Get a Windows PC Back Onto District Wireless

This article covers how to re-join the KPBSD-Internal wireless network, for a Windows PC which can no longer join the network due to an expired certificate.

What Happened? Why Do I Need To Do This?

All District Windows PCs (desktops, laptops, tablets) which can connect to wireless networks, should connect to the KPBSD-Internal network and no other (background on that here). This network requires a valid security certificate to join, and once successfully joined, certificate renewal is usually transparent, with no user action required. However, if a machine doesn't use the network for an extended period of time (this most commonly happens over the summer), its certificate may expire, and when it tries to rejoin the network, it is rejected for the expired certificate. Indicators for this condition may look something like this:

The functional solution is to use the wired network, temporarily, to renew the wireless network certificate.

Solution

1. Connect PC To Wired Network

Locate an available and live network cable and connect it to the affected PC. You should notice your computer's networking icon change to indicate it is now on the wired network, and you should see "link lights" at the computer's networking port.

2. Wait For Automatic Certificate Renewal

Once connected to the wired network, the computer will automatically check in and receive a new, updated wireless security certificate; you just need to allow enough time for this automatic process to happen. The recommendation is to leave the machine "on the wire" for at least 15 minutes. The process may complete earlier than this, but give it plenty of time.

2. Check Wireless Connection

After waiting, the most thorough way to check will be to remove the network cable and completely re-boot the machine: if it comes up normally and connects to the KPBSD-Internal network as expected, with the expected wireless networking icon in the system tray, then you're good to go.

Note that you may be able to confirm affirmatively without re-booting; in many cases, simply pulling the network cable will cause the networking icon to go back to normal. Sometimes, though, these icons take longer to update, and at any rate it is still most thorough to re-boot the machine entirely; this more affirmatively "kicks the tires" and causes the wireless radio to take a truly fresh effort to join the network.

Choose the Right District Wireless Network For Your Device