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How do I identify which network my computer is connected to?

Anonymous
2010-04-08T17:18:11+00:00

Our neighborhood is populated with several unsecured wireless internet locations which only provide spotty service.  Our home connection is a secured wireless internet location called Hogwarts.  On our previous computers, using Vista, they sometimes connected to the wrong network, but it was easy to resolve by "view available wireless networks" and clicking on "Hogwarts". 

With Windows 7, there doesn't seem to be a way to tell which network the computer is connected to.  It shows as connected to "Network" which isn't a name of any location in our area.  When I click "Connect to a network" no list is displayed.   It just shows "Currently connected to Network" and indicates whether there is an internet connection or not.  When there's not, (probably because it's got the spotty connection through the wrong location) there are no options for other networks given.

 Please HELP!!!

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Internet and connectivity

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  1. Anonymous
    2010-04-17T17:07:54+00:00

    Go to the Network and sharing center and click on the little house and name your network to somethng you will recognize.

    The when you click on the network icon you will be able to tell if you are on that network.

    Edit: To the right you will see connections. It should show what the connections and their names are, e.g. Wireless Network Connection (Name),

    Local Area Connection

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  1. Anonymous
    2010-04-09T11:42:59+00:00

    Hi PhoenixFiresky,

    The option “View and connect to available wireless networks” is available in Windows 7, too.

    Refer:

    View and connect to available wireless networks

    http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/View-and-connect-to-available-wireless-networks

    If you wish to know the network you’re currently connected to, right-click the network icon (![](http://res2.windows.microsoft.com/resbox/en/Windows 7/Main/e/f/eff2d36c-9e0d-4d1a-9859-3af14fa4ccfc/eff2d36c-9e0d-4d1a-9859-3af14fa4ccfc.jpg) or ![](http://res2.windows.microsoft.com/resbox/en/Windows 7/Main/d/a/da12251d-1e9a-4032-afae-009876c6c5a3/da12251d-1e9a-4032-afae-009876c6c5a3.jpg)). This would confirm the network to which you’re connected.

    Hope this information answers your question.

    Gokul - Microsoft Support

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  1. Anonymous
    2010-04-17T11:47:44+00:00

    Thanks for the response.

    I watched the video, and read your post carefully.  However, this computer doesn't seem to be responding in the manner described.  When I click the icon (it's the computer screen-looking one), a window just comes up that has a graphic of a house and it says

    "Currently connected to:

    Network

    Internet Access" (or "No Internet Access" as the case may be). 

    Since our home network is called Hogwarts, and there are many other home networks in the area, this isn't very helpful. 

    I'd paste a screenshot in for you to see, except that the paste option appears to be greyed out when I right click. 

    Thanks again for your help.

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