The only way I can access the menu which shows available wifi connections on my Acer Aspire 5517 laptop is to click on Control Panel, then click on Network and Internet, then click on Connect to Internet, and then the menu showing available wifi connections appears. Isn't there an easier way?
I have an Xirrus Wifi Monitor as a desktop gadget which allows me to see the connection options with one click, but everyone says I should be able to do it with an icon in the system tray. However, no one can find it.

I found it through another forum. You right click on Start, click on Properties, click on Start Menu, click on Customize, click box that says Connect To, and save settings. Then click on Start and you will find Connect To in the Start Menu. From there you can drag and drop Connect To onto the desktop to create a one click desktop icon. Hopes this helps anyone who has the same question.

Actually it's even easier than that.

Normally there's a network icon in the system tray to show connection status.
You may have to enable it, but then everything can be accessed by right clicking it.

Really depends on your OS.

Curlyben: That's what I thought also, as well as everyone I spoke with about the question. However, when I click on the arrow in the system tray in Windows 7 and then click on customize I find that it isn't in the menu. There's nothing to activate.

In Win7 click on the link that says Turn System Icons On or Off, that should re-enable the networking one as well as power, volume, action centre, etc.