Does Windows 2000 do wireless networking good?

[zzyzzx]

Should I even be attempting to do any type of wireless networking with Windows 2000? I mean I can sometimes get it to work, but I have to turn on services that I naever had running before, and I'm not finding a lot of instructions on the internet. Even the default setting for the LAN when I added it was missing a protocal. I only found the lissing protocal when I compard it to a XP machine wireless setup.

[gadgetguy]

I never had a problem with it on my old laptop until the PMC/CIA adapter died. I don't recall ever having to do anything special to make it work past the one-time, initial setup. I know that I did NOT install any extra software, either from my ISP or that came with the router.

[AlanHK]

Should I even be attempting to do any type of wireless networking with Windows 2000?

Why not?

You should get an installer with the hardware (PCMCIA card, USB dongle, etc) that gives you all the drivers and a client.

If your machine is not really mobile, the XP Wifi Zero Config is quite convenient, but there are also several nice third-party clients available. I prefer Boingo as a laptop connection manager, and use it on my XP ThinkPad.

Are you trying to run your PC as an access point, or using a wifi router? Perhaps that's more complex, never tried it myself.

[zzyzzx]

I am getting this error when I try to run the Windows 2000 service for Wireless configuration:




Unfortunately, except for the "Wireless configuration" text, the rest of the error message is generic. So when I search for the error code, I'm getting other unrelated stuff.

[AlanHK]

I am getting this error when I try to run the Windows 2000 service for Wireless configuration:

Is there a config utility from the hardware manufacturer?

And you might try these forums:
http://www.wifi-forum.com/wf/
http://www.wirelessforums.org/
http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Contents

[zzyzzx]

Is there a config utility from the hardware manufacturer?

Yes, but I figured that it might be good to try the Windows one as well, if I can get it to work.

[AlanHK]

Is there a config utility from the hardware manufacturer?

Yes, but I figured that it might be good to try the Windows one as well, if I can get it to work.

I think in 2k the built-in wifi utilities were at an early iteration. MS hardly ever gets a product right on the first release.

Use the manufacturer's software and you should be okay.

[zzyzzx]

Is there a config utility from the hardware manufacturer?

Yes, but I figured that it might be good to try the Windows one as well, if I can get it to work.

I think in 2k the built-in wifi utilities were at an early iteration. MS hardly ever gets a product right on the first release.

I think it requires SP4 for 2K. I was just wondering if it would end up similiar to my attempt to use USB devices in Windows 95B.

[gadgetguy]

I did have SP4 on my old laptop. I wish I still had it so I could help you get yours set up, but at this point I'm working from memory, and it ain't what it used to be...

[Po|arbeaR]

I'm running a wireless d-link pci card with windows 2000 sp4 on one of my computers at home with no issues. Probably as suggested above is go with the manufacturers software. let us know of your progress.

-PB

[AlanHK]

I think it requires SP4 for 2K. I was just wondering if it would end up similiar to my attempt to use USB devices in Windows 95B.

As I said, I've used wifi on a couple of Win2k machines. It works fine, just not "plug and play" with MS software. Read the manual with your wifi hardware, it should have a section for Win2k.

[zzyzzx]

I did finally get it to work with MS software. I had to add the protocal Client for Miscorsoft Networks to the LAN adapter and then I could get it to work. I probably won't use it again, becasue the manufacturer's software is better though.