Unable to connect to Wifi before login screen

Question

Level 1

9 points

Unable to connect to Wifi before login screen

Hi can anyone help with this.

My Macbook pro fails to connect to any wifi signal at the login screen.

If i connect an ethernet cable it connects at the login screen, and i can see the ip address when clicking on the clock.

After logging in with a local account or a cached account, it connects ok to the wireless network.

As it fails to connect before login, am i right in assuming that it is not applicable to any user acconts.

MacBook Pro, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.5)

Posted on Feb 3, 2014 4:32 AM

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Answer 1

JR_wild Author

Level 1

9 points

Feb 3, 2014 4:53 AM in response to BobRz

Maybe I didn't make it clear. I have already setup the wireless account with the correct settings.

At the login screen, be it after power on or when the user logs off, there is no wireless connection.

Why should it drop the connection at logoff?

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Answer 2

BobRz

Level 5

6,138 points

Feb 3, 2014 4:56 AM in response to JR_wild

Because the password is part of the user account. The user is logged off, there's no connection. If you want the connection but to deny access to the machine, lock the computer.

http://osxdaily.com/2011/02/10/lock-mac-desktop-via-menu/

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Answer 3

JR_wild Author

Level 1

9 points

Feb 3, 2014 5:04 AM in response to BobRz

When I power on a normal Macbook the wirless indicator is solidly lit and clicking through the time indicator in the top righthand corner shows the IPAddress, even though nobody has logged on.

The same happens at logoff, the user logs out of the Mac. The Mac returns to the login screen and still retains the IPaddress.

This doesn't happen on my mac. My connection to the WAP drops on logout

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Answer 4

abstert

Level 1

10 points

Mar 12, 2014 11:49 AM in response to JR_wild

No Wireless At Login Screen

Here is a link explaining the same issue and that Apple does not have a solution at this time to allow WiFi access before you login.

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Answer 5

BobRz

Level 5

6,138 points

Feb 3, 2014 4:48 AM in response to JR_wild

Not sure of your question. The wireless password is saved to a user account, so you'd need to log in to have wireless. Wired on the other hand is already connected.

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