Why should I need to do this?
Look at System Tray in lower right
Go to Control panel and click on “Administrative Tools”
Now go back to the Windows Control Panel, Network Connections icon, and right click on wireless network connection.
Many wireless network adapters install and present a different software by default, deactivating the Windows one in the process, to allow you to configure and connect to wireless networks. Unfortunately they are often inadequate compared to Windows’ own configuration interface (believe it or not).
To access Windows’ wireless network configuration utility and check if Windows is being used to configure wireless network connectivity:
Click on the start menu.
Go to “Settings” and click on “Network Connections”.
Click on “Wireless network connection” in the window that appears.
If Windows is not configuring your wireless network it will say so in the “Wireless Network Connection” window that appears. The message should, unsurprisingly, read:
“Windows cannot configure this wireless connection. If you have enabled another program to configure this wireless connection, use that software”.
To allow Windows to configure your wireless network connection follow these steps:
Right click on Wireless Strength meter, select options
Uncheck top two items, "show meter" & "Allow this software to manage my wireless".
Click on “Services” in the new window
A window with a list of all services will show up. Find “Windows Zero Configuration” service in the list and double click on it.
Click on “Start” if the status says the service is stopped.
Select Properties
Click on the “Wireless Connection” tab on the top of the window.
At the top of the window there should be a check-box reading “Use Windows to configure my wireless network settings.” Check this box and press “Ok”.
You’re done!
E-mail comments to Lon Jarvis jarvislb@jmu.edu
last updated 1/10/11