Wireless Zero Configuration Posted February 21, 2005 at 3:20 pm

A week or so ago, I was happy to receive my replacement Linksys WMP54Gv4 wireless card; my previous WMP54Gv2 suffered repeated antenna problems until I finally RMA’d the card. Since that time, the wireless link that connects my PC to the Internet has given me no end of fits. The symptoms: repeated and seemingly random disconnects from the wireless AP (a Linksys WRT54G). My PowerBook exhibits no problems connecting to the same AP.

After digging a little deeper, I found a trail of postings surrounding the Wireless Zero Configuration service (WZC) under Windows XP. Wired has a article covering the topic (see: Windows XP Bedevils Wi-Fi Users), and Overclockers.com has a slightly more useful compilation of tips and user experiences (see: WiFi PC Cards - Frequent Disconnects Fix). For now, I’ve disabled WZC and configured Linksys’s bundled utility to manage my wireless connection. Most vendors, Linksys included, seem to be heavily pushing the use of WZC under Windows XP, but I’ve had my share of problems with it.