Windows 7 / Networking

Configuring Wireless Settings Manually

Windows 7 makes it very easy to connect to a wireless network using the enhanced View Available Networks (VAN) feature included in the platform. For example, to configure a wireless network that is currently available, follow these steps:

  1. Click the networking icon in the notification area.
    Note The WLAN AutoConfig service must be started for wireless networks to be available. This service by default is set to start automatically.
  2. Click the network to which you want to connect and then click Connect.
    Note A network that is configured not to broadcast an SSID will appear as an Unnamed Network, allowing you to connect to the network.
  3. If the network is encrypted, provide the encryption key.

Why Disabling SSID Broadcasting Doesn't Improve Security

Wireless networks broadcast an SSID that specifies the network name to help users who have not connected to the network previously find it. However, disabling the SSID broadcast does not increase security, because the tools that a malicious attacker might use to find and connect to your wireless network do not rely on SSID broadcasts. The SSID broadcast does make it easier for legitimate users to find and connect to your wireless networks. So by disabling the broadcast of the SSID, you can negatively affect the people whom you do want to be able to connect.

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In this tutorial:

  1. Configuring Windows Networking
  2. Usability Improvements
  3. Network And Sharing Center
  4. Network Explorer
  5. How Windows Finds Network Resources
  6. How Windows Publishes Network Resources
  7. How Windows Creates the Network Map
  8. Network Map
  9. Set Up A Connection Or Network Wizard
  10. Manageability Improvements
  11. Network Location Types
  12. Policy-Based QoS
  13. Selecting DSCP Values
  14. Planning Traffic Throttling
  15. Configuring QoS Policies
  16. Configuring System-Wide QoS Settings
  17. Configuring Advanced QoS Settings
  18. Testing QoS
  19. Windows Firewall and IPsec
  20. Windows Connect Now in Windows 7
  21. Core Networking Improvements
  22. Networking BranchCache
  23. How Hosted Cache Works
  24. How Distributed Cache Works
  25. Configuring BranchCache
  26. BranchCache Protocols
  27. File Sharing Using SMB
  28. Web Browsing with HTTP (Including HTTPS)
  29. DNSsec
  30. GreenIT
  31. Efficient Networking
  32. What Causes Latency, How to Measure It, and How to Control It
  33. TCP Receive Window Scaling
  34. Scalable Networking
  35. Improved Reliability
  36. IPv6 Support
  37. 802.1X Network Authentication
  38. Server Message Block (SMB) 2.0
  39. Strong Host Model
  40. Wireless Networking
  41. Improved APIs
  42. Network Awareness
  43. Improved Peer Networking
  44. Services Used by Peer-to-Peer Networking
  45. Managing Peer-to-Peer Networking
  46. Peer-to-Peer Name Resolution
  47. EAP Host Architecture
  48. Layered Service Provider (LSP)
  49. Windows Sockets Direct Path for System Area Networks
  50. How to Configure Wireless Settings
  51. Configuring Wireless Settings Manually
  52. Using Group Policy to Configure Wireless Settings
  53. How to Configure TCP/IP
  54. DHCP
  55. Configuring IP Addresses Manually
  56. Command Line and Scripts
  57. How to Connect to AD DS Domains
  58. How to Connect to a Domain When 802.1X Authentication Is Not Enabled
  59. How to Connect to a Domain When 802.1X Authentication Is Enabled