A lot of laptops and a few desktop computers have both wired and wireless network adapters or cards. Both cards are able to be used to establish the simultaneous wired and wireless connections to the campus network.
While the simultaneous connection, which is also known as network bridging, may be useful on some home networks, it can cause issues on the campus network. For your information, you are able to only use one network connection at a time. Once they network bridging, the ethernet jacks on campus are set up to automatically shut off. Aside from that, plugging your computer into another jack will disable that jack as well.
Please take a note that some computers and network adapters may use the network management software other than the built-in application included in the operating system, especially on Windows. For those who find the same case, the process explained below will be similar, but the instructions may not apply exactly. In this case, it is better for you to consult the Help documentation for your network management software or contact the IT Help Center in case you need assistance.
Step 1: Disabling or disconnecting the supported network connections
Once again, please do not use more than one network at one time. In order to disconnect the additional connections (temporary), you will have to disconnect your wired Ethernet connection by unplugging your Ethernet cable from its jack. After that, you will need to disconnect the wireless connection.
- For Windows 7: Go to the Windows taskbar located at the bottom right, right click the connection icon, and then choose Disconnect from [connection name].
- For Windows Vista: Go to the Windows taskbar located at the bottom right, right click the connection icon, and choose the Disconnect [connection name].
- For Windows XP: Go to the Windows taskbar located at the bottom right, right click the Wireless Network Connection icon and choose Disable.
- For Mac OS 10.x: Go to the menu bar located at the top right of the page, right click the wireless icon, and choose Turn AirPort Off.
Completely disabling the unused connections will keep your operating system from using the disabled connection until you re-enable it. If you want to enable your connection, follow the steps below. Feel free to consult the Help documentation of your operating system if you need assistance.
- For Windows 7
Head over to the start > Control Panel > Network and Sharing Center. In the left hand column, you will need to click Change adapter settings. Doing so will open a new window with a list of network connections. Please right click Local Area Connection or Wireless Connection and choose Disable.
- For Windows Vista
First of all, you will have to go to Start > Control Panel > Network and Internet > Network and Sharing Center. Then, click Manage network connections in the left hand column. Once a new window opens, right click the Local Area Connection or Wireless Connection and choose Disable.
- For Windows XP
Just like the two above, you will need to go to Start > Control Panel > Network Connections first. After that, right click Local Area Connection or Wireless Network Connection and choose Disable.
- For Mac OS 10.x
If you use Mac OS 10.x, go to System Preferences… in the Apple Menu. Then, click Network located under the Internet & Wireless. If you see that the lock on the lower left corner of the Network window is close, please click it so you are able to make the changes to the network settings. If it is already open, remember to not click the lock. When everything is done, please enter the system password when prompted. From the options at right, you will need to choose the connection that you want to disable:
o Ethernet and from the Configure IPv4 drop down menu, choose Off
o Wireless: and click Turn AirPort Off (at right).
If there are more than one network adapter or card on your computer or laptop, you may need to disable the network bridging, otherwise called the Internet connection sharing. Please find your operating system and follow these following steps.
- Windows 7
The first thing that should be done is to go to Start > Control Panel > Network and Internet > Network and Sharing Center. Click Change adapter settings that can be found in the left hand column. This step will open a new screen with a list of network connections. Please right click if there is a network bridge listed among the connections and then choose Delete to remove it.
- Windows Vista
If you have Windows Vista, you should go to Start > Control Panel > Network and Internet > Network and Sharing Center. Then, click Manage network connections in the left hand column. After seeing a new window, right click Local Area Connection and make sure Bridge Connections is not picked.
- Windows XP
There are two steps for Windows XP. First, go to Start > Control Panel > Network Connections. Second, in the Network Connections window, right click on the active Ethernet connection (Local Area Connection Enabled) and make sure Bridge Connections is not chosen.
- Mac OS 10.x
You will need to go to System Preferences in the Apple Menu. Next, click Sharing that is able to be found under Internet & Wireless. This Sharing window will open by doing so. Please click it if you see the lock on the lower left corner of the Sharing window is closed so that you can make changes to the network settings. Do not forget to not click the lock if it is already open. Lastly, enter your system password when prompted. In the Sharing window, from the options located at the right, choose Internet Sharing and be sure that Internet Sharing is set to Off. If it is On, clear any checkboxes that may be picked such as AirPort, Ethernet, and so on. In the end, you will have to close the Sharing windows in order to save your changes.
AUTHOR BIO
On my daily job, I am a software engineer, programmer & computer technician. My passion is assembling PC hardware, studying Operating System and all things related to computers technology. I also love to make short films for YouTube as a producer. More at about me…
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