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    When Im at a public place or at a location with another secure wireless network I cant hook up. I normally search for available connections and manually connect. when I try Iget this message "Windows Cannot Configure This wireless Connection" How do I connect and do you have any advise for security settings?

    Friday, August 8, 2008 1:13 AM

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    When you are connecting to a network other than your own, you need to know the settings for that connection point. If it is a secure access point, you would need to have the key in order to connect. This would not be a function or feature of OneCare. OneCare can manage *your* security between your PC and supported wireless routers, but it can't provide you with the key for someone else's secure connection.

    -steve

     

    Friday, August 8, 2008 4:38 PM
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    When you are connecting to a network other than your own, you need to know the settings for that connection point. If it is a secure access point, you would need to have the key in order to connect. This would not be a function or feature of OneCare. OneCare can manage *your* security between your PC and supported wireless routers, but it can't provide you with the key for someone else's secure connection.

    -steve

     

    Friday, August 8, 2008 4:38 PM
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    Are you answering the question I asked? Maybe I didn’t describe my problem well.

     

    When I’m at an airport my computer doest see wireless connections (wifi).

     

    When I’m at my friends shop my computer doesn’t see his wireless network hub… so that I can enter a password.

     

    See my first post. I try to get these connections the way I normally do (In XP I click view wireless networks and the software shows me connections and strengths).

    Onecare seems to have control and this new program is not as intuitive as my MS software.

    Friday, August 8, 2008 9:41 PM
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    I thought I was answering your question. However, based on your additional information, I apparently didn't. Thanks for the clarification.

    In Vista, to see available networks, click on the Start Orb, then click "Connect To" in the menu. If your wireless card is enabled and there are available wireless networks, you should see them here. OneCare does not control your ability to see available networks or connect to them, however, it will set the firewall to Public mode once you connect.

    -steve

     

    Monday, August 11, 2008 5:04 PM
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    I thought I was answering your question. However, based on your additional information, I apparently didn't. Thanks for the clarification.

    In Vista, to see available networks, click on the Start Orb, then click "Connect To" in the menu. If your wireless card is enabled and there are available wireless networks, you should see them here. OneCare does not control your ability to see available networks or connect to them, however, it will set the firewall to Public mode once you connect.

    -steve

     

    Hello, Steve. I am having the same problem as this other gentleman did. The problem is not a lack of an enabled wireless card. My wireless card is enabled. When I perform the steps you state above, I click on "Connect To" I see a choice between "Wireless Network Connection" and "Show all connections." The latter, "Show all connections," tells me that my wireless network connection is enabled, but that I have "Limited or no connectivity."

    The first choice, "Wireless Network Connection," gives me a pop-up window called "Wireless Network Connection Status" which tells me that I am connected to a named wireless network THAT I DO NOT WANT (one that is in the neighborhood), with "Limited or no connectivity." When I click on the "View Wireless Networks" button in that pop-up window, I get the dreaded "Windows cannot configure this wireless connection" pop-up window. Clicking "Refresh Network List" in that pop-up window at this point does nothing.

    So that's the problem: Windows is (apparently) fruitlessly trying to connect to a non-desired wireless network that I do not want, one that is not working anyway, and meanwhile isn't showing me any other wireless networks. What I (and probably the last person who asked this question) want to do is to stop Windows from trying to bother with this undesired wireless connection that doesn't work, and instead show me ALL the wireless connections in the area (I know there are several), including my own, so I can choose it and connect to it.

    Thanks in advance for your help.

     

    • Edited by taconicus Monday, December 21, 2009 5:42 PM Addendum
    Monday, December 21, 2009 5:37 PM
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    Update:  I solved my own problem.  To all those who are having the same problem (in Windows XP Pro, anyway), here's how I (finally) solved it:

    Down in the icon tray, near the little wireless connection icon with the exclamation mark in the yellow triangle next to it, there's an icon showing wireless network power (the yellow and/or green escalating power bars).  Putting my mouse over these power bars shows me the SSID of the network I'm currently "connected" to (the one I don't want), shows me its speed, tells me the signal is excellent, and for status says "Limited or no connectivity."

    Right clicking on that icon, I see a choice that says "Connect to" with a little menu arrow next to it. Clicking the menu arrow shows me the available networks, including the nonfunctional one I am currently connected to, and the one I am trying to connect to (clicking on "Open Utility" shows me the available wireless networks as well). At that point, choosing the wireless network I was trying to connect to all along successfully connects me to it. So apparently, the problem is that right-clicking on the the Wireless Network Connection and choosing "View Available Wireless Networks" doesn't work if you are already connected to a network, even if that network isn't functional.

    I'm posting my answer because I've looked all over the Internet and every single "answer" to this problem does not apply. Most of the answers presuppose that there is something wrong with the wireless card and usually give as the "answer" that the wireless card driver needs to be reinstalled.

    Monday, December 21, 2009 6:10 PM
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    I'm glad to read that you resolved the issue yourself, taconicus.
    -steve
    ~ Microsoft MVP Windows Live ~ Windows Live OneCare| Live Mesh|MS Security Essentials Forums Moderator ~
    Monday, December 21, 2009 7:00 PM
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    Taconicus.  I didn't even think to look at those little bars down there.  After an hour of searching the web trying to resolve this with no luck I was planning on returning my laptop / making them fix it.  Thank you so much for your help, I now love the new machine.  Cheers.
    Wednesday, May 19, 2010 9:41 AM