How to set up a wireless network in Windows XP

If you have a router or access point, you are setting up what is called an infrastructure network. Windows XP has a wizard to help you choose the correct settings. To set up a new wireless network, follow this procedure:

1. Open My Network Places from the Start menu. In the Network Tasks list, select Set Up a Wireless Network for a Home or Small Office. When the wizard appears, select Set Up a New Wireless Network.

2. In the first screen enter a name for your wireless network, and indicate whether you want Windows to create a random key for you, or if you want to enter your own. Also, if all of your wireless equipment supports WPA encryption, check the Use WPA box at the bottom of the screen. Then, click Next.

3. If you elected to enter the key manually, Windows will display a page asking for the network key. Unless you're concerned that someone is peeking over your shoulder, uncheck Hide Characters as I Type. Enter 26 hexadecimal digits (digits 09 and/or letters AF; upper/lowercase doesn't matter), and enter it again to confirm. Click Next to proceed.

4. Now for the clever part. If you have one of those USB-based keychain Flash memory devices, or if you have a USB-connected digital camera memory card reader that presents the memory cards as disk drives on your computer, you can use this device to copy the settings from one computer to another, and even to your wireless router if it has a USB port. What Windows will do is to copy a file containing the settings, and an "autoplay" program that will load the settings when you plug the card into each computer. (You can also make this selection and use a floppy disk, if you want.) You can also choose to copy the settings manually. Make your selection and click Next.

5. If you chose to use the USB device, Windows will ask you to insert the device, and then select the corresponding drive letter. You can also select your floppy drive here. Click Next and Windows will copy the necessary files.

After Windows copies the files, click Print Network Settings to get a copy of the settings. You'll need this as a backup and may need it to configure your router. Click Next and Windows will prompt you to configure your access point and other computers before proceeding. (When you've done that, come back to this computer, reinsert the USB drive, and click Next so Windows can erase the secret key information from the USB drive.)

If you chose to copy the settings manually, click the Print button and Windows will open up a Notepad window containing the wireless settings. Click File, Print to print a copy. The printout will look like this:

Wireless Network Settings

Print this document and store it in a safe place for future reference.
You may need these settings to add additional computers and devices to your
network.

Wireless Settings

Network Name (SSID): brians network
Network Key (WEP/WPA Key): bb5976c32f3f4e8d9fc6a0a969
Key Provided Automatically (802.1x): 0
Network Authentication Type: open
Data Encryption Type: WEP
Connection Type: ESS
Key Index: 1

6. At this point, the wizard has already set up the Windows XP computer you're using to automatically connect to your new network, once it's up and running.

7. Configure your router or access point next. If it has a USB port and you're using a USB device, plug the USB memory unit into the router. It should blink its lights and load the settings within 30 seconds. If you're using a manual setup, use the printed list of settings and enter this information into your router's setup screens.

8. Finally, configure the other computers on your network, using one of these methods:

If you're using a USB device, plug the device into the computer. The Wireless Network Setup Wizard should run automatically, and will add the computer to the wireless network.

If you're using a floppy disk, insert the disk in each computer, and use My Computer or Windows Explorer to locate and double-click file SetupSNK.EXE. This will add the computer to the wireless network.

If you're adding computers manually, go to each computer. Use the printed sheet of setup information to add the computer to the network. I'll cover this procedure in the next section.

9. If you're using a USB device, when you're finished with the other computers, go back to the first computer, reinsert the disk, and click Next on the screen remaining from when you first ran the wizard. This will erase the sensitive key information from the USB drive.

If you later need to add more computers to the network, you can rerun the wizard on the computer you started with, and it will walk you through the process of reinstalling the setup software on your USB drive, or reprinting the instruction sheet. Or, you can follow the procedure in the next section to join them to the network manually.

After all your computers have joined the wireless network, just Set up the network.