Connecting to a wireless network

On my Windows Vista notebook, when I right-click on the network icon in
the system tray, I get several choices, including "Connect to a
Network". Choosing that option gives me a box showing all the available
wireless networks in the vicinity. I can choose one and I'm done. On my
Windows 7 Starter Edition netbook, I only get a couple of options,
Help, and "Open Network Sharing Center". I have to jump through several
more hoops after that to connect to an available wireless access point.

Why the difference? Is it a Win7 vs. Vista thing? Is it a Starter
thing? I'd like the netbook to be able to connect more conveniently
than it does. Are there third-party connection managers worth
considering?

"Nil" <> wrote in message
news:Xns9DE2D49DC386Dnilch1@130.133.4.11...
> On my Windows Vista notebook, when I right-click on the network icon in
> the system tray, I get several choices, including "Connect to a
> Network". Choosing that option gives me a box showing all the available
> wireless networks in the vicinity. I can choose one and I'm done. On my
> Windows 7 Starter Edition netbook, I only get a couple of options,
> Help, and "Open Network Sharing Center". I have to jump through several
> more hoops after that to connect to an available wireless access point.
>
> Why the difference? Is it a Win7 vs. Vista thing? Is it a Starter
> thing? I'd like the netbook to be able to connect more conveniently
> than it does. Are there third-party connection managers worth
> considering?

On my Win7 Home Premium, all I have to do is left click on the network icon
and a box comes up with all available networks listed. If I right click, I
get 'Troubleshoot problems' and 'Open network and sharing center.' I have
the regular networks that I use listed in the Network and Sharing Center,
and have them set as auto-connect. If I'm on the road, I just left click and
pick the one I want (such as the hotel's wireless).
--
SC Tom
-There's no such thing as TMI when asking for tech support.

On 8/28/2010 7:54 PM, Nil wrote:
> On my Windows Vista notebook, when I right-click on the network icon in
> the system tray, I get several choices, including "Connect to a
> Network". Choosing that option gives me a box showing all the available
> wireless networks in the vicinity. I can choose one and I'm done. On my
> Windows 7 Starter Edition netbook, I only get a couple of options,
> Help, and "Open Network Sharing Center". I have to jump through several
> more hoops after that to connect to an available wireless access point.
>
> Why the difference? Is it a Win7 vs. Vista thing? Is it a Starter
> thing? I'd like the netbook to be able to connect more conveniently
> than it does. Are there third-party connection managers worth
> considering?

For what it's worth, my copy of Win 7 Pro does the same thing.

As for third-party connection managers, I have not used any of them.

On 28 Aug 2010, "SC Tom" <> wrote in alt.windows7.general:

> On my Win7 Home Premium, all I have to do is left click on the
> network icon and a box comes up with all available networks
> listed. If I right click, I get 'Troubleshoot problems' and 'Open
> network and sharing center.' I have the regular networks that I
> use listed in the Network and Sharing Center, and have them set as
> auto-connect. If I'm on the road, I just left click and pick the
> one I want (such as the hotel's wireless).

Doh! Somehow, I never thought to left-click. I just did, and sure
enough, there they are, all the wireless networks in the area.

I know Microsoft often pisses people off by seemingly arbitrarily
changing things, but I should have known that they would be making
wireless networking easier rather then more difficult.

"Nil" <> wrote in message
news:Xns9DE2DD1D7D2FCnilch1@130.133.4.11...
> On 28 Aug 2010, "SC Tom" <> wrote in alt.windows7.general:
>
>> On my Win7 Home Premium, all I have to do is left click on the
>> network icon and a box comes up with all available networks
>> listed. If I right click, I get 'Troubleshoot problems' and 'Open
>> network and sharing center.' I have the regular networks that I
>> use listed in the Network and Sharing Center, and have them set as
>> auto-connect. If I'm on the road, I just left click and pick the
>> one I want (such as the hotel's wireless).
>
> Doh! Somehow, I never thought to left-click. I just did, and sure
> enough, there they are, all the wireless networks in the area.
>
> I know Microsoft often pisses people off by seemingly arbitrarily
> changing things, but I should have known that they would be making
> wireless networking easier rather then more difficult.

Sometimes it's the easy things we miss. Glad it's working for you!
--
SC Tom
-There's no such thing as TMI when asking for tech support.