How to fix the missing Wireless Network Connection icon in Windows. How to connect to Wi-Fi on Windows XP: setup and enablement How to connect to Wi-Fi on a laptop xp

Important! Windows with different service packs support different security protocols! Windows XP SP2 does not support the WPA2 security protocol! Only the first WPA. Thus, if there is a connection problem, you need to look Windows version XP, as well as the security protocol that the access point uses.

Similar articles for other operating systems:

Setting up WiFi in Windows XP

Setting up a WiFi connection in Windows XP is quite easy.

In the tray, on the “Wireless Network” icon, you need to right-click and then select the “View available wireless networks” command from the menu: The same can be done if you open Windows Explorer, then in Explorer sequentially open “My Computer - Control Panel -":

Network connections

The same can be done if you open the menu "Start - Settings - Network Connections":

After this, a window will open in which you need to select the desired access point and then click the “Connect” button:

After this, a window will open in which you need to enter the password for the access point. Unlike Windows 7, where you can see the password symbols, here control of the correctness of the password is possible only at the level of comparing two attempts. Then in this window you must enter the password twice:

Then you need to wait:

And finally the connection is established:

Manually setting up a wireless WiFi connection

If you need to change the WiFi connection settings, you can do this by opening the properties of this connection:

However, you need to understand that the ability to use wifi is highly dependent on external factors. Because the radio signal is affected by the external environment. Various obstacles such as walls, ceilings, floors weaken both the signal of the access point and the signal of the client device. Windows shows the signal strength from the access point in “sticks”. The pictures at the beginning of the article show the signal level of one or two short sticks. This is very weak signal. With such a signal, you most likely will not be able to use the Internet.

There are programs that show the signal level in numbers - dBm, for example 60 dBm or 40 dBm. The higher the number, the weaker the signal - a good signal is a number less than 50 dBm. However, you need to understand that the accuracy of such numbers varies depending on the adapter and the driver of this adapter. Under the same conditions, one adapter may show, for example, XP1 dBm, and another adapter 82 dBm.

In addition to passive barriers, the quality of wifi signal transmission can be negatively affected by sources of electromagnetic radiation.

So, even if you have the best wifi adapter installed on your laptop, this does not mean that you will always be able to use the Internet via wifi.

In situations with a poor signal, using an adapter with an external antenna can help. For example, the TP-Link TL-WNXP22N/C USB wifi adapter is equipped with an external antenna. Moreover, it is removable and, if necessary, can be replaced with another one with a higher gain. What does presence give external antenna

• ? Continuing the same example - under equal conditions - the same access point, the same time and place of connection, the presence of passive barriers between the access point and the client - as a result, a weak signal in both directions:
• The internal “native” wifi adapter of the laptop connects to the access point, but practically does not provide the ability to use the Internet due to low speed and frequent interruptions. TP-Link TL-WNXP22NC with its own antenna gives stable connection

with Internet at good speed.

If wifi does not work on Windows XP If your computer does not have Wireless network connection

• "The reason may be as follows:
• You have Windows XP SP2, and the access point is configured for the WPA2 security protocol. You need to either install SP3 or reconfigure the access point to WPA.
• There is a wifi adapter on your computer, but it is disabled. For example, many laptops have buttons to turn off the wifi adapter. This can be a separate button or one of the F buttons in combination with the Fn button. If the wifi adapter is built into motherboard, it can be disabled in the BIOS.
• There is an adapter, but no drivers are installed for it, in this case it will be in the list of devices as an unidentified device.
• There is an adapter, but it is disabled by software.

If "Wireless network connection" is present, it shows list of networks, but cannot connect to the desired network, then the reason may be that:

• The signal between your adapter and the access point is too weak.
• Long distances, thick walls, etc. Moreover, the signal level of the access point may be decent, but the signal from your adapter does not reach the access point. Because the adapter signal is generally weaker than the access point signal. Especially if the adapter is built-in, such as in a laptop.

You entered the wrong password. This is especially true for Windws XP because the password characters cannot be seen there.

• If the connection to the access point is established, but the Internet does not work, then the reasons may be:
• Wifi router (access point) is not connected to the Internet. For example, a technical failure at the provider, or a lack of funds in your account with the provider.

Technical failure in the operation of the provider's DNS servers.

Home WiFi networks

WiFi Security

The most common motivation for hacking wifi hotspots is to connect to the Internet via wifi for free. A fairly common picture today is that you have a wifi router installed in your apartment and not only your devices are connected to it, but also the computer of one of your neighbors. You pay for the Internet, and your tech-savvy neighbor gets the Internet for free.

But “theft” of the Internet is not the only reason why wifi networks are “hacked.” The fact is that if an attacker gains access to your access point, through it he can gain access to all devices that are connected to your wifi router. And this gives him the opportunity to steal your personal data. For example, passwords to mail, to online banking, your documents - in one word, to everything you own.

Therefore, you need to use wifi with caution. Here are a few rules to follow.

Do not connect to open public wifi networks through a laptop on which you store valuable information. And if you need access to the Internet via open wifi networks, then use a firewall and antivirus on your laptop. It’s even better if you install two operating systems on your laptop. One main one, in which all your valuable information will be stored. And the other is empty, only for accessing the Internet through open wifi networks.

If you use a wifi router at home or in the office, you must configure the wifi router correctly:

• Use WPA2 security type.
• The password for protection should be long - preferably 50 - 60 characters, and should consist of an arbitrary set of characters. Password marina1234 very bad - it will be hacked in a few minutes. Password