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How do I connect to a new Wifi network in Windows Vista?I'll admit up front, this might be a pride issue, but now that I'm running Windows Vista on my laptop I find that I don't know what to do when it doesn't pop up a window telling me that there's a new wireless wifi network available. How do I connect to a new network quickly and easily in Vista?? Working with wireless wifi networks in Microsoft Windows Vista is a great example of "one step forward, one step back": it's not that it's any easier or harder to work with than Windows XP used to be, it's just that I personally wish that it did what you're talking about: when it recognizes that you're not connected to any sort of network and it sees wifi networks that are accessible, pop up a window saying "do you want to connect to one of the wireless networks?" But, alas, that's not any sort of functionality I've seen enabled on Vista, so we're left having to go through the steps required to bring up the network connection window, find the wireless network we seek, connect to it, categorize it, etc. Let's go through these steps so you can see what I'm talking about. First off, you'll know you aren't connected to the network because you'll see this on the lower right corner of the window: Move your cursor over the disconnected networking icon and you'll see: ![]() Click on the tiny icon and you'll get a slightly different window with a very important option: ![]() Choose "Connect to a network" and you'll be moved to a list of wifi networks: ![]() In this case I'm going to connect to "The Cup - backroom", which is an open network without a password required. I click on it, then click "Connect" and it warns me: ![]() Yeah, I'm good with that. I proceed by clicking on "Connect Anyway", thanks for the warning, and proceed to: ![]() This is an important step and I encourage you to pick the right one for your network connection (and I also suggest that if you connect at a friend's house, choose "work" or "public", saving "Home" for your own home only. What this affects is how open your computer is to the rest of the network: you don't want to be paranoid at your own house, but you don't want to leave your computer wide open for nefarious access in a public setting either! I'll choose "Public location" since that's where I am, a café, and Vista then does the work of actually connecting to the wireless network: ![]() Looking good! Now one more option: do I want to save this network connection and configuration so the next time I'm here it's easier to connect? ![]() That's easy enough. Choose to save it (or not) and: ![]() Hurray! Now you're online and if you move your cursor over the tiny network connection icon, you'll see something more interesting and useful: ![]() So that's the easy way to work with wireless wifi networks in Windows Vista. Hope that helps you feel accomplished!!
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(Article 8868,
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Tagged: wifi, windows vista, wireless networks Previous: How do I customize my archive filename format in Movable Type 4? Next: Prince of Persia Walkthrough V: Defeating the Warrior Reader Comments To Date: 5Dave Taylor said, on May 12, 2009 2:37 PM:
Sherry, that's a great question. I actually have no idea what the mystery "unidentified network" is but I know that it's always present whether I have wifi networks in range or not. My theory is that it's some goofy bug, actually, but perhaps someone from Microsoft can set us right? :-) Phil Cooper said, on July 15, 2009 1:03 PM:
I don't get the screen that allows you to click "save this network" and "start automatically" anymore. I guess you only get this the first time you access a network. But now the problem is that your computer will keep logging on to the wrong (neighbor's) router if you ever chose that one. How do Vista users prevent automatic network connections (that used to be okay?) Patty Ervin said, on February 10, 2011 12:59 PM:
I have a Netgear router. I run my desktop (wired) and 3 laptops off of it, wireless. One of the laptops is running Vista and connects flawlessly. This is the one I'm writing this from. I tried to connect another laptop, running Vista. It discovers the network and I go through all the above steps but it will continue to only connect locally. It will not access the internet. I have compared all the settings (I think) within both computers and cannot find what the difference is. I'm ready to just give up!!!! Please help!!!!! Helene said, on January 2, 2012 1:20 PM:
This info did not help me as I am working with Windows XP. NOT VISTA. Could you please resend solution?
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Thanks for the wonderful example and pictures. Now, can you please explain just what the unidentified network. I saw it for the first time this week on one friend's computer but it's not on mine or other friends' computers. In the case where I saw it, it was actually an ethernet connection and a second one had to be connected even though there was no wireless.