Connect Windows to a Wireless Network

[Introduction]

Introduction

The purpose of these instructions is to help you configure your Windows computer and wireless network card to connect to a wireless router (or wireless access point; from now on, the terms "router" and "access point" will be used interchangeably).

These instructions assume that you have Internet access, such as Cruzio DSL, or that you are at a location with access, such as an Internet café; and that you will be connecting to a wireless router that has previously been installed and configured. If you need one, you can purchase a wireless router online or at the Cruzio store.

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Windows 7 or Windows Vista

1. First, make sure that your wireless card is on. If the wireless card is integrated into the computer, you may have to press a button to turn it on. Please check the documentation that came with your computer to make sure.
2. Right-click the Network Connection icon in the System Tray, located in the Taskbar, and select "Connect to a network."
3. In the next window, select the desired network by name. (If Cruzio configured the router for your network, we will have provided you with your network name, or SSID.) Click Connect.
4. If the router has security measures in place (if Cruzio configured the router, it will), you'll be asked for a password. Enter the password (if the router was configured for you by Cruzio, we will have provided you with the password) and click OK.

You should now be connected wirelessly to the Internet.

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Windows XP

1. First, make sure that the wireless card is on. If the wireless card is integrated into the computer, you may have to press a button to turn it on. Please check the documentation that came with your computer to make sure.

2. If there are no security measures on the router, Windows may have already connected to it. You can check this by mousing over the Wireless Network Connection icon in the System Tray. If it shows the network name and signal strength, you are now connected wirelessly.

   If it does not:

   1. Right-click the Wireless Network Connection icon in the System Tray and select View Available Wireless Networks.

   2. In the next window, select the desired network by name (If Cruzio configured the router for your network, we will have provided you with your network name, or SSID) and click Connect.

      If the Connect button is grayed out, you may have to first check the box that says "Connect to this unsecured network."

   3. If the router has security measures in place (if Cruzio configured the router, it will), you'll be asked for a password. Enter the password (if the router was configured by Cruzio, we will have provided you with the password) and click OK.

You should now be connected wirelessly to the Internet.

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What do I do if I cannot connect, or get frequently disconnected?

• If there are security measures in place on the router, such as MAC address filtering, access could be denied. Make sure you are aware of any security measures before proceeding.
• The network's name, or SSID (Service Set Identifier), may have changed. If the network is your own, connect to your router with your web browser (with a wired connection) and check the SSID settings.
• The network's password may have changed. You may need to force your computer to forget the network, so you can make a fresh connection using the new password. See these how-tos for forgetting a wireless network on Windows XP, Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8.
• If you want to connect to a network using WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access), and you are running Windows XP but not Service Pack 2, you will need to upgrade to Service Pack 2. This is a free download using Windows Update. Cruzio can also help you do this. Call Cruzio at (831) 459-6301 for more information.
• You may have interference from other wireless routers in your area broadcasting on the same channel as yours. See this article about causes of wireless interference and possible solutions. If the router is your own, connect to your router with your web browser (with a wired connection), and try changing your router's wireless channel. The recommended choices to try first are 1, 6, and 11.
• You may be out of range of the router. Try moving closer. If the router is your own, try moving the router to a different location. Try moving it higher or lower as well. If the network is your own, you may want to consider purchasing a signal booster. Many companies sell boosters that will increase the signal of your router.
• If you've gotten this far and are still having problems, read this Microsoft article on improving your wireless network, and follow the recommended troubleshooting steps.

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My wireless connection was working just fine, but now it's not!

Often, rebooting the router will get things working again. Pull the power out of the router, wait for five seconds, and plug it back in. You may want to reboot your computer, or take out your wireless PC card and put it back in.

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