Newbie Wireless Question

[PT]

I have a laptop which came with WinXP Home plus a Wireless card. I never
used the wireless, since the computer has been exclusively at home. At some
point in the past, I dimly recall doing something to remove the Wireless so
its icon no longer appeared in the lower right hand corner of the screen.



Now I plan to travel with the laptop and want to be able to access wireless
networks on the road.



I tried to reactivate and configure the wireless card. I need advice.



Here's what I've done:



I clicked start | settings | network connections | wireless connection



I see a dialog box with a message that "Windows cannot configure this
wireless connection". It goes on to suggest that I click on "change
advanced settings", and then click on the resulting checkbox for "Use
Windows to configure my wireless network settings".



I do so, and the wireless icon now appears with an X through it. I also get
a message to the effect that there are no wireless networks in range (quite
possibly true where I live), and that I should make sure my wireless switch
is turned on.



Question - How/where is the wireless switch accessed?



Follow-up question- If I get the system working, what are the bare minimum
security settings I'll need for use in public areas.





What/where is this switch?

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I have a laptop which came with WinXP Home plus a Wireless card. I
never used the wireless, since the computer has been exclusively at
home. At some point in the past, I dimly recall doing something to
remove the Wireless so its icon no longer appeared in the lower
right hand corner of the screen.
Now I plan to travel with the laptop and want to be able to access
wireless networks on the road.

I tried to reactivate and configure the wireless card. I need
advice.
Here's what I've done:

I clicked start | settings | network connections | wireless
connection
I see a dialog box with a message that "Windows cannot configure
this wireless connection". It goes on to suggest that I click on
"change advanced settings", and then click on the resulting
checkbox for "Use Windows to configure my wireless network
settings".
I do so, and the wireless icon now appears with an X through it. I
also get a message to the effect that there are no wireless
networks in range (quite possibly true where I live), and that I
should make sure my wireless switch is turned on.

Question - How/where is the wireless switch accessed?

You access it in whatever way the manual for whatever wireless switch you
have tells you to (manual) - or you don't at all if it is not *your*
wireless switch unless the owner of the wireless switch give s you the right
to do so (and you would still access it per the manual's instructions.)

It is not necessary - for most - to access the wireless switch in the manner
you seem to be asking about in order to connect to a wireless network.

Follow-up question- If I get the system working, what are the bare
minimum security settings I'll need for use in public areas.

You have the system working in-as-far-as you can without a wireless system
to connect to.

What/where is this switch?

Where ever the owner of said switch (whatever brand it may be) decided to
put it is "where". As for what - whater the owner of said switch decided to
purchase, install and configure. (Go to a place that sells computer
networking equipment (Wal-Mart, SAMs, Target, Circuit City, Best Buy, Office
Depot, Office Max, Sears, etc...) and look at the Wireless Access Points
they sell by LinkSys, D-Link, NetGear, etc. That is what we are talking
about here in most cases.

 

[Ron Badour]

It is probably a key combination. I recently worked on a Gateway laptop and
the key combination was Fn + F2

 

[Nepatsfan]

I have a laptop which came with WinXP Home plus a Wireless card. I never used
the wireless, since the computer has been exclusively at home. At some point
in the past, I dimly recall doing something to remove the Wireless so its icon
no longer appeared in the lower right hand corner of the screen.
Now I plan to travel with the laptop and want to be able to access wireless
networks on the road. I tried to reactivate and configure the wireless card.
I need advice.

Here's what I've done:

I clicked start | settings | network connections | wireless connection

I see a dialog box with a message that "Windows cannot configure this wireless
connection". It goes on to suggest that I click on "change advanced
settings", and then click on the resulting checkbox for "Use Windows to
configure my wireless network settings".

I do so, and the wireless icon now appears with an X through it. I also get a
message to the effect that there are no wireless networks in range (quite
possibly true where I live), and that I should make sure my wireless switch is
turned on.

Question - How/where is the wireless switch accessed?

Follow-up question- If I get the system working, what are the bare minimum
security settings I'll need for use in public areas.
What/where is this switch?

Since you neglected to tell us what make and model laptop you have, the best you
can expect in any response is a guess. I've seen some laptops with a button
above and to the right of the keyboard that will turn the wireless adapter on
and off. I've also seen one with the button on the front edge to the right of
the latch.

You might want to examine the buttons and switches on your laptop and look for
one with an icon similar to this imprinted on it.

Wireless icon
http://dellresell.com/Ebay Content/Online Content/Laptop Parts Images/wireless-icon.gif

You might want to check the manual for your laptop for more info. You can
usually download the manual from the manufacturer's web site.

Good luck

Nepatsfan

 

[nicnat]

You access it in whatever way the manual for whatever wireless switch
you have tells you to (manual) - or you don't at all if it is not
*your* wireless switch unless the owner of the wireless switch give s
you the right to do so (and you would still access it per the
manual's instructions.)
It is not necessary - for most - to access the wireless switch in the
manner you seem to be asking about in order to connect to a wireless
network.

You have the system working in-as-far-as you can without a wireless
system to connect to.


Where ever the owner of said switch (whatever brand it may be)
decided to put it is "where". As for what - whater the owner of said
switch decided to purchase, install and configure. (Go to a place
that sells computer networking equipment (Wal-Mart, SAMs, Target,
Circuit City, Best Buy, Office Depot, Office Max, Sears, etc...) and
look at the Wireless Access Points they sell by LinkSys, D-Link,
NetGear, etc. That is what we are talking about here in most cases.

Really! I think this response was way off base. The switch the OP is
referring to is very likely a physical switch on his/her laptop and
decidedly not a wireless accees point (ie switch). The OP should just
examine the laptop and look for a switch on the front/back/side or keyboard
area that will turn off/on the laptop wireless card. On my Sony Vaio, the
switch is along the front edge. Turning it off when not accessing a wireless
network conserves battery power.

 

[Shenan Stanley]

PT wrote:

I do so, and the wireless icon now appears with an X through it. I also
get a message to the effect that there are no wireless
networks in range (quite possibly true where I live), and that I
should make sure my wireless switch is turned on.

Question - How/where is the wireless switch accessed?

<snipped>

Shenan Stanley wrote:

Where ever the owner of said switch (whatever brand it may be)
decided to put it is "where". As for what - whater the owner of
said switch decided to purchase, install and configure. (Go to a
place that sells computer networking equipment (Wal-Mart, SAMs,
Target, Circuit City, Best Buy, Office Depot, Office Max, Sears,
etc...) and look at the Wireless Access Points they sell by
LinkSys, D-Link, NetGear, etc. That is what we are talking about
here in most cases.

<snipped>

Really! I think this response was way off base. The switch the OP
is referring to is very likely a physical switch on his/her laptop
and decidedly not a wireless accees point (ie switch). The OP
should just examine the laptop and look for a switch on the
front/back/side or keyboard area that will turn off/on the laptop
wireless card. On my Sony Vaio, the switch is along the front
edge. Turning it off when not accessing a wireless network
conserves battery power.

Possibly - but the OP left out make/model and did say they received a
message about "no wireless networks in range" (which would seem strange if
the wireless network card was turned off by the physical switch.

If the OP has a Dell - look on the left side of the laptop...