If you are using Windows XP as your wireless manager the following described how to enable Intel(R) PROSet for Wireless as your wireless manager.
Use the Advanced Setting to configure your network connection preferences, and profile management option.
To access the Advanced Settings:
Advanced Settings:
Auto-connection
Connection preference
Infrastructure wireless mode selection
Profile management
11b/11g mixed environment protection protocol
Advanced Security
Refer to System Wide Settings for more about profile management options in Advanced Settings.
Profile Management Options
The following Profile Management options can be found in Advanced Settings.
Display available networks when not associated: When cleared, disables the Intel(R) PROSet for Wireless wireless manager dialog listing the available networks. When checked, the Intel Configuration Service running in the background automatically displays available networks not listed in the Profile List. This method provides automatic connection to available networks in the range of your wireless adapter. The Configuration Service constantly monitors your wireless adapter's connection status. If no matching profiles are found in the Profile List for a network, a dialog automatically displays the available network access points and computers (ad hoc mode) within range of the wireless adapter. The Configuration Service can also be used if there is more than one wireless adapter installed using 802.11b bands. When the Intel Configuration Service dialog is displayed, listing the available networks, checking "Don’t show this again" option, will prevent the dialog from displaying again if the adapter becomes unassociated. The Configuration Service will continue to function and attempt to connect, using a profile from the Profile List, or to an available network depending on the selection mode. This means that if Connect Using Preferred Profiles Only is selected and no matching profile is found, then the adapter will remain unassociated. You can still use the Connect button from the Networks tab to connect to an available network.
Notify when disabling profile management features:
Check: If Intel(R) PROSet for Wireless is currently managing your wireless adapter a message dialog displays "Windows XP is managing your profiles" if Windows XP Zero Configuration becomes enabled.
If any other wireless manager (not Windows XP wireless manager) becomes enabled the message dialog displays "Another wireless LAN utility is communicating with the Intel(R) PRO/Wireless LAN adapter. To avoid conflicts, Intel(R) PROSet for Wireless has temporarily disabled its Profile Management features."
Clear: If Intel(R) PROSet for Wireless is currently managing your wireless adapter you will not be notified in the event that Windows XP Zero Configuration or any other wireless manager becomes enabled.
In the event that Windows XP Zero Configuration is enabled, and this box is cleared, or you answer no to the above question, the Connect button on the Profile page cannot be used to connect to any available networks. The Scan button can be used to scan for available networks. However, the Connect button is non-functioning when used to connect to an available network.
Notify when Windows XP Zero Configuration is enabled:
Check: If the box is checked, when Intel(R) PROSet for Wireless starts up, a message dialog displays "Windows XP is managing your profiles" if Windows XP Zero Configuration is enabled, indicating that Windows XP is currently configured to manage the wireless adapter. Do you wish to disable Windows XP management and let Intel(R) PROSet for Wireless manage your wireless network?
Clear: If the box is cleared, when Intel(R) PROSet for Wireless starts up, you will not be notified in the event that Windows XP Zero Configuration wireless manager is enabled.
Enable Profile Management Features: If the box is checked, it indicates that Intel(R) PROSet for Wireless is configured to manage your wireless adapter. If cleared, Windows XP is the wireless network manager.
The Configuration Service feature operates in background to automatically display available networks not listed in the Profile List. This method provides automatic connection in a 2.4 environment to available networks in the range of your wireless adapter. The Configuration Service constantly monitors your wireless adapter's connection status. If no matching profiles are found in the Profile List for a network, a dialog automatically displays the available network access points and computers (ad hoc mode) within range of the wireless adapter. The Configuration Service can also be used if there is more than one wireless adapter installed using 802.11b band.
The Configuration Service features:
The Configuration Service can be used in two ways:
The Configuration Service also monitors for the "resume status" after a laptop computer suspend event. When this occurs, the Configuration Service will re-enable the automatic connection service.
These features can be enabled again after rebooting your computer or after a suspend and resume cycle.
Features affected when another profile management application is detected
For AAA Client:
Select OK, and the AAA Client application will manage the adapter. The current connection will continue with the affected Intel(R) PROSet for Wireless features show below. To avoid conflicts, the Intel(R) PROSet for Wireless profile management features have been temporarily disabled. To re-enable these features, first disable the other LAN utility and then either:
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NOTE: AAA Client Wireless Manager - If Intel(R) PROSet for Wireless detects another wireless AAA client manager, a notification dialog displays, if you choose "OK" on this dialog, the Intel(R) PROSet for Wireless profile management features are automatically disabled. The Advanced Setting "Notify when disabling profile management features" check box must be checked in order to display the notification dialog if Windows XP Zero Configuration in not enabled. The default setting is enabled (checked). |
For Windows XP Zero Configuration:
Affected Intel(R) PROSet for Wireless features:
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NOTE: If the buttons described above are used, the following message displays: "Another wireless LAN utility is communicating with the Intel(R) PRO/Wireless LAN adapter. To avoid conflicts, Intel(R) PROSet for Wireless has temporarily disabled its Profile Management features." |
A fast way to connect to a network is to use the Scan
button to search for a network access point in range of your
wireless adapter. When a network is found, you can instantly
connect without a profile or
create a new profile.
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NOTE: Profiles with the Enable Auto-Import feature enabled will also be displayed in the profile list of available networks. Refer to Automatic Profile Distribution for more information. |
To scan for available networks:
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NOTE: If the selected network has 802.1x authentication, you must first create a profile using the Profile Wizard. However, if the network has no WEP security (Open), WEP 64 or 128-bit encryption, or WPA-PSK, you can enter the required security settings in the dialog that displays after clicking the Connect button. Then a one time connection without a profile can be made. |
- The selected network has WPA security settings: If the selected network has 802.1x authentication security settings, after clicking the Connect button, the Profile Wizard Advanced Security page will display. From this dialog you can enter the 802.1x settings and connect to the network.
- The selected network has no (Open) WEP security settings: If the selected network has no security (Open). Click the Connect button to connect to the network.
- The selected network has WEP or WPA-PSK security settings: If the selected network has WEP encryption security settings, after clicking the Connect button, the Profile Wizard Advanced Security page will display. From this dialog you can enter the WEP security settings and connect to the network.
An infrastructure network consists of one or more access points and one or more computers with wireless adapters installed. Each access point must have a wired connection to the Local Area Network (LAN).
You can connect to a network by first creating a new profile using the Profile Wizard, then selecting that profile to connect to the network access point using the Connect button. You can also connect to a network, by using the Scan button. Refer to Creating a New Profile for more information.
Connect or Start an Ad Hoc Network
Start an Ad Hoc Network
Ending an Ad Hoc Session
Creating an Ad Hoc Profile Using the Profile Wizard
In peer-to-peer (ad hoc) mode, you can send and receive information to other computers in an ad hoc network. All wireless clients in the ad hoc network must use the same network name (SSID) and channel number. For a list of allowed 802.11b ad hoc channels, refer to the Adapter Settings for more information.
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NOTE: While scanning with an ad hoc profile set to a specific transmit channel, if an ad hoc network is found on another channel, you will be connected using the new channel. The new channel number is displayed in the Adapter Settings. |
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NOTE: For information about connecting to an ad hoc using a profile, refer to Create an Ad Hoc Profile using the Profile Wizard. |
Connect to an ad hoc network using a profile
Join an ad hoc network without a profile
You can start an ad hoc network by using your computer as a wireless station. This method uses your computer's SSID to establish the ad hoc network for other users to connect to. When you are the originator of an ad hoc network, all other users must use the channel and SSID.
To end an ad hoc session, click the default profile in the Profile List and click the Close button.
The following describes how to create a new ad hoc profile using the Profile Wizard and connect to an ad hoc network
General Settings
Security Settings
Password Protection Settings
Connect to the Network
When your computer is switched on, if the radio is enabled
it is constantly transmitting signals. In certain situations,
such as landing or takeoff of an airplane, the radio signals
may need to be turned off, if not these signals may cause
interference. The following describes how to use your keyboard
(if this option is available) and Intel(R) PROSet for Wireless to switch the
radio on or off.
The radio can be enabled or disabled from your computer
keyboard, the task tray wireless menu option and from Intel(R)
PROSet for Wireless. The current status of the radio is displayed in the
task tray wireless icon and on the General page.
Using the optional hardware radio on/off
switch
The radio can enabled or disabled from your keyboard, or from
an external hardware switch if these options are available.
Refer to your computer manufacturer for more information.
Intel(R) PROSet for Wireless displays the current state of the radio on the
General page if one of these option is installed.
Using Intel(R) PROSet for Wireless to switch the radio on/off
The radio can be switched on or off from General page in
Intel(R) PROSet for Wireless. The current state of the radio is
displayed in the wireless adapter task tray menu option. The
General page also displays the current state of the radio if
the hardware option is installed.
Switching the radio On/Off
Note: When your laptop is switched on, the radio is
constantly transmitting signals. In certain situations, such as
in a plane, signals from the radio may cause interference.
To switch the radio OFF: From the General page;
click the Off button next to Switch Radio
On/Off.
To switch the radio ON: From the General page;
click the On button next to Switch Radio On/Off.
When the radio is on, an attempt will be made to associate with
the network access point using the last profile. If the adapter
cannot connect to the access point, the Configuration Service
will attempt to find an available network. Refer to Configuration Service for more
information.
Right-click the wireless icon in the task tray and select the wireless adapter being used. Depending on the previous state of the radio, select Switch Radio Off (radio is already ON, select to turn OFF) or Switch Radio On (radio is already OFF, select to turn ON).
The radio can be disabled (made non-functional) via the Windows operating system using Device Manager.
For Windows XP and 2000:
The following advanced options are available in the Windows Device Manager Advanced tab if Intel(R) PROSet for Wireless is not installed. If PROSet for Wireless is installed the Advanced tab displays the Open button. Selected this button to open PROSet for Wireless.
To access the Advanced options:
Advanced tab option under Windows XP and 2000:
To install the 802.1x password synchronization capability feature (Use Windows Logon), you must first uninstall Intel(R) PROSet for Wireless then reinstall Intel(R) PROSet for Wireless with the 802.1x password synchronization capability feature.
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NOTE: Windows XP Fast Switching and the Welcome screen are disabled when 802.1x Password Synchronization Capability is installed. |
To uninstall the 802.1x password synchronization capability feature (Use Windows Logon), you must first uninstall Intel(R) PROSet for Wireless then reinstall Intel(R) PROSet for Wireless without the 802.1x password synchronization capability feature.
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NOTE: Windows XP Fast Switching and the Welcome screen will be enabled when 802.1x Password Synchronization Capability is uninstalled. |
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