Hi, I have a laptop from my employer to use at home and at work. At work it is networked via a wireless connection and broadband Internet access is via this network. I took it home and set up the connection to work with my own ISP (NTL) and that worked fine.
The problem comes when I take it back to work. It always chooses my ISP connection and I cannot find anywhere to connect via the work network. The only way I've found so far is to delete all my own ISP settings but that's not a convenient solution. I've looked for settings which allows me to choose between the differenct types of connections but to no avail. Does anyone know where that would be please? the laptop has Windows XP.

THanks

ScottGem

You should go into the Network Connections and create multiple connections, one for each location. When you power up, XP will try to make all active connections. If one fails (because its not available) then others will be tried.

I do the same thing. I connect my laptop thru a cable in the office and either wired or wireless at home.

dmhs

Thanks for your reply. This is what I tried before. But I retried it on your advice. However, the dialup ISP connection seems to override the wireless network connection and tries to dial up. I cannot seem to make it choose the netowrk connection. Any suggestions?

Thanks

ScottGem

Make sure that your Internet connections are set to Never dial.

dmhs

They are. Could it be something that the technicians have set up regarding the network that's causing the problem?

ScottGem

Its possible, but I tend to doubt it. Like I said, I have no problems switching back and forth. I would discuss this with your company tech support. Also with the manufacturer of your wireless router.

dmhs

Thanks Scott - will do - at least Iknow I'm doing my bit right now.

ScottGem

Good luck. Lets us know what happens.

phr0ze

Windows tends to get flakey when you have dial up along with one other connection. I think MS could spend a little more time developing that aspect of it. Try removing your dial-up and reinstalling it. Maybe that will get windows to play nice.

g/l

TechProNow

Windows has it's own wireless connection manager for each wireless adapter that is on your computer.

You also have the option of installing software specifically made for the adapter.

Your computer will use one or the other for managing your wireless connection, but not both. The windows software is the platform that either connection manager uses, but only 1 will determine your preferred network, your WEP, ect..

So if you are using the Windows (XP) connection manger for your wireless networks, there is an option in the connection properties
:: Control Panel - Network Connections - Right Click on Wireless Connection, and go to "Properties" ::

In those properties you can choose your "preferred network".. You can add and remove profiles there too. (middle tab - at the bottom)

Which ever profile is first, you computer will try to connect to. If it fails, and you don't have another profile listed for it to try, then it will continue to try and continue to fail. Unless you choose the option to connect to "any available network".

If you have both profiles in your "preferred network" settings, then maybe the WEP key for your work profile was accidently changed when you created your home profile.

But the WEP key is typically the problem.

Confirm your web key, and re-enter it into the profile that you are having a problem with. That should work.

If that doesn't help, then change the order of the preferred network (there is an option to move the preferred network up/down).. Or, if the profile for your problem connection isn't already there, add it (with the correct WEP key).

If that STILL failes. Have your IT department check the MAC filter on their routers to see if your computer is listed as a computer that is allowed access. If it is not listed, you will be denied even if you do use the correct WEP key.

If you still have problems, write back. Otherwise let us know how it goes.

~Ryan