Well, the first question to ask, "Are there any wireless netwroks available at your school?"  If so, do yu have the authorization and correct settings in order to configure the NIC?

The area that im in does have access to the network, i actually tried 2 areas, My friends computer picks up the  network easily and no configuration is required... but with mine it says no network available...

Possiby becasue it is configured wrong.  The slightlest of settings error will cause  a wirless LAN not to connect.  Find out the specs for your LAN and post post.  You will need SSID, WEP or WPA settings.

ok can you give me each piece of info i need to find for you?

and where i can find each one?

For your school, go the the university website IT section and the wireless settings should be there.  You need SSID, any encryption (WEP or WPA), whether the wireless card's MAC address needs to be registered, and any other setting they specify.

I quote the following from the website:

" In order to access the QCC wireless network, you must have a Laptop or PDA with a Wireless Network Interface Card (NIC) that meets the 802.11b, WIFI standard. For laptops, you need a PCMCIA type wireless card and for PDA's, a CF wireless card. In most cases, necessary software will be supplied with the wireless card. To prepare your device for wireless access at QCC install the card following the manufacturer's directions. The QCC network is not encrypted and is set to accept associations from any wireless device in the covered areas. Some older laptops with built-in wireless cards may require an SSID name. Try the following names in the Library Building: LIB3FL, LIB2FL, and LIB1FL. Apple Laptops will also function on this network with an 802.11b wireless NIC."

If the above is true... Shouldn't the card automatically pick up the network and ask me if i want to connect?

I remeber when i first tried it, it picked up my neighbors wireless card and asked me if i wanted to connect.

Now it doesnt do that anymore... It's probably becuase they moved it or something, but it doesnt work in school either...

Some have found deleting the Intel wireless utility (but not the driver) and letting Windows handle the wireless connection workes for them.  If both utilities are running, either kill the Intel Proset Utility or uninstall it and check the box to let Windows handle your wireless connection.  Also have the TCP/IP settings for the card set to obtain an IP address automatically.  Sounds like the school is wide open so the above should get you running.

ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

i got it!

i went to the pro wireless utility, and it said device was still disabled but windows had the device as enabled so i went into the proset utility and it said device was disabled so i enabled it and bam picked up 3 networks in my neighborhood! I guess i should have checked that proset utility in the first place = /

 do'h

I appreciate all the help! thanks very much!