Right, while you were helping (I'm not fully comfortable yet) I tried with a boot with the Ethernet disconnected. The notebook came up with the wireless detected and a strong signal seen, but would not work and when looking at the "view all wireless networks" a note advised: Windows can not configure this wireless connection....something about if some other program in control, or look at article 871122 in MS Know ledge base. Before doing that I went back to the Broadband Wireless Utility, this comes active on boot and is the software associated with the built-in wireless adapter in the notebook, it appears. So, this must the reason MS couldn't configure. Looking at the various dialog boxes associated with the Broadcom I re-entered the Network Key. I figured I knew it, and noted the number of "*" in the boxes were one character short of the key I remember. So I re-entered the key, and the WiFi started working, I'm using it right now. Thus, I've removed while typing my discomfort noted at the start of this post, it is the Broadcom software that is in control and I made an error when I first tired to activate, wrong key just as you, mikie, suggest. Thanks.

this is why I suggest always taping the passkey to the router and the wifi to the bottom of the router. You might try resetting the router to default and go through the configuration again, have you tried first unplugging the router from the power and let it set a few minutes then plugging it back in? that is always the first thing to try. I would shut down the pc, unplug the modem and router, wait a while, plug in modem let it get fully established, plug in router let it get fully established, then boot pc an see if it seems to hold better.

My knowledge is limited so take the following with a grain of salt. I'm going to throw out some thoughts based on a hunch that could be wrong. Hopefully others will help direct the conversation. I think your issue is a router issue and not a Windows one. It's software question not a hardware one. Not all routers have the firmware to host a printer. Maybe the printer has it? I don't know for sure. If your router can handle the job, and if so it would need some installation steps and be unlikely to be plug and play, the printer becomes visible as a Network Printer to other PCs on the network. Just the same as if the printer were connected to a PC and you designate it as a Network Printer and not a Local Printer through the Printer Setup Wizard. The PC stations on a physical network need not be "networked" in a MS sharing system or group sense to use a Network Printer. If your connection (software setting wise) is effective, using the "Connect to Network Printer" option in the Printer Wizard on each PC will show this new printer as an option. Each PC may need to have printer drivers for it to work. A printer connected to a PC can always be shared, and the mix of Windows versions is a non-issue in my experience with the same setup. But, the PC the printer is connected to needs to be on for the printing to work. If it's off, the queue is held until it's turned on. Thoughts from others?

Vladimir, here are the promised pics. Sorry they are so bad, but it is dark and rainy today. Thank God for cozy greenhouses! I pushed the dracaena out of the way for its close up. The box has a seal along the inside to make it "weatherproof" but the signal comes through just as strong, it seems. I will have to unscrew it to get inside there if the router needs to be reset or anything. This is a view of the back side. I see why my husband peeled off that price tag now lol. I think he mounted it there because it was easiest, not sure if there were any other other reasons. Hope this helps!