Ok, so if I understand you correctly, when the laptop is using the wired connection, I should disable the wireless, and theoretically, when I disconnect the wired connection, the wireless will kick in.  Which makes sense because I shouldn't be using both connections at the same time.

 

I have a brand new Dell D620 Latitude running XP and using a Linksys wireless router connected to a cable modem.

 

Thanks for your help.  I think this is what I needed!

You still don't say which wireless network adapter you have.  Look in Device Manager for the setting.  I have the Latitude D820 with a Dell wireless card.  The setting is not in QuickSet, but is in the Advanced Properties of the Wireless Network Adapter.

 

Steve

What you probalby want to do is to disable the wireless network when the computer detects a wired ethernet connection.   That way when you unplug the ethernet, it automatically enables the wireless adapter which then connects automatically.  Whether or not your laptop has this ability depends on the model of the laptop and the model of the wireless network adapter.  You havne't provided that information.  On models that can do this, you can either use the Dell Quickset Utility to enable this setting or go into Device Manager, expand the listing for Network Adapters, right click your wireless adapter, click on the Advanced tab and find the setting to Disable on Wired Connect.

 

Steve

I found it, and I'll give it a try.

 

I'm still not clear about disconnecting the cable.  Do I just unplug it or is there something I need to do to make sure I don't lose the internet connection?

Sorry --  I have a Dell Wireless 1390 WLAN Minicard.

Same one I have.  The setting is in Device Manager properties of the wireless card.

 

Steve

Great.  Thanks so much for your help.  I was thinking about the setup I have at work, and after you reminded me about disabling the wireless while wired, I realized that was exactly how I had to set up my laptop at work.  Just a senior moment...sigh...

 

Going to give it a try now.

 

Thanks again.

 

denise

Open Network Connections, right click your wireless connection and select Properties.  Then click on the Wireless Network tab.  Find your wireless network in the list, double click on it, then click on the Connection tab and make sure there is a check mark in the box next to "Connect when network is in range".

 

Steve

Oookay -- I unplugged the network cable, and the wireless kicked right in -- which is great.

 

However, the internet connectivity went away and did not come back, so I had to reconnect in order to come back here.

 

Obviously, I'm still missing something in the set up.  Help?

 

denise

Of course you will lose the internet connection.  This will occur whenever you try to change between different network adpaters even if the wireless card is enabled while it is connected by a wired connection (the internet only comes in one adapter).  There is nothing you can do about that.  What will happen, though is that when you disconnect the cable the wireless card will enable and connect to the internet, so the interruption will not be for more than a few seconds.

 

Steve

It works!  Thanks for all your help.

 

denise