virtualbox.org

Hi,
I believe I've used VirtualBox on Windows 7 using the same wireless device fine but on Windows 8.1 after installing Virtual Box and later rebooting I'm finding when I log in I have no wireless networking. It took a while to diagnose it was Virtual BOx causing the issue as it's doesn't require a reboot after installing but then later when I do restart the machine or boot from cold, the wireless networking is broken. By this time I also installed other software hence difficult to diagnose.If I uninstall Virtual Box it stays broken, and interesting if I try to reinstall the drivers for my wireless network card it either fails during install, or when installed it states failed to load drivers.

I've tried the last three versions of Virtual Box including the current version and still doesn't work. The first time this happened I had to reinstall the OS but now remember to create a restore point just before trying to install Virtual Box again. Note that as stated, the problem only occurs after a reboot. Before a reboot both Virtual Box and WIndows wireless networking are all working fine.

I suppose this should be bug report, but doesn't seem common here, or similar issues have been resolved in the past I see by other similar posts.
Anyone know of a workaround?

The network card I am using is the Asus PCE-N53.

I read your question(?) 3 times and (honestly) I have not figured out what is your problem. Could you explain less your issues? Also, please read the following: Minimum information needed for assistance.

I think the problem is that the OP doesn't define what "breaking wireless networking" means exactly :

Does it make the card unsable?
Does it prevent an Access Point association?
Does it prevent to get an IP from DHCP?
Does it break routing rules?
Does it prevent a successful tracert?
Does it prevent a successful ping?
Does it stop the DNS from working?

So many possiblities, and yet no info on what is the exact issue.
If ones manages to pint down the issue on Virtualbox, then certainly there is proper troubleshooting that took place and that can be shared on this forum?

Hi,
I suggest you read viewtopic.php?f=6&t=59064 as that is similar to my issue. ALthought I did not define what breaks (no longer works) means I thought it would have been obvious - but my mistake
I only have a quick minute but yes basically after a reboot the wifi card no longer works. If I click the wifi symbol in windows 8.1 it just states no connections are available, where usually it would of course show all wireless networks close by that I should be able to connect to. In device manager it's shown as not working correctly. If I try to uninstall and reinstall the drivers it still does not work and states "drivers failed to load" - even if I also try removing virtual box before installing the drivers. If I try to use the Asus Wifi management software it states the card has been removed from the machine.

Luckily after I diagnosed it was virtual box causing it, and did a fresh install of Windows I have used Windows restore to create restore points so can easily roll back now - it does completely bust the machine because no matter what I try the card will not work afterwards until I restore back to a point before the Virtual Box install.
If you need more information I can reproduce the issue and capture any information that might be required with screenshots if required.

Thanks!

I had a similar experience to Darren's. The places where you would normally be able to select a wifi network now only showed the virtualbox virtual network, disconnected. Note that I'd merely installed VirtualBox, not actually run or even created any virtual machines yet.

As a data point, and a workaround, not a solution, I'll note that plugging in an external USB wifi adapter returned normal function- both wifi devices became visible and I was able to remove the USB wifi adapter and go back to normal function.

((By the way, I'm not a normal denizen of this forum- I found the question via a google search. I almost didn't post my experience because a stupid registration is required. I'll bet there are a lot of useful data points excluded from these fora since you've (the virtualbox dot org owners) made it much less likely that lightly motivated people (those of us who have a workaround) to post than for highly motivated people (the ones who have no workaround) so unless the forum masters have the ready solution to a problem, these fora can become a modern version of the voicemail black hole, where questions are asked and never resolved.))