I can't get wake on lan to work. What am I missing?

Msekelsky · #1 November 23rd, 2009, 03:56 PM

The error is:

MAC address of Network Study Computer could not be determined so Wake Up cannot be performed

Using DooNetwork 2.3.2, HS 2.4.01. PC is running Win 7 64 bit. Wake on lan is setup on the PC. When I use "retrieve mac address" in DN device setup it does grab the mac address and I have also run ipconfig and verfied that the address is correct.

Am I missing something simple (I hope)?

Wadenut · #2 November 23rd, 2009, 05:03 PM

WOL needs to be enabled in the BIOS of the target machine. Possibly also in the properties for the LAN card under Windows.
There are a number of free utilities out there that will help you determine whether or not you're successful.
I have one machine that simply refuses to respond to WOL (HP media center m7680). Hopefully this isn't your problem.

Msekelsky · #3 November 23rd, 2009, 05:14 PM

I just checked the BIOS and it is set. Wake is enabled in the adapter. I even get the error if the pC is awake which is odd (to me) as DN has no trouble grabbing the mac when I am in setup

Wadenut · #4 November 23rd, 2009, 05:32 PM

In my case, I spent several hours with HP tech support, on several occasions. The last time the technician (and I use the term loosely) actually tried to tell me "this only works wirelessly". I told him that was bull-puckey (which it is) and he hung up on me. The BIOS suggests WOL should work, but no-one, judging from the chit-chat on the web, has ever been successful with this particular machine. The motherboard simply isn't wired for WOL.
Before you drive yourself crazy, as I did, try one of the free apps outside HS, then deal with the plugin once you know the hardware responds.

Msekelsky · #5 November 23rd, 2009, 07:55 PM

I found a little utility and it was able to wake the PC so at least I know that my PC is wakeable.

Wadenut · #6 November 23rd, 2009, 07:58 PM

We now return you to the regularly scheduled plugin.

Msekelsky · #7 November 23rd, 2009, 08:00 PM

Jim Doolittle · #8 November 30th, 2009, 10:27 AM

Software implementation of WOL is rather easy once hardware and permissions are set up. I am not sure what I need to do to adresss the inability of DN to perform a WOL. It seems to have worked rather well for most. However, I suppose there could be Windows Updates that change things. If so, more users would be reporting problems.