If you bought a computer recently, or upgraded your old machine to Windows 8.1, you might have had difficulty in setting up the IISc wireless network. The primary reason is that the support for WPA-Enterprise and TKIP encryption has been removed from the GUI menus.
I did a bit of searching, and the following steps should help you set up the wireless network with relative ease. These steps were provided by the user “milindsmart” in social.technet.microsoft.com
To recap : My laptop has an Atheros AR9002WB-1NG adapter, windows 8.1. Even when it had windows 8, it was unable to connect, but unlike now, I didn’t look closely enough about the type of network. Originally I thought it was this problem. But they confirmed that others with windows 8 had no issues with this. Then , when I tried configuring the network manually, I could not find the WPA-enterprise option at all, only the WPA2-enterprise.
So here I was, and Greg Seth’s answer gave me an idea.
In the following instructions, some commands are obvious, so I won’t explain unless necessary. So here’s what you do :
0) Go to command line, preferably Administrator (not tried without).
1) C:\Windows\System32> cd \Users\<User>\Documents
2) C:\Users\<User>\Documents> netsh
3) netsh> wlan
4) netsh wlan> show profiles
5) delete profile name=<yournetwork> Enclose the name of network within quotes, this is to ensure that you can cleanly set up the right profile. Don’t close the netsh, we’ll need it some more. If you do, just reach there the same way as before.
6) Right click the connection icon in lower right corner > open Network and Sharing Center > Set up a new connection or network > Manually connect to a wireless network
7) Try to create a profile, and try to get as many details to correspond with your requirement. The rest we’ll edit in command line, so let’s make it as easy as possible.
8) Do the same at the next screen. Edit Network settings > change all the parameters that you can, to match the requirement. My university tech support has a detailed document listing the options to choose, usually for windows 7, or even windows 8. get as many of them as possible.
9) Finish. Move back to your netsh terminal
10) netsh wlan> show profile <profilename> without quotes this time. This should show your previous attempt at creating a profile in the GUI dialog boxes. In my case, it had WPA2 and AES. It has to become WPA and TKIP. I also set my authMode to userOnly, since I hadn’t done it right in the dialog box before.
11) netsh wlan> set profileparameter displays a humongous list of parameters with detailed options, just carefully examine the syntax. It’s all here.
12) netsh wlan> set profileparameter name=<profilename> authentication=wpa encryption=tkip authMode=userOnly
13) netsh wlan> set profileparameter Don’t exit this yet.
14) Now click the connection icon, and connect to the network. It will ask you the username and password in a different style, that was my clue something was different this time.
15) It should connect. In my case atleast, it did. Verify by browsing.
16) netsh wlan> export profile name=<profile name> In order that you’re not put through this ordeal again, export the profile safely to a file. Again, the profile name in quotes.
Descriptions of certain popular places, objects or persons, often tend to become annoyingly overused. In almost every article on Kashmir, you would find the words “paradise”, “heaven” and so forth. So before I started writing this article, I set myself a challenge: write an essay on your recent trip to Kashmir, without using the words “paradise” or “heaven” (except, of course, in this first paragraph).
And, almost immediately, I realize that this is a serious handicap. Kashmir is movingly beautiful. It is as if God was at His/Her creative best when painting the Kashmiri canvas. Therefore language, which is a human creation, is hopelessly insufficient to describe it. The easiest way out would be to just compare it with the Garden of Eden, and be done with it! But, I have a challenge at hand! So let me try, instead, to paint a picture of Kashmir in the next few paragraphs.
It was in mid-July that I, along with my family, landed in Srinagar. To be honest, we did choose Kashmir as our holiday destination with some amount of trepidation. When we landed, we were welcomed with stern warnings, prohibiting us from taking photographs, and armed policemen. It was a sudden reminder of Kashmir’s troubled past, its uneasy present and, perhaps, its uncertain future. Once outside the airport, the security became less intense- and we could at last absorb our surroundings.
The weather was perfect. Soon we found ourselves at the banks of the river Jhelum, and the houseboats, drifting lazily, was an emphatic reminder that we really were in Kashmir!
The first place we visited was the famous Mata Kheer Bhavani Mandir. It is an hour’s drive away from Srinagar. Swami Vivekananda had visited this holy temple. The ambience was wonderful. After offering our prayers to the Holy Mother, we were served a delicious meal by the CRPF jawans.
On our way back, we decided to try out the famous Dal Lake shikara ride. As is true elsewhere in Kashmir, a good round of bargaining is must. There is really no point in taking the motorized boats- it takes half the time to cover the lake, but is also half the fun! We got into one of the traditional shikaras, and we were off.
A shikara ride is the laziest, and most romantic, way you can spend your time. The setting sun shimmered in the still, clear waters of the Dal Lake. The whole of Srinagar, the lake included, is in a valley- and all around you’re encompassed by the magnificent mountains. Soon, the clouds parted in the distance, and we had a breathtaking view of the snowcapped ranges. All the while, the boatmen entertain you with traditional Kashmiri tunes, and sometimes plucking the wild lilies from the Lake.
We spent the next day in local sightseeing- primarily visiting the Mughal Gardens. All these gardens are built around a mountain spring passing through them. We started off with Chasma-Shahi, which is probably the smallest of these gardens. Built by Emperor Shah Jahan, the popular story is that the waters of this spring has a great taste, and possesses exceptional qualities. After drinking the water I didn’t feel extraordinary, but it did taste good.
Next, we went to Shalimar. Built by the Emperor Jahangir, the Shalimar Gardens is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. The mountain spring is made to cascade through a series of steps, and in the backdrop, there are the majestic mountains. You can literally step into the flowing water, or even bathe in it, if you are daring enough to brave the cold. The many artificial waterfalls make a stunning sight. At the end of the garden, there is a house with intricate decorations on the walls.
Our last stop for the day was the Nishat Gardens. This is right next to the Dal Lake. It is yet another mesmerizing synthesis of a cascading mountain stream and the Zabarwan Mountains behind it. Strangely enough, it was the weather which played spoilsport. It was extremely hot, and the sun literally burnt our skins. Most of the locals who visited the garden simply cooled off by taking a dip in the refreshing ice cold water. From the topmost terrace of Nishat, you can get a brilliant view of the entire Dal Lake.
At Shalimar Gardens. Video taken by Suvam Mukherjee on a Canon PowerShot SX150 IS.
The next day, we were off to the “meadow of flowers”, Gulmarg. The long drives in Kashmir are among the best things you can experience. Gulmarg is around two hours from Srinagar, and along the way, you can feast on some truly spectacular scenery. The main attraction in Gulmarg is, of course, the Gondola (cable-car) ride. You can save yourself a lot of trouble by booking tickets for the Gondola ride on the Internet. Moreover, the cable car station is only a fifteen minute walk from the car park. So you shouldn’t spend too much time bargaining for a horse ride (and a bargain is necessary), unless you have a member in your travel group who is too weak to walk the distance.
The Gulmarg Gondola is the highest cable car system in the world. And a few minutes into the ride, you’ll get ample proof of it. The ride is almost vertical most of the times. The first stage takes you from the meadows to a large valley higher up. If it isn’t snowing, you can take the second stage (which we did), which then takes you near the very summit of Mt. Afarwat Peak, at 13, 400 feet. The change in altitude is huge, and you should be ready for it. Once at the second stage, you can choose to trek right to the summit. There are also a large number of activities you can pick: like skiing and riding on the sledge.
The view from the top is staggering. All around, you’ll see huge glaciers and mighty snowcapped mountains. You’ll see just two colors: the clear blue of the sky, and the shiny white of the mountains. And then, at times, a cloud engulfs you- and everything turns misty. You are left with nothing to see, but you hear the winds- the song of the Himalayas.
The summit is also near the Line of Control- which is clearly demarcated by a signpost, bearing the now famous phrase: “Trespassers will be prosecuted”.
The next day, we were off to the “meadow of gold”, Sonamarg. The drive to Sonamarg is one of the best in the world. The road to Sonamarg follows the Sindh Nullah all along. As you travel towards Sonamarg, you can see the transitions of the mountain river: from a voluminous river downstream to a swift, raging current upstream. Jeremy Clarkson, in TopGear’s India Special episode, asked, while driving through Kashmir, whether he had taken a wrong turn somewhere and somehow ended up in Switzerland. The drive to Sonamarg is proof that he wasn’t too wrong in asking that.
Sonamarg is a lot less crowded than Gulmarg. And even more spectacular. There is a trekking route which goes right to the mighty Thajiwas Glaciers. If you are fit enough, you can trek right to the glaciers. It isn’t a particularly long trek, and the road isn’t very steep at most places. Thus, the trek should not be too challenging for most people. However, you can also avail the horse rides or hire a taxi, though be warned that both would be expensive.
If you choose not to trek, then you can go right up to the banks of the Sindh river. Because my grandmother was with us, this was what we did. And don’t think that you’ll miss anything, because the view from the bank of the stream is simply surreal. You can actually see the stream slowly making its way from the massive glacial field which lies in front of you. And the water is so clear; it’s like staring into glass. You can see such a variety of pebbles in the water bed. My mother picked one up for me- and I have kept it with me ever since. Even in the heat of Calcutta or Bangalore, it still remains cold and smooth to touch. Who knows how long it lay beneath the cold flowing waters.
Sonamarg
Our last stop was the picturesque valley of Pahalgam, on the banks of the beautiful Lidder River. Pahalgam is one of the main stops for the famous Amarnath Yatra. We were lucky enough to visit the valley when the pilgrimage was on. Thus, the whole area was alive with people. Notable places to see in Pahalgam include the Golf course and the Mamal Temple. There is a spring which arises from within the temple, and the water is supposedly remarkably pure. It is a wonderful place, peaceful and serene- offering a great view of the Lidder below and the massive mountains. However, a sight soon caught our eyes: the mountain tops were completely covered in dense clouds. We quickly made our way back to hotel, fearing it would rain soon. We weren’t disappointed.
Soon, torrential rain enveloped the entire region. Watching the rains, while nestled in the lap of the Himalayas, is probably as good as it gets.
On the final day of our journey, we visited three local places. The first one was Chandanwari. This is the last point up to which vehicles can go during the Amarnath pilgrimage. From here on starts the long and treacherous trek to the Shri Amarnath Cave. We basked in the holy atmosphere: walking with sadhus (some of whom completed the trek barefoot or with minimal winter clothing), drinking hot coffee from the makeshift stalls, watching pilgrims bargain with the horse owners, and so forth. Sometimes, the pilgrimage is halted owing to inclement weather. Luckily enough, we enjoyed a beautiful day.
Next, we went to Beetab Valley, which the locals described as a Switzerland in India. They weren’t wrong. Beetab Valley is essentially a picnic spot, and here you just need to laze about. You can even get your picture clicked with a bunny rabbit! We had lunch at Beetab, and then were off to our final destination: Aru Valley.
Of all the places we visited in Kashmir, I guess Aru Valley is my favorite. The huge meadows, the staggering view, the quiet and peaceful village: it somehow adds up to something greater than its parts. There is a moderately steep hill, and on climbing it, I arrived at a huge meadow. And right behind it was a mountain: majestic, yet not making a sound: silent in its white shining armor.
The Amarnath Yatra
Me: At Pahalgam! Braving the cold waters
And then it was time to return.
There is so much that I still want to stay. However, I guess there are some things which really are inexpressible: the sights and sounds of the village in Pahalgam at night, the smell of hot chapatis, the joy of seeing green apples in a nearby tree, the helicopters which ferried pilgrims all day to the Amarnath shrine…Kashmir really is a treat for the senses.
What a trip it had been! The smiles, the sights, the sounds, the snow: it all comes together to rejuvenate you like nothing else. And like the lilt of the music Wordsworth spoke of in “The Solitary Reaper”, you’ll bear the music of Kashmir in your heart long after. Even today, when the rigors of my daily life become too tiring, I close my eyes and touch the smooth cold pebble from Sonamarg. And at once, I can hear the music of the flowing waters of the Sindh or the Lidder- a music which is as captivating today, as it has been for centuries.
Kashmir, truly, is paradise. I guess I lose the challenge after all. But I have no regrets. The word “paradise” cannot find a more fitting use.
Dal Lake
All photos and videos in this article were captured on a Canon PowerShot SX 150IS by Suvam Mukherjee.
Here’s my first blog from Microsoft’s latest operating system. In recent times, a lot of articles have been published regarding Windows 8. It is indeed a bold, and a completely new, take on operating systems. The computer feels almost like a cellular phone. While some may complain about it, this is not necessarily a bad thing. It does take a little getting used to. However, once you do, you’ll realize that this is vastly more productive and intuitive.
As is the case with any new operating system, there are quite a few glitches. But most of them are being addressed at a good pace. For example, my laptop has a hybrid graphics system: with two graphics chips. Right after installation, I was a little disappointed to see that a driver for the AMD chip was unavailable. The very next day, I got the update, and now both the chips are operational.
The upgrade mechanism is neat. Before installation, Windows 8 does a full system scan to figure out which apps are incompatible with the new operating system. Once they are found, you are requested to uninstall them in order to proceed. It it now up to you whether you want to go ahead with the upgrade.
If you’re using a Sony VAIO, then an upgrade is easier still. Just download and run the VAIO Update for Windows 8 Upgrade, and follow the instructions for a hassle free upgrade.
There are some really fantastic apps available in the Windows Store. One of the best is the Google app. It’s fast, clean, and as addictive as a game. You could spend hours with the fantastic voice search. Skype is neat as well- the interface is young and intuitive.Bing Travel is great for viewing some stunning Panorama Images of famous cities or booking flights and hotels.
I wish to do a full review of the operating system: highlighting both the pros and the cons. Hopefully, I’ll get the time to do it soon.
In the meantime, let me waltz with the smooth Metro interface!
Here’s my first step into Blogosphere!
Welcome to my blog.
It’s really amazing how much technology has progressed. I could get this blog up and running from scratch in just under 15 minutes. And that’s what I intend to keep as my primary theme in this blog: modern Computer Science- accessible, intuitive and a lot of fun!
Of course, I’ll occasionally digress to my other interests: travelling, cars, cycles, piano and badminton.
Recently, I went on a wonderful trip to Kashmir, and I intend to write an article on it soon. It truly is paradise.
Suvam Mukherjee's Blog 