Laptop auto connecting to unprotected networks

Hi,

when I start my laptop, it automatically connects to the unprotected WiFi network of my neighbours. I know that most people complain about troubles to get connected, in my case it's the opposite. I don't like the fact my laptop connects automatically this way. I use Jiwire Spotlock to connect to wireless networks usually and I start it manually. However when an unprotected network is within reach, my laptop connects automatically I guess through Wireless zero configuration. I tried to disable or set to manual the Wireless zero config services but then my laptop takes ages to boot. So for now the wireless zero config is set to automatic but I use a script to stop the service as soon as the laptop is booted. Despite this, I'm still connected to my neighbours network everytime I boot the laptop!

Except asking my neighbours to protect their network, is there a way to prevent XP to automatically connect to unprotected networks (without disabling Wireless Zero configuration service as this cause a terrible slow boot time)?

Thanks

 

Yep, this is a common problem -

Alls you need to do is -

Right click the wireless icon at the bottom right tray of your screen
Hit "Open Network Connections"
Screen pops up and right click "Wireless Network Connection"
Hit "Properties"
Click the "Wireless Networks Tab" up top
Go down to the "Preferred Network" box
Move the network you want to connect to first on the list by hitting the "Move Up" button or the "Move Down" button
Hit "Ok"

Nick

 

To add to what Nick said:

Select the network in the "Preferred networks list".
Click "Properties".
Choose the "Connection" tab.
Untick the "Connect when this network is in range" checkbox.

Now the laptop should not automatically connect to the network.

 

Hi guys,

thanks for your replies! Well I tried this before and nothing changed. In fact the settings you mention are only accessible when the Wireless Zero Configuration service is running. In my case this service is stopped by a script after sartup (disabling it cause problems so I just stop it when the laptop is started). However I did reenable this service, then checked the Wireless Network Properties and everything was as you recommend (no network in preffered list and uncheck mark for connect network within range). I even went further by unchecking the mark "Use windows to configure my wireless settings". But still the unprotected network is connected after startup Even after reinstalling the script that stopped the wireless zero configuration the network is always accessed at startup (and Jiwire Spotlock is not running).

I really don't know what's the problem here. It seems I have disabled everything about windows wireless configuration but it still connects automatically to this network (which is unprotected).

Any other ideas?

 

Keep the wireless zero service on.
Keep "Use windows to configure..." on.
Keep the network in preferred list.
Just disable "connect when in range".

Does it help?

 

I did what you recommand except that I did not put any network in the preffered list.......and it seems to work So I guess I have to leave the wireless zero config service enabled ....... to avoid an auto connection. Sounds strange but might be true. However I'll still try to reinstall the script that stop the wireless zero config service after startup because it seems this service is causing wireless disconnection sometimes as it searches for other available networks (did not experienced this but it seems to be widely documented on internet). I'll try to see if stopping the service reconnects me automatically to the unprotected network.

Anyway for now it seems to work. Thanks a lot for your help

 

Nice work Dr.

Glad to see it worked for you.

Nick

 

This brings a question to my mind. How do I know that my network is protected? I hooked up my router before I got my laptop so that I am ready. I am new to networking and the manual is a bit confusing to me.

 

Check my wireless guide if you have any questions on one particular subject. It has a newly added index so you can find things you want easily.

When you go to see "View Wireless Networks" does yours say "Security Enabled" on it?

Do you have to enter a password if you want to connect?

Nick

 

Thanks Nick, I will try these out.

 

Glad it works now.

Really? That's not anything I've heard of. What's possible is that it will disconnect from your current network if it notices a network with higher priority nearby, but that's how you would expect it to work, no?

 

Well from what I've heard it is exactly that, the wireless zero config always check for other networks and this constant search is/might cause temporary slowdowns and possible disconnection. There is a "fix" for this which is called WirelessFiXP that disable the wireless zero config service in that purpose. Personnally I don't really like the fact that this service always check for other network. I prefer choosing which network I want to connect to and ask for a new search if I need to change network for any reason.

I tried you recommandation Dr and it works. However as the wireless zero config service is running, as soon as I disconnect with Spotlock, the zero config pops up (ballon tip) telling me that there are X number of available networks. This might be normal but as I use Spotlock, I'd really like to forget about zero config.

One thing I noticed is that it seems I'm now able to completely disable the wireless zero config without having a slow boot as before. I can still connect to networks with Spotlock or any third party manager but at least windows zero config doesn't seem to bother me again with this messages. I still have to check more in details as everytime I attempted this in the past, I had a terrible slow boot. It seems that I must set the check marks to "Use windows to configure wireless networks" and THEN disable the wireless zero configuration service to avoid slow boot. Really strange!

Now I wondering if I should switch to Intel PROSet manager as it seems to connect faster than Spotlock.

 

Incredible!!!! Even with the Wireless Zero Configuration service disabled, the laptop still auto connects to my neighbours network at startup

It seems it's not possible to get rid of this "feature" completely.