Checking/Unchecking "Use Windows to configure my wireless network settings"

[Fred Taylor]

There are a bunch of idiots in my neighborhood that don't know about turning
off wireless network name broadcasting. As a result, my wireless adapters
keep drifting and I lose my connection every few minutes. Because of this,
I'm forced to uncheck "Use Windows to configure my wireless network
settings" in the "Wireless Network Connection Properties" dialog.

Of course, after Windows boots up, I need to check the box in order to first
establish the connection. Once the connection is established, I uncheck the
setting in order to prevent drifting. This works well, but it is a total
pain in the ass to even get to the dialog. Here are the steps involved:

1. Right-click the wireless network connection icon in the task tray.
2. Select "View Available Wireless Networks".
3. Click "Advanced..." button from the "Wireless Network Connection" dialog.
4. Check "Use Windows to configure..." from the "Wireless Networks" tab.
5. Click the OK button.
6. Wait for Windows to establish the wireless network connection.
7. Repeat steps 1 through 3.
8. Uncheck "Use Windows to configure..."
9. Click the OK button.

All this to prevent my wireless connection from drifting.

Anyway, is there any way to check or uncheck the "Use Windows to
configure..." setting from the command line? If so, I was thinking I'd
create a couple of BAT files to check and uncheck this setting.

 

[Bill Castner]

; The equivalent of unchecking the box to disable
net stop wzcsrv

; The equivalent of checking the box to re-enable
net start wzcsrv

 

[Bill Castner]

Sorry, a typo above: it is wzcsvc in both examples earlier.

 

[Fred Taylor]

Well, it's not EXACTLY the same thing since this completely turns off zero
configuration (including disabling all the associated dialogs), but it does
appear to the do same thing as just checking and unchecking the checkbox in
question.

Thanks, Bill!

 

[Steve Winograd [MVP]]

There are a bunch of idiots in my neighborhood that don't know about turning
off wireless network name broadcasting. As a result, my wireless adapters
keep drifting and I lose my connection every few minutes. Because of this,
I'm forced to uncheck "Use Windows to configure my wireless network
settings" in the "Wireless Network Connection Properties" dialog.

Of course, after Windows boots up, I need to check the box in order to first
establish the connection. Once the connection is established, I uncheck the
setting in order to prevent drifting. This works well, but it is a total
pain in the ass to even get to the dialog. Here are the steps involved:

1. Right-click the wireless network connection icon in the task tray.
2. Select "View Available Wireless Networks".
3. Click "Advanced..." button from the "Wireless Network Connection" dialog.
4. Check "Use Windows to configure..." from the "Wireless Networks" tab.
5. Click the OK button.
6. Wait for Windows to establish the wireless network connection.
7. Repeat steps 1 through 3.
8. Uncheck "Use Windows to configure..."
9. Click the OK button.

All this to prevent my wireless connection from drifting.

Anyway, is there any way to check or uncheck the "Use Windows to
configure..." setting from the command line? If so, I was thinking I'd
create a couple of BAT files to check and uncheck this setting.

Some wireless networking gear doesn't work properly if SSID broadcast
is disabled, so your neighbors might not be able to do it. And
disabling it isn't a fool-proof security measure in any case.

Assuming that you haven't installed XP Service Pack 2, here's a
simpler way to fix the problem.

1. Configure your wireless network connection to use Windows.

2. In the Preferred Networks box, click and remove all networks other
than yours.

3. Click Advanced.

4. Un-check "Automatically connect to non-preferred networks".
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

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