What is a Profile?
Profiles List
Profiles List icons
Connect to a Profile
Create a New Profile
Edit an Existing Profile
Remove a Profile
Set a Profile Password
Export and Import Profiles
A profile is a saved group of network settings. Profiles are displayed in the Profile List. Profiles are useful when moving from one wireless network to another. Different profiles can be configured for each wireless network. Profile settings include the network name (SSID), operating mode, and security settings.
A profile is created when you connect to a wireless network.
The Create Wireless Profile Wizard guides you through the settings required to connect with the wireless network. At completion, the profile is saved and added to the Profiles list. Since these wireless settings are saved, the next time you are within range of this wireless network you are automatically connected.
The profile list displays a list of existing profiles. When you come within range of a wireless network, Intel(R) PROSet/Wireless scans the Profile List to see if there is a match. If a match is found, you are automatically connected to the network.

The network profile status icons indicate whether the adapter is associated with a network, the type of operating mode being used, and whether security encryption is enabled. These icons display next to the profile name in the profile list.
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Name |
Description |
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The Profile Name is your name for this network. It can be anything that helps you identify this network. For example, My Home Network, Coffee Shop on A Street. |
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Network Name |
Name of the wireless network (SSID) or computer. |
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Connection Icons - The network profile status icons indicate the different connection states of the adapter with a wireless network, the type of operating mode being used, and if network security is being used. |
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Blue circle: The wireless adapter is associated with an access point or computer (ad hoc mode). If a profile has 802.1X security enabled, this indicates that the wireless adapter is associated and authenticated. |
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Indicates Network (Infrastructure) mode. |
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Indicates Device to Device (ad hoc) mode. |
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Indicates an administrator profile. |
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The wireless network uses Security encryption. |
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Arrows
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Use the arrows to position profiles in a preferred order for auto-connection.
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Connect |
Connect the selected profile for the wireless network. |
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Opens the wireless profile General Settings, which is used to create a new profile. See Create a New Profile for more information. |
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Remove a selected profile from the Profile List. See Remove a Profile for more information. |
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Used to edit the contents of an existing profile. You can also double-click a profile in the Profiles list to edit the profile. See Edit an Existing Profile for more information. |
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Export/Import: Imports and exports user-based profiles to and from the Profiles list. Wireless profiles can be automatically imported into the Profiles list. See Export or Import Profiles for more information. |
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Close |
Closes the profile management window. |
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Help? |
Provides help information for this page. |
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When you are in range of a wireless network that has a matching profile you are automatically connected to that network. If a network with a lower priority profile is also in range you can force the connection to that lower profile. This is achieved from Intel(R) PROSet/Wireless or from the Taskbar icon.
Manually connect to a profile from Intel(R) PROSet/Wireless:
Manually connect to a profile from the Taskbar:
Select a network from the Wireless Networks list.
Click Connect.
The Create Wireless Profile manager guides you through the necessary steps to create a profile and connect to the network. During this process, the Create Wireless Profile Security Settings attempts to detect the appropriate security settings for you.

To create a new profile and connect to a wireless network:
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Name of the wireless network profile. When you configure a wireless network that was selected from the Wireless Networks list, the profile name is the same as the Wireless Network Name (SSID). This name can be changed to be more descriptive or customized for your personal use. Examples: My Office Network, Bob's Home Network, ABC Company Network |
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Name of the wireless network access point used by the wireless adapter for connection. The network name must match exactly the name of the wireless access point. It is case sensitive. When you configure a wireless network that was selected from the Wireless Networks list, the network name is taken from the wireless network list. You cannot and should not change it. If an access point does not broadcast its network name (SSID) or the wireless adapter receives a hidden network name from a stealth access point, <SSID not broadcast> is displayed in the Wireless Networks list. To associate with an <SSID not broadcast> network entry, a new profile must be created before connection. After connection, the <SSID not broadcast> is still displayed in the Wireless Networks list. The associated SSID profile is viewed in the Profiles list. |
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Network (Infrastructure): Connect to an access point. An infrastructure network consists of one or more access points and one or more computers with wireless adapters. This connection is the type used in home networks, corporate networks, hotels, and other areas that provide access to the network and/or the internet. NOTE: Only Network (Infrastructure) is available for administrator profiles (Pre-logon/Common, Persistent and VoIP profiles). See the Administrator Tool for more information. Device to Device (ad hoc): Connect directly to other computers in an ad hoc wireless network. This type of connection is useful for connections between two or more computers only. It does not provide access to network resources or the internet. |
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Advanced |
Click Advanced to access the Advanced Settings. Use the Advanced Settings to set Maintain Connection, User Name Format, Auto Connect or Auto Import options, launch an application (Start Application), set a profile password (Password Protection) or specify a certain access point address for adapter connection (Mandatory Access Point). |
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Next |
Proceeds to the Security Settings page. |
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OK |
Finishes creation of the new profile with the current settings. |
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Cancel |
Closes the Create Wireless Profile Wizard and cancel any changes. |
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Help? |
Provides help information for this page. |

Use to password protect a profile and select a specific access point on a network to connect to. Click the Advanced button on the General Settings page to access this page.
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Automatic (Default): Select to have Intel(R) PROSet/Wireless connect automatically to this profile when it is in range. On Demand: Select to prevent automatic connection of a profile when the network is in range. For example, if there is a cost for a wireless connection and you did not want to connect automatically when in range. To connect to the network:
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Allows a network administrator to easily move the selected profile to other computers. When the exported file is placed in the Wireless\AutoImport directory on another computer, Intel(R) PROSet/Wireless automatically imports the profile. NOTE: Auto Import is unavailable in the Advanced Settings when Administrator Profiles are configured. |
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Forces the wireless adapter to connect to an access point that uses a specific MAC address. Enter the MAC address of the access point (BSSID); 48-bit, 12 hexadecimal digits. For example, 00:06:25:0E:9D:84. Clear: Clear current address. NOTE: This feature is not available when ad hoc operating mode is used. |
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NOTE: If the administrator or you do not know the password, there is no process available to reset the password. NOTE: Unavailable for Administrator Profiles. |
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Automatically starts a batch file, executable file, or script whenever you connect to the profile. For example, start a Virtual Private Network (VPN) session automatically whenever you connect to a wireless network.
NOTE: Unavailable for Administrator Profiles. |
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| Maintain Connection | The Maintain Connection option maintains the wireless connection with a user profile after log off. If the Maintain Connection option is selected and a persistent profile exists, the persistent profile will not be applied at logoff. It will be applied only if the connection with this profile is lost. NOTE: This option may be used with Nortel VPN client when it is configured to Logoff on Connect. NOTE: Auto Import is unavailable in the Advanced Settings when Administrator Profiles are configured. |
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User Name Format: An administrator can select the user name format for the authentication server. The choices are:
NOTE: This setting is available only in the Advanced Settings in the Administrator Tool. It is not available when creating a profile from the Intel(R) PROSet/Wireless Create Wireless Profile page. |
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OK |
Close and save the settings. |
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Cancel |
Close and cancel any changes. |
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Help? |
Help information for this page. |


To edit an existing profile:
To remove a profile:
If you are still connected to the network:
NOTE: If the profile is protected by a password, you cannot remove or edit the profile settings without entering the password. If the administrator or you do not know the password, there is no process available to reset the password.
To password protect an existing profile:
This feature lets you export and import user-based profiles to and from the Profiles list. Wireless profiles can be automatically imported into the Profiles list.
NOTE: To export Administrator profiles, See Administrator Packages for more information.


To select multiple profiles:
To import profiles manually:
An administrator can set profiles to be imported automatically into the Profiles list. Intel(R) PROSet/Wireless monitors the import folder on your hard disk for new profile files. Only profiles that have been enabled through Enable Auto-Import in the Advanced Settings are automatically imported. If a profile of the same name already exists in the Profiles List, you are notified to either reject the imported profile or accept it. If accepted, the existing profile is replaced.
All imported user-based profiles are placed at the bottom of the Profiles List.
Import and export password-protected user-based profiles automatically to remote systems. If a profile is password protected, the assigned password must be entered before it can be edited. See Set a Profile Password for more information.