How to determine if wireless or LAN connection used?

[Mark]

In Windows XP when I use my wireless connection and I want to switch back to
the LAN connection by connecting in the CAT5 cable to the system, how can I
determine if Windows XP switched the connection from wireless to LAN?

 

[R. McCarty]

Easiest way is to enable the "Taskbar Icon" for each Network
connection. When Offline, the icon will be red to indicate it isn't
active. Open Network Connections, Right Click each LAC
icon, take Properties, check box "Show Icon in taskbar
notification area when connected."

 

[Mark]

Based on this answer, there is no way to determine if Windows XP is using
the LAN or wireless connection. When I do plug-in the CAT5 cable for the
LAN connection, the wireless network icon remains in the system tray without
changing to a red X. The wireless connection remain active and not switch
over to the LAN connection.

Is there some setting in Windows XP to make the Internet/LAN connection to
automatically switch from the wireless to CAT5 connection?

 

[R. McCarty]

Both can be active at the same time. The only way to
use only one or the other is Right Click the appropriate
icon and choose "Disable".

 

[Mark]

If both are active at the same time, do both access the Internet/LAN
simultaneously?

 

[R. McCarty]

Yes, Having multiple NIC's isn't an uncommon
configuration. I would presume that the Wired
NIC would have some type of precedence over
the Wireless connection. With both active, you
could ping or use IE and watch the transaction
lights on the taskbar icons to see which one of
the two handled the request.

 

[Mark]

When I reconnect the CAT5 cable connection seeing both network icons in the
system tray area, the wireless connections remains active and shows traffic.
I right-click on the wireless and Local Area Connection icons, click Status
and watch which of the connections shows traffic.

When I plug-in the CAT5 connection to the computer, Windows XP displays a
balloon message showing "Local Area Connection is now connected" and when
disconnected it shows "Local Area Connection - a network cable is
unplugged." However, Windows XP will not switch the Internet/LAN traffic to
the CAT5 connection

I disabled the wireless connection when the CAT5 cable remains connected to
the computer. The Internet/LAN traffic then goes to the Local Area
Connection. When I re-enable the wireless connection, within fifteen
seconds the Internet/LAN traffic switches from the Local Area Connection to
the wireless connection.

I find this interesting because I would have thought Windows XP would keep
the better traffic route, the CAT5 cable connection over the wireless
connection.

 

[R. McCarty]

After thinking about it some more, I realized that there
is an Advanced option in Networking that prioritizes the
Network adapters. Open Network Connections,
Advanced, Advanced Settings - There you will see the
order of how LAC's are used. By using the up/down
arrows, you can probably choose the preferred LAC
or Wireless connection.

 

[Mark]

Thank you!

 

[NobodyMan]

In Windows XP when I use my wireless connection and I want to switch back to
the LAN connection by connecting in the CAT5 cable to the system, how can I
determine if Windows XP switched the connection from wireless to LAN?

Just for future reference in terminology: it doesn't matter whether
you are using a wireless connection or a wired connection. Either way
you are accessing your LAN.

Now if you are using something like Verizon Wireless and it doesn't go
through the same router you use for you wired LAN, then my apologies.
Your message doesn't state that.

 

[CZ]

In Windows XP when I use my wireless connection and I want to switch backthe LAN connection by connecting in the CAT5 cable to the system, how can I
determine if Windows XP switched the connection from wireless to LAN?

Mark:

I use hardware profiles to switch between the two connections types.
Disable the unused adapter in the appropriate hardware profile.

See Help for info on hardware profiles.