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Make a Basic Network Connection in Microsoft(R) Windows 2000: Intel(R) PRO/Wireless Network Connection User's Guide

Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Network Connection
Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 2915ABG Network Connection
Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 2200BG Network Connection

Use Microsoft(R) Windows 2000 to Connect to a Network
View the Status of your Wireless Connection

Use Microsoft(R) Windows 2000 to Connect to a Network

This document assumes that your wireless card is already installed in your system and the software has been installed. If you did not receive your wireless card as part of a system, refer to the Setup Guide that came with your wireless card for hardware and software installation instructions.

To see if you have a wireless card installed:

  1. From your Windows desktop, right-click My Computer.
  2. Select Properties.
  3. Click Device Manager from the Hardware tab.
  4. Double-click Network adapters.
  5. If a supported wireless card is installed, either Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Network Connection, Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 2915ABG Network Connection or Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 2200BG Network Connection is listed.

If you use Microsoft Windows 2000, you must use Intel(R) PROSet/Wireless to configure your wireless card. This procedure is discussed in this section.
NOTE: It is recommended that you use Microsoft Windows XP or Intel PROSet/Wiress to configure profiles for your network connections. If you need to configure profiles that use Cisco specific settings, for example, LEAP, you need to use Intel PROSet/Wireless.  Refer to Make a Basic Network Connection in Windows XP for information on wireless network profile configurations with Microsoft Windows as your wireless manager.

Intel PROSet/Wireless automatically detects wireless networks that are within range of your wireless adapter. When a network is found, a desktop alert displays: Wireless networks found. Click the desktop alert to open the Intel PROSet/Wireless main window. See Taskbar Icons for more information.

  1. Double-click the desktop alert. The Intel PROSet/Wireless main window opens.
  2. Select a network from the wireless networks list.
  3. Click Connect. Once connected to a wireless network, a profile is added to the Profile list.

If the network does not require security authentication, a desktop alert notifies you that you are connected to the network. Refer to Intel PROSet/Wireless Main Window and Taskbar Icons for more information on the taskbar menu and icons.

If you need to add security authentication:

  1. Click Profiles on the Intel PROSet/Wireless main window. The Profiles list displays.
  2. Select the wireless network that you are connected to and click Properties. The Profile Wizard General Settings opens.
  3. Click Next to open the Security Settings. The default setting is None, which indicates that there is no security on this wireless network.
  4. Click Personal Security if you are a home user who only needs to use a simple security procedures or Enterprise Security if you need to add 802.1x security features.
  5. Configure the security settings. Refer to Configure Advanced Network Security Settings in Microsoft(R) Windows 2000 for more information.
  6. Click OK to return to the Profile list.
  7. Click OK to connect to the wireless network.

Use Intel PROSet/Wireless to configure a Network Profile in Infrastructure Mode

To connect to a wireless network, use Intel PROSet/Wireless to configure a network profile for that network on your computer. Refer to Use Intel PROSet/Wireless for instructions about how to launch Intel PROSet/Wireless.

First use the Profile Wizard to create a new profile to connect to a network. Select the network in the Available Wireless Networks list. Click Connect to connect to the network access point. Refer to Create a Profile for more information.

Follow the applicable instruction set below, based on whether the network requires network security key information. Check with your network administrator or access point installer to see if network key information is required.

Configure your Infrastructure Network with No Security

To configure a new profile with no security:

  1. Double-click the Intel PROSet/Wireless icon on the desktop taskbar, or click Start > Programs > Intel PROSet Wireless > Intel PROSet Wireless. The Intel(R) PROSet/Wireless main window open.
  2. From the Intel PROSet/Wireless main window, click Profiles. The Profiles page opens.

  1. Click Add to open the General Settings.

  1. Profile Name: Enter a descriptive profile name.
  2. Wireless Network Name (SSID): Enter the network identifier.
  3. Operating Mode: Select Network (Infrastructure).
  4. Click Next to open the Security Settings.

  1. Click Personal Security.
  2. Security Settings: None is selected as the default data encryption.
  3. Click OK to save your settings and close the Security Settings. The profile is added to the Profiles list.

If there is more than one profile, the profile is positioned at the bottom of the Profiles list. Use the up and down arrows to position it at the top of the list.

  1. Click Connect to connect to the wireless network.
  2. To verify the status of your wireless connection, refer to View the Status of your Wireless Connection.

Configure your Infrastructure Network with WEP Security

The following describes how to edit an existing profile and apply Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) encryption.
NOTE: Before you begin, have the Wireless Security Password (Encryption Key) available for the access point. The person who configured your access point is the only one who knows the Encryption Key used by the access point.

To configure a profile with WEP security:

  1. Double-click the Intel PROSet/Wireless icon in the desktop taskbar, or click Start > All Programs > Intel PROSet /Wireless > Intel PROSet Wireless.
  2. Click Profiles on the Intel PROSet/Wireless main window .
  3. Select the profile from the Profiles list and click Properties. The General Settings opens.
  1. Click Next to open the Security Settings.


  2. Select Personal Security.
  3. Security Settings: Select WEP-64 bit or WEP- 128 bit as the data encryption.
  4. Wireless Security Password (WEP Key): Enter the password characters.

NOTE: The network key information is case-sensitive

  1. Key Index: Select a key index number 1, 2, 3, or 4. Key selection must correspond to the network key on the access point.
  2. Click OK. to save the settings and close the Security Settings.
  3. Click Connect to connect to the wireless network.
  4. To verify the status of your wireless connection, refer to View the Status of your Wireless Connection.
Your basic configuration is now complete. If your network required advanced security options, click on the appropriate link below for advanced configuration instructions.

Configure Advanced Network Security Settings in Microsoft(R) Windows XP: Use Microsoft Windows XP Support.

Configure Advanced Network Security Settings in Microsoft(R) Windows 2000: Use Intel PROSet/Wireless.

View the Status of Your Wireless Connection

The wireless network connection icon in the bottom right corner of the windows desktop indicates your current connection status connection, as shown in the following illustration.
Connection Icon Connection Status Icon/Color Action
Connected Green icon with waves that reflect signal quality. The more waves mean better signal quality. Connected to a wireless network. Tool tip displays network name, speed, and signal quality.
Connecting

White icon with green waves

You have clicked the Connect button to connect to a wireless network. Tool tip displays: "Connecting to Network Name… please wait."

Network found Yellow icon. An available wireless network is found. Click the icon to display the Wireless Networks, select the network, and click the Connect button.
None Green icon with a yellow warning triangle. Not able to authenticate with wireless network.
None

Red icon.  

 There are no available wireless networks found. Intel PROSet/Wireless periodically scans for available networks. If you want to force a scan, double-click the icon to launch Intel PROSet/Wireless and click the Refresh button.
None White icon with animation. The wireless adapter searches for any available wireless networks.
No connection The icon is white with a red X. The wireless adapter is off. Refer to Enable or Disable the Wireless Radio for information on how to turn on the wireless radio.

After you are connected, a signal quality icon on the Intel PROSet/Wireless main windows indicates the quality of your current wireless connection. The signal can vary from poor to excellent depending on the surroundings and quality of the signal from the access point or computer.

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