You don't have to scrap anything, just set up or modify the settings.   For information on how to secure your wireless network, see the following:

 

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/networking/learnmore/bowman_05february10.mspx

http://www.ezlan.net/Wireless_Security.html

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,4149,1277020,00.asp

 

Steve

Go into your router configuration and set up the security settings how you want them as per the instructions in the sites I provided.  Then, on each computer that will access the router wirelessly, open Network Connections, right click your wirleess connection, select Properties, then click on the Wireless Networks tab.  Find the wireless network associated with your router, select it, then click on the Properties button and change the security settings so they are consistent with those set up on your router.

 

Steve

Thanks, Steve,

 

I read these articles, and it seems like all of them tell a person how to set up a secured network initially, but is there anything that will tell me literally where to go and the mouse clicks to change just what I need to change or set to secure my network that is already working, but unsecured, to a WPA-secured network?  I'm very good at following instructions, and I'm not a novice or a dummy with computers, I just can't seem to find directions on where to go into my network and what exactly to change to secure it.

OK, I know how to go into the laptop network settings.  Where do I go to access router settings on my desktop?

That depends entirely on which wireless router you have.  Have your opened the users guide for your router?  On most routers, you open an a web browser and type in the ip address of the router in the address bar.  The ip address depends on the make and model of your router.

 

Steve

thanks-that's what I needed.  I now have a secure network!