Configuring an Ad Hoc Mode WLAN with Windows 7

By Edward Tetz from Cisco Networking All-in-One For Dummies

In an ad hoc mode WLAN (wireless local-area network), wireless devices can communicate directly with each other. If you have a Windows 7 computer (or a Windows Vista computer, which is very similar), you will use a process similar to the following to create and activate your ad hoc WLAN network.

Click Start and choose Control Panel.

This opens the Control Panel window.
Select View Network Status and Tasks.

This opens the Network and Sharing Center window.
From the Network and Sharing Center window, select Set Up a New Connection or Network.

The Set Up a Connection or Network dialog box appears.
From the Set Up a Connection or Network dialog box, choose Set Up a Wireless Ad Hoc (Computer-to-Computer) Network and click Next; click Next again.

The Set Up an Ad Hoc Network dialog box appears.
In the Set Up an Ad Hoc Network dialog box, provide the following information:
- Add a network name for your wireless network.
- Indicate the security type as either WEP or No Authentication.
- If you chose WEP, provide the security key for the network and optionally select the Hide Characters box.
- Select Save This Network to keep this network for longer than one session.
Click Next to continue.

The confirmation dialog is displayed, showing you the information that you need to provide to other people who will want to connect to your ad hoc network.
Click Close.

After the connection is set up, it initially becomes active and remains so until you connect to another network. If you did not choose to save the connection, it will be removed from your wireless configuration at that time and you will need to repeat this process to reactivate an ad hoc network connection.