Okay, I'll admit to be a major technoloser for the most part. I'm glad to have you all for support.

I just bought a new laptop for work that has an integrated wireless card. If I go somewhere that has free wi-fi, does it just start up or do I have to subscribe to something?

Really, be gentle on me, its been a long week.

lala

No worries lalala.

It depends on what laptop you have, and if it has Windows XP.

Some laptops, like Fuji, has a physical switch that turns the wi-fi on or off. So obviously you have to switch it to on.

If you're using Windows XP, it will detect the available network. Just double click on the wireless network icon in the windows icon tray, and then depending on what you see, you can either click "connect", or "properties", and fill the in the network information that's required to log onto the network. If you have any questions, should be another laptop user who should be able to help you get logged on. It's actually really easy with XP!

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"If life doesn't offer a game worth playing, then invent a new one."
-Anthony J. D'Angelo

[This message has been edited by UALOneKPlus (edited 10-19-2003).]

Groovy, I have XP.

I didn't want it, but its the new way, the icons are really cute. As for computing, well, I haven't really tried anything too taxing on the new girl, just some powerpointing and crashing my beta mapping software.

lala

Free Wi-fi spots are more and more common, I'd encourage you to become comfortable with your laptops wireless capabilities -- as a frequent traveller you'll find it incredibly useful.

Is this something unique to XP Pro? I have XP Home Edition and I have nothing about Wireless Networking directly in my Start bar.

The only wireless anything I see in XP Home is:

1. Under Start/Control Panel is Wireless Link. But that's just Infrared Wireless stuff.

2. Under Network Connections (from Start/Setting, or Start/Control Panel) I have a "Wireless Connection" there, but I'm pretty sure I set this up when I installed my Netblaster software. But this is not directly in my Start bar and it's not called Wireless Networking.

[This message has been edited by PremEx (edited 10-19-2003).]

PremEx,

I have Windows XP Home Edition on my laptop

Look under Start/Programs/Startup/ for Instant Wireless Configuration Utility.

If it is not there, you can launch it from:

Start/Programs/Wireless Network PC Card/Instant Wireless Configuration Utility.

Once that is done, and the wireless connection is enabled in the Start/Settings/Network Connection window, the wireless network icon will appear in the windows start bar.

[This message has been edited by birdstrike (edited 10-19-2003).]

just install linux. Then I am given to understand that all your configuration problems will disappear and computer life will be just this side of wonderful!

Please see this picture for explanation.

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"If life doesn't offer a game worth playing, then invent a new one."
-Anthony J. D'Angelo

[This message has been edited by UALOneKPlus (edited 10-19-2003).]

Oh. You see, on my XP that's called the Task Bar. The Start Bar is what pops up when you click on the green Start button on the left.

That's why I confused. Thanks.

birdstrike writes: A big zero on either of those in those locations. Can't even find anything by those names in the Help and Support Center.

I have NetBlaster in my Startup group so that when I fire the laptop up it starts NetBlaster and the Wireless Connection automatically. Ba da bing.

But I don't see any of the stuff you have on mine, in either of those locations.

Maybe because NetBlaster is being used, those options don't appear? I don't need them right now of course. Just wondering how XP would do it on it's own if I inserted a Wi-Fi card with no appropriate same-manufacturer driver.

[This message has been edited by PremEx (edited 10-19-2003).]

Very interesting. I must admit I don't have a virgin XP. It has had it's wireless card inserted and the drivers loaded.

I have a Linksys WiFi card. If you use a non-XP system, then the Linksys Wireless Network Connection utility is used. If you have XP, the drivers are loaded from the Linksys CD, but (supposedly) the XP Wireless Network Connection utility is used.

However, to make all this still more confusing, I appear to be using the Linksys version of the utility on XP. Hmmm...

If you to right-click the wireless network connection and select Properties/Wireless Networks/Configure you can start the Windows utility.

Must be a NetBlaster thing...

edit for splng...

[This message has been edited by birdstrike (edited 10-19-2003).]

If I right click on Wireless Connection and select Properties, and then click Configure as you suggest, it take me to the NetBlaster PC Card properties. You know...the window that says "This devise is working properly." There are 4 tabs on this window (General, Advanced, Driver and Resources) but in none of them is there an "Instant Wireless Configuration Utility"

The only 2 things I seem to have anywhere in this area are a "New Connections Set Up Wizard" and a "Network Set Up Wizard."

Oh well. I'm not going to worry too much about it as everything works fine the way it is. Was just curious as to why our XPs seem to be a bit different.

Thanks anyway.

[This message has been edited by PremEx (edited 10-19-2003).]

Your install is the way standard XP Wireless works, PremEX. Birdstrike's install is slightly different due to his wireless card's software that was installed.



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"If life doesn't offer a game worth playing, then invent a new one."
-Anthony J. D'Angelo

wireless as we speak. whoo hoooo. now if they could make a wireless power source that isn't a battery, I would be set.

Very cool this wireless thingie.

lala