schools wifi.

 

[Audit13]

I am hoping that will do it, all the other kids who have MACs didn't have to do this, is there something additional i need to let the tech support at school to try, so they can resolve? I just don't understand why all the other kids who have a MAC laptop didn't have any issues connecting to schools wifi.

I don't think there's anything left to try unless the school needs a particular version of macOS.

Do the other students have the same model MacBook?

 

[DeltaMac]

Did the other students supply their own Macbook - or did they get a Macbook through the school (supplied and set up by the school)?

 

[mcmac77]

Hi there so my son got home today, and other kids have different versions of Macs, chrime etc. these are all brought in by kids. none supplied by school. School tech guy wasn't sure what the issue was so he couldn't connect him to the schools internet. I can't afford a new computer now any other suggestions?