New network found on each startup

[Davidoo1]

My son has a Cyberpower gaming desktop computer (excellent machine and 4GB RAM) with Vista 64 bit. He uses the computer at his apartment at school and brings it home during breaks. The first time we used it was a year ago at home. When the computer was turned on and connected to my home internet via router it had internet access that popped up as Network 2. It worked fine, so we didn't worry about what happened to Network 1.

The first time he took it to school it once again worked fine after gaining an internet connection via the university's ethernet outlet in his room. This time it said the connection was Network 3. Again, we didn't worry about it since it worked fine.

Now, this year we hooked it up back in his room (different room from last year) and it started up fine, but is using Network 4 to get a connection to the internet. Problem now is each time it is turned off and on, it moves up to the next Network, such as Network 5 and Network 6. Now today he says when he hovers over the connection tray icon it says he is connected to Network 3 and Network 5.

Is there a way to stop all this? For the life of me, I can't find a way to go in and delete all the supposed Networks we have and just have it use Network 1? What am I missing?

[itsgt]

Even though I do not use Vista, I believe what you are seeing is the type of Zones your network is discovering in Discover and Share mode. You should be able to delete the connections that you do not need and name them for easy reference when you move from one place to another.

[Davidoo1]

Thanks. I was able to delete them and start off again with Network 1, but it started counting up again anytime the computer was restarted. We're back up to Network 3 again.

[itsgt]

Originally Posted by Davidoo1 Thanks. I was able to delete them and start off again with Network 1, but it started counting up again anytime the computer was restarted. We're back up to Network 3 again.

Would this be your ethernet card, your wireless card and your 1394 device?

[Davidoo1]

Originally Posted by itsgt Would this be your ethernet card, your wireless card and your 1394 device?

No, it is the ethernet card only. It got as high as Network 8 again before we deleted all of them and started over.

On thing we are now considering is the building he moved in is brand new. Other Vista users in his building tell him they are getting the same thing. Also, the connection is unstable and the IT folks at the school say they keep taking the network up and down many times a day for issues. Possibly when they get it stable and it stays "up" the computers will not keep detecting new networks.