Connecting to the UCSD Wireless Network With Windows XP
Learn how to connect to the UCSD wireless network with Windows XP. UCSD faculty, staff, students, and guests can access the wireless network from many public access and outdoor areas.
Note: You need to know your UCSD network username and password to authenticate your computer with the UCSD wireless network. If you've forgotten your username or password, see Getting or Changing UCSD Passwords.
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- Newer laptops have built-in wireless cards. If yours does, skip to Step 3 to connect to the network.
- If you have an external card, insert it in the PCMCIA slot, then turn on the computer.
- To verify that a card is installed, open the Control Panel in Classic View and double-click Administrative Tools.
- Double-click the Computer Management icon, then click Device Manager.
- Click the + to the left of My Computer to view the list of devices, then click + to the left of Network adapters and/ or PCMCIA adapters. Your adapters will be listed here.

- Click the Network Status icon (two small computers) at the bottom right of the taskbar.
- If you have multiple Network Status icons, hold the mouse pointer over each one to display the name, and select the one called wireless.

- Select the UCSD network and click Connect.
- If you get a warning message and can't connect, you may need to select the Allow me to connect to the selected wireless network even though it is not secure box.

- When the connection is established, click the Network Status icon again, then click UCSD to bring up the Network and Sharing Center window.
- Click the Support tab. The IP Address field should start with 128.54 or 42.x.
- Click Close.

- Launch your Web browser and attempt to connect to a non-UCSD Web site.
- Before your browser connects to the non-UCSD site, it will be redirected to the UCSD Wireless page.
- Depending on your browser's security features, you may be required to answer some questions.
- Enter your network username and password, then click Logon User.
- Your browser will log on to the UCSD wireless network and connect to the non-UCSD Web site you entered above.
- UCSD affiliates with permanent network usernames and passwords who use the network at least once every 30 days will have wireless authorization for one year.
- UCSD guest access users must reauthorize after 30 days.
- Once you have set up your wireless connection, please review Wireless FAQ.

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