Wireless USB adaptors

[Bill]

I have an older Dell laptop that I am trying to set up to connect to an
access point using a USB adaptor.
When I load the drivers, the screen shows there are networks available
but none will connect.
When I go to control panel-network connections it shows the adaptor but
it has a red X through it and says it is disconnected.I have tried 3
different known good adaptors/drivers with the same result each time I
am a novice as far as WIFI goes so I am stumped. What am I doing wrong?
I am running Win XP Pro.

 

[Mike Hall - MS MVP Windows Shell/User]

While the USB adapter can detect the presence of a broadcasted signal, it
may not be able to decode it.. check that the laptop is aware of the
workgroup/domain name being used by the wireless access point, and that it
also knows the WEP/WPA security key being used in the event that the signal
is a 'secured' network..

You should first setup the parameters for the wireless network from a
machine hard wired to the router.. you then duplicate the settings on the
laptop..

To confirm the workgroup/domain name, right click on 'My Computer' and
select 'Properties'.. click on the 'Computer name' tab.. click on the
'change' button, and make a note of the workgroup/domain name in use.. exit
out of there..

You will now need to access the router via the hard wired machine.. look in
the router manual for this information..