Inconsistent 'Use Windows To Configure My Wireless Network Setting

I'm using a PackardBell laptop with Windows XP. Sometimes when I start the
PC, it connects to my wireless router without any problems. However, ~50% of
the time, my PC does not automatically connect to the router. When his
happens, I can fix teh problem by doing the following:

Go to Control Panel
Click On 'Network Connections'
Right click on 'Wireless Network Connection'
Select 'Properties'
Click on 'Wireless Networks' Tab
Tick the 'Use Windows to configure my Wireless Network Settings'

I can now go online.

in the 50% of cases were the pc connects correctly, if I go through the same
procedure as above, the 'Wireless Networks' tab does not appear, only the
'General' and 'Advanced' Tabs?

Thanks.

You didn't go into all the details of your setup.

Usually, either WZC controls or the installed software for the wireless
card/adaptor controls. When the wireless card software controls, then the WZC
control is disabled.

Sounds like ~50% of the time, the wireless software does not fire up at
bootup, so you have to go to WZC to set it up as new. That's my theory.

I had trouble with the software of Linksys USB adaptor on one PC, working
erratically, so I disabled it, and had WZC take over. But the software and
adaptor worked fine on another PC. And I had the software working OK on yet
another PC.




"patwalsh" wrote:

> I'm using a PackardBell laptop with Windows XP. Sometimes when I start the
> PC, it connects to my wireless router without any problems. However, ~50% of
> the time, my PC does not automatically connect to the router. When his
> happens, I can fix teh problem by doing the following:
>
> Go to Control Panel
> Click On 'Network Connections'
> Right click on 'Wireless Network Connection'
> Select 'Properties'
> Click on 'Wireless Networks' Tab
> Tick the 'Use Windows to configure my Wireless Network Settings'
>
> I can now go online.
>
> in the 50% of cases were the pc connects correctly, if I go through the same
> procedure as above, the 'Wireless Networks' tab does not appear, only the
> 'General' and 'Advanced' Tabs?
>
> Thanks.

Hi
Make sure that the original Wireless Utility is not automatically loading at
Startup and competes with Windows Zero Configuration.
My New Wireless does not work - http://www.ezlan.net/wireless.html
Jack (MVP-Networking).

"FrankChin" <> wrote in message
newsB06123B-F132-4401-B0CE-...
>
> You didn't go into all the details of your setup.
>
> Usually, either WZC controls or the installed software for the wireless
> card/adaptor controls. When the wireless card software controls, then the
> WZC
> control is disabled.
>
> Sounds like ~50% of the time, the wireless software does not fire up at
> bootup, so you have to go to WZC to set it up as new. That's my theory.
>
> I had trouble with the software of Linksys USB adaptor on one PC, working
> erratically, so I disabled it, and had WZC take over. But the software and
> adaptor worked fine on another PC. And I had the software working OK on
> yet
> another PC.
>
>
>
>
> "patwalsh" wrote:
>
>> I'm using a PackardBell laptop with Windows XP. Sometimes when I start
>> the
>> PC, it connects to my wireless router without any problems. However, ~50%
>> of
>> the time, my PC does not automatically connect to the router. When his
>> happens, I can fix teh problem by doing the following:
>>
>> Go to Control Panel
>> Click On 'Network Connections'
>> Right click on 'Wireless Network Connection'
>> Select 'Properties'
>> Click on 'Wireless Networks' Tab
>> Tick the 'Use Windows to configure my Wireless Network Settings'
>>
>> I can now go online.
>>
>> in the 50% of cases were the pc connects correctly, if I go through the
>> same
>> procedure as above, the 'Wireless Networks' tab does not appear, only the
>> 'General' and 'Advanced' Tabs?
>>
>> Thanks.

Jack:

Seems to me that:

- He got the Wireless utility configured to come up automatically at
startup, WZC disabled.
- The utility either does not come up ~50% of the time, or when it does, is
stuck at "scanning" as in mine.
- When the wireless utiltity does come up, is working, it overrides WZC. He
can't use WZC as it's disabled, by design.
- When it doesn't come up, it doesn't override WZC, he can use WZC, but he
has to connect, since the wireless utility didn't do the connection.

That's the best I can determine based on the described symtoms.

In my case, I fixed it my turning off the wireless utility, and turned on WZC.



"Jack (MVP-Networking)." wrote:

> Hi
> Make sure that the original Wireless Utility is not automatically loading at
> Startup and competes with Windows Zero Configuration.
> My New Wireless does not work - http://www.ezlan.net/wireless.html
> Jack (MVP-Networking).
>
> "FrankChin" <> wrote in message
> newsB06123B-F132-4401-B0CE-...
> >
> > You didn't go into all the details of your setup.
> >
> > Usually, either WZC controls or the installed software for the wireless
> > card/adaptor controls. When the wireless card software controls, then the
> > WZC
> > control is disabled.
> >
> > Sounds like ~50% of the time, the wireless software does not fire up at
> > bootup, so you have to go to WZC to set it up as new. That's my theory.
> >
> > I had trouble with the software of Linksys USB adaptor on one PC, working
> > erratically, so I disabled it, and had WZC take over. But the software and
> > adaptor worked fine on another PC. And I had the software working OK on
> > yet
> > another PC.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > "patwalsh" wrote:
> >
> >> I'm using a PackardBell laptop with Windows XP. Sometimes when I start
> >> the
> >> PC, it connects to my wireless router without any problems. However, ~50%
> >> of
> >> the time, my PC does not automatically connect to the router. When his
> >> happens, I can fix teh problem by doing the following:
> >>
> >> Go to Control Panel
> >> Click On 'Network Connections'
> >> Right click on 'Wireless Network Connection'
> >> Select 'Properties'
> >> Click on 'Wireless Networks' Tab
> >> Tick the 'Use Windows to configure my Wireless Network Settings'
> >>
> >> I can now go online.
> >>
> >> in the 50% of cases were the pc connects correctly, if I go through the
> >> same
> >> procedure as above, the 'Wireless Networks' tab does not appear, only the
> >> 'General' and 'Advanced' Tabs?
> >>
> >> Thanks.
>
>
>