Your wireless network and setup and steps you need for Windows.

Quick and easy wireless network and setup and steps.

Fighting with Windows: Getting Wireless Set Up

Even though it shouldn't happen too often, here's a short guide about what you should do when you've installed all your wireless equipment but Windows does not allow you to start the connections.

Insert the CD

Besides plugging your card in, remember to insert the CD that came with it to install the drivers. If you've already done that, but the connection does not work, you might have to update your drivers by clicking on the manufacturer's website.

The instructions here are applicable in the case of Windows XP. If you plan to use Windows XP, what you will have to do next varies depending on the manufacturer of your wireless equipment - so, always read your manual.

Use the Wireless Network Setup Wizard

First of all, you need to start by creating a wireless network even though it is simple to use Windows to connect to an existing wireless network. The good news is that once you're done with it, your entire network will be capable of connecting, regardless of whether the computer you used to generate the network is switched on again.

Open the Wireless Network Setup Wizard by going to the Start Menu: choose All Programs, Accessories, and then Communications. There you will find it. If not, visit Microsoft's Windows Update at http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com to have it.

When the wizard has appeared, click Next after having read the welcome message. Come up with a unique name for your network. This can consist of maximum 32 letters, but keep in mind that some day somebody might get to see this name! Then, tick the box if you purchased equipment having WPA (stronger encryption). Click Next once again.

Choose the manual setup, unless you have a USB flash drive. At this stage you only have to print out some settings and enter them into your other computers. Actually, you can usually skip this step if you don't use encryption.

It Still Doesn't Connect

The next step is to right-click on the wireless icon in the bottom-right corner of your screen on one of your other computers. This should actually look like a little computer having two lines on the right. Choose 'View Available Wireless Networks' from the menu to see a list of your networks' range. Find the name of your own network, the one you chose in the setup wizard before. If you have a router, this name is likely to be the name of the equipment's manufacturer.

Keep in mind that whenever you wish to connect to a wireless network other than your usual one this is the screen you should look for. Double click the one you want, and after a while it should definitely work.

What usually happens is that your computer tries to connect to some other network close to you, which might for example belong to your neighbors. Actually, depending on the range of their wireless network, you may easily be able to receive their signal too. Even though it might seem funny to go through all their shared files, what you need to do now is to get rid of their wireless network to make your connection possible.

Getting on Your Network

Click 'Change the order of preferred networks' on the left of the available networks screen to ensure that Windows is aware of your network. In order to add the name of your network go to the 'Add' button, and click 'Remove' to take away those that aren't yours.

After having highlighted your own network, go first to Properties, and then to the Connection section. Do not forget to tick 'Connect when this network is in range'. If the network doesn't work, you will probably need to take your printout from the Wireless Network Setup Wizard and insert that information on every computer.

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