How to set preferred Wi-Fi networks in Windows XP
Posted on April 13, 2009 at 6:35 am
If you travel a lot and use a lot of different WIFI networks, sometimes you will want to set a list of preferred networks to automatically join. The main reason is security, you would not want to connect to a WIFI that you don’t trust, especially if you need to visit sites that contain your private information (SS number, bank details, credit card info, etc).
The other reason is performance, you would not want to connect to a slow network if you have a faster network in range. Sometimes you would forget to connect to the right network so maintaining a list of preferred network is a good idea.
To set a preferred wireless network in Windows, enter the control panel, then go to the Administrative Tools. Under the administrative tools choose Services:
Make sure that the Windows Zero Configuration is started (if not, just right click it then click START):
Now right click your Wireless Network then choose properties:
Under the Wireless Networks tab look into your “preferred networks” list. If you did not see the “Wireless Networks” tab then you need to go back to the previous step. The “Wireless Networks” tab does not appear if the Windows Zero Configuration is not started.
Remove any network connections that you don’t trust. This way you will not automatically connect to those networks once your laptop gets in range of those networks.
Click the Move up or Move down buttons to change the priority of the wireless networks when connecting. If you are in an apartment complex, this comes in really handy since there may be 10 different wirless networks that your computer detects.
If you don’t set the preferred network, there can be times when your computer will connect to a neighbors network because their signal is stronger due to your location.
In the next post I will show you how to do this in Windows Vista!
Ben Carigtan shows you how it’s done.
» Filed Under Windows XP
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This solved my issue with Windows XP. How do you do the same with Vista.Thx
i have a dial up internet. i want to use it in my e71. is it possible. i have linksys wireless-g usb adapter. how to configure my adapter for it? pls reply
You cannot use wireless with dial up internet. You will have to upgrade to broadband internet. Your best option would probably be to go with DSL. Cable is faster, but also more expensive. If DSL or Cable is not an option the only other option is Satellite Internet. WildBlue is your best bet for Satellite Internet. I have a lot of information of this type on my website. Just Google MyBlueDish and my website should be the first to come up.