How to Set up a Wireless Network in Windows XP

This is a walkthrough of setting up wireless (IEEE 802.11 also known as WiFi) home networking with Windows XP.

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Set up your new router

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    Note that if buying a router, all routers are compatible with Windows XP. It is wireless adapters that have varying levels of Windows XP compatibility. If your router isn't new, then turn it on and skip to "Detecting your wireless adapter" (below).
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    Plug your router into your internet socket if you want to share your internet.
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    Plug your router into your PC with an Ethernet cable.
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    Go to your browser and type in the address "http://192.168.0.1 or 192.168.0.1" or whichever address the router's web server is listening.
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    Enter your username and password from your router (often "admin" and "admin") then your internet service provider.
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    Enable wireless and set your encryption (WEP or WPA) and type a memorable passkey.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Detecting your wireless adapter

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    Your wireless adapter should be detected automatically by Windows XP.
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    Check Device Manager.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Connecting to a network

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    If your connection appears in the Wireless Connection Manager then connect to it, otherwise run the wizard.
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    Run the Wireless Network Setup Wizard.
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    Give it an SSID name if you want.
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    Choose your "Encryption" (WEP or WPA) and enter your passkey.
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    Adjust any properties.
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    Connect.
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Community Q&A

  • Question
    What is meant by network key?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    This is the password that you've set up on your router for people to connect and access the Internet.
  • Question
    How to connect it without a router/modem?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    You will need a central access point to connect to and control communication among the wireless devices.
  • Question
    Does it work in VMWare?
    Arrogance
    Arrogance
    Top Answerer
    VMWare does not virtualize a wireless card. These directions would only be applicable if you used PCI Passthrough with a wireless card in your host computer.
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About This Article

Tested by:
wikiHow Technology Team
wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, 12 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. This article has been viewed 385,219 times.
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Co-authors: 12
Updated: May 6, 2021
Views: 385,219
Categories: XP Instructions | Wireless Networking
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