Stopping Windows XP from automatically connecting to Wireless Networks

[ComputerNut]

When I connect to any given wireless network on my laptop, the wireless network window marks the network as automatic and tries to connect to it whenever its in range. The problem is I dont want it to do this. I want to connect to a wireless network whenever I wish (because I often used the wired LAN, and use wireless when I need it). Is there any way to stop XP from automatically connecting to a network?

TIA

[Panama Red]

Control Panel>Network Connections>right click your wireless connection>Properties>Wireless networks tab. Highlite the connection you want to change in the Preferred Networks window>select properties>Connection tab>uncheck the auto connect. (Whew!)

[ComputerNut]

Ah, I see. out of curiosity, is there no way to make that change globally? so it can act the same on every network it finds?

TIA

[Panama Red]

Not that I've ever found. Maybe someone else has an idea.

[Nav]

you could disable to wireless service from run>services.msc>Wireless Zero Configuration. Stop the service or disable it completely by right clicking and choose disable form drop down. Then re-enable when you want to connect. Hope that helps.

[thefultonhow]

If the wireless network is not listed in the "preferred networks" box on the Wireless tab of the wireless connection's properties, then you can keep from connecting to it by clicking Advanced on that page and unchecking "Automatically connect to non-preferred networks." While you're there, you may want to switch the "Networks to Access" option to "Access point (infrastructure) networks only."

[ComputerNut]

Originally Posted by thefultonhow If the wireless network is not listed in the "preferred networks" box on the Wireless tab of the wireless connection's properties, then you can keep from connecting to it by clicking Advanced on that page and unchecking "Automatically connect to non-preferred networks." While you're there, you may want to switch the "Networks to Access" option to "Access point (infrastructure) networks only."

Yeah, i switched to just Access points, and automatically connect check box is already cleared. Ive set the networks i commonly find to On Demand (Dont connect automatically). I guess i'll have to do that for whatever network I find in the future. Its a pity microsoft didnt just make a global "Dont automatically connect to any wireless network", or something. O well, thanx anyway guys

TIA