WiFi Constant Connectivity

My question is this: is there any way to keep XP connected to a WiFi network
even when there is no user logged in?

The wireless network I've set up in my office works great, but I'm finding
it a bit more difficult to maintain employees' laptops that use wireless to
connect to the regular network. The first problem is Windows Remote Access,
which requires the machine to be turned on but logged out of any user
account. It seems that when the laptop users log out from Windows XP their
wireless connection is severed, making it impossible for me to log into the
laptops remotely. The second problem is a mere annoyance caused by Windows
Automatic Updates. As laptop users seem to only be connected when they are
logged in, it means that Automatic Updates cannot proceed automatically at
night with all the other machines but must be performed by the user after
they have logged in. If there is any solution to the above problems, I would
be most appreciative to hear it. Thanks!

Hi
I do not quite follow your notion about keep the connection On, but not
being logged in.
What is login? If you refer to the opening screen at boot up that ask a
user to log in, it is "No Can Do" since the computer is not fully functional
at this point of the bootup.
You would have to set an administrative account to be logged to in order to
be connected to the Network, and do the updates.
Jack (MVP-Networking).

"Lindsay" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:9E474493-7794-475D-B118-(E-Mail Removed)...
> My question is this: is there any way to keep XP connected to a WiFi
> network
> even when there is no user logged in?
>
> The wireless network I've set up in my office works great, but I'm finding
> it a bit more difficult to maintain employees' laptops that use wireless
> to
> connect to the regular network. The first problem is Windows Remote
> Access,
> which requires the machine to be turned on but logged out of any user
> account. It seems that when the laptop users log out from Windows XP
> their
> wireless connection is severed, making it impossible for me to log into
> the
> laptops remotely. The second problem is a mere annoyance caused by
> Windows
> Automatic Updates. As laptop users seem to only be connected when they
> are
> logged in, it means that Automatic Updates cannot proceed automatically at
> night with all the other machines but must be performed by the user after
> they have logged in. If there is any solution to the above problems, I
> would
> be most appreciative to hear it. Thanks!
>
>

Thanks for the quick reply, Jack!

This is exactly what I want, for a laptop user to be able to log out of
Windows and be presented with the Windows Log In screen, but still be
connected to the wireless network. For cabled connections this is automatic,
as long as the cable is plugged in to the NIC and the computer is on, it is
connected, regardless of whether a user is actually logged in or not. Are
you sure this is impossible to accomplish with a wireless connection? Thanks
again for taking the time to answer my questions.

Lindsay

"Jack (MVP-Networking)." wrote:

> Hi
> I do not quite follow your notion about keep the connection On, but not
> being logged in.
> What is login? If you refer to the opening screen at boot up that ask a
> user to log in, it is "No Can Do" since the computer is not fully functional
> at this point of the bootup.
> You would have to set an administrative account to be logged to in order to
> be connected to the Network, and do the updates.
> Jack (MVP-Networking).
>
> "Lindsay" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:9E474493-7794-475D-B118-(E-Mail Removed)...
> > My question is this: is there any way to keep XP connected to a WiFi
> > network
> > even when there is no user logged in?
> >
> > The wireless network I've set up in my office works great, but I'm finding
> > it a bit more difficult to maintain employees' laptops that use wireless
> > to
> > connect to the regular network. The first problem is Windows Remote
> > Access,
> > which requires the machine to be turned on but logged out of any user
> > account. It seems that when the laptop users log out from Windows XP
> > their
> > wireless connection is severed, making it impossible for me to log into
> > the
> > laptops remotely. The second problem is a mere annoyance caused by
> > Windows
> > Automatic Updates. As laptop users seem to only be connected when they
> > are
> > logged in, it means that Automatic Updates cannot proceed automatically at
> > night with all the other machines but must be performed by the user after
> > they have logged in. If there is any solution to the above problems, I
> > would
> > be most appreciative to hear it. Thanks!
> >
> >
>
>
>

It will depend on the software and the computer, I believe. But having said
that if you are using Windows XP and you have gone to System Properties |
Remote | and checked "Allow users to connect remotely to this computer" you
should be able to use Remote Desktop to gain access to their computer while
they are logged in. IIRC.

--
David Hettel
Microsoft MVP Mobile Devices

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

DISCLAIMER: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and
confers no rights

"Lindsay" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:BDB9050E-F02E-46F1-B31D-(E-Mail Removed)...
> Thanks for the quick reply, Jack!
>
> This is exactly what I want, for a laptop user to be able to log out of
> Windows and be presented with the Windows Log In screen, but still be
> connected to the wireless network. For cabled connections this is
> automatic,
> as long as the cable is plugged in to the NIC and the computer is on, it
> is
> connected, regardless of whether a user is actually logged in or not. Are
> you sure this is impossible to accomplish with a wireless connection?
> Thanks
> again for taking the time to answer my questions.
>
> Lindsay
>
> "Jack (MVP-Networking)." wrote:
>
>> Hi
>> I do not quite follow your notion about keep the connection On, but not
>> being logged in.
>> What is login? If you refer to the opening screen at boot up that ask a
>> user to log in, it is "No Can Do" since the computer is not fully
>> functional
>> at this point of the bootup.
>> You would have to set an administrative account to be logged to in order
>> to
>> be connected to the Network, and do the updates.
>> Jack (MVP-Networking).
>>
>> "Lindsay" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>> news:9E474493-7794-475D-B118-(E-Mail Removed)...
>> > My question is this: is there any way to keep XP connected to a WiFi
>> > network
>> > even when there is no user logged in?
>> >
>> > The wireless network I've set up in my office works great, but I'm
>> > finding
>> > it a bit more difficult to maintain employees' laptops that use
>> > wireless
>> > to
>> > connect to the regular network. The first problem is Windows Remote
>> > Access,
>> > which requires the machine to be turned on but logged out of any user
>> > account. It seems that when the laptop users log out from Windows XP
>> > their
>> > wireless connection is severed, making it impossible for me to log into
>> > the
>> > laptops remotely. The second problem is a mere annoyance caused by
>> > Windows
>> > Automatic Updates. As laptop users seem to only be connected when they
>> > are
>> > logged in, it means that Automatic Updates cannot proceed automatically
>> > at
>> > night with all the other machines but must be performed by the user
>> > after
>> > they have logged in. If there is any solution to the above problems, I
>> > would
>> > be most appreciative to hear it. Thanks!
>> >
>> >
>>
>>
>>

"Lindsay" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message news:9E474493-7794-475D-B118-(E-Mail Removed)...
> My question is this: is there any way to keep XP connected to a WiFi network
> even when there is no user logged in?
>

What do you use to create profiles and connect: the Windows wireless
configuration service (aka WZC) or other software (utility of the
WLAN device manufacturer, or other) ?

--PA


> The wireless network I've set up in my office works great, but I'm finding
> it a bit more difficult to maintain employees' laptops that use wireless to
> connect to the regular network. The first problem is Windows Remote Access,
> which requires the machine to be turned on but logged out of any user
> account. It seems that when the laptop users log out from Windows XP their
> wireless connection is severed, making it impossible for me to log into the
> laptops remotely. The second problem is a mere annoyance caused by Windows
> Automatic Updates. As laptop users seem to only be connected when they are
> logged in, it means that Automatic Updates cannot proceed automatically at
> night with all the other machines but must be performed by the user after
> they have logged in. If there is any solution to the above problems, I would
> be most appreciative to hear it. Thanks!
>
>

Thank you all for your help, I think I've got the situation sussed out.
David's pointer to the Remote / System Properties dialog was especially
helpful, as the laptops in question were enabled for remote assistance but
not remote desktop, which is what I am trying to use.

As far as constant connectivity goes, I believe that if a user logs into the
machine and allows it to connect to the WiFi network, the computer will
remain connected even after the user has logged out. I'm not sure if the
wireless connection is actually made before the user logs in, if someone
could confirm this that would be great, but my issue has been resolved.
Thanks for the help, people!

Lindsay

"Lindsay" wrote:

> My question is this: is there any way to keep XP connected to a WiFi network
> even when there is no user logged in?
>
> The wireless network I've set up in my office works great, but I'm finding
> it a bit more difficult to maintain employees' laptops that use wireless to
> connect to the regular network. The first problem is Windows Remote Access,
> which requires the machine to be turned on but logged out of any user
> account. It seems that when the laptop users log out from Windows XP their
> wireless connection is severed, making it impossible for me to log into the
> laptops remotely. The second problem is a mere annoyance caused by Windows
> Automatic Updates. As laptop users seem to only be connected when they are
> logged in, it means that Automatic Updates cannot proceed automatically at
> night with all the other machines but must be performed by the user after
> they have logged in. If there is any solution to the above problems, I would
> be most appreciative to hear it. Thanks!
>
>