Hello Fellow Windows 7 Early Adopters,

While I love using my new Acer Aspire One Netbook, wirelessly, on my home WiFi network, one thing I do not enjoy is the number of steps it takes to disable or enable the Netbook’s wireless adapter. 

Yes, yes, I know; the Aspire One has a hardware switch to power on and off the wireless radio but, and I am not sure why, it is not as snappy as using the Windows 7 interface. 

Also, and perhaps this is because Windows 7 is still in Beta, but sometimes, using the Netbook’s hardware switch is not always successful in re-enabling the wireless card after having disabled it.  When this happens, I find it necessary to completely power-off the Netbook and then restart it.

No longer!  Now, thanks to the following procedure, just like in Windows XP, I can now simply right-click on the Wireless Icon on my Windows 7 Desktop or Task Bar and choose to either enable or disable the adapter with one left-click of my mouse.

To create a Shortcut that will allow you to quickly disable or enable the wireless radio in Windows 7, do the following:

NOTE 1:
This document assumes that you have verified that your wireless adapter is properly installed and working correctly in your computer. 

NOTE 2:
This document assumes that you have successfully configured a wireless network profile for at least one wireless access point.

1.
From Within Windows 7, open the Control Panel.

2.
Select Network and Sharing Center.

3.
Select Change Adapter Settings.  A list of your installed network adapters will be displayed.

4.
Right-Mouse Click on the wireless adapter Icon and select the Create Shortcut list item.  A Dialog Box will appear asking if you wish to create a Shortcut on the Desktop.

5.
Select the [YES] button to continue.

6.
Close any and all open Windows in order to display the Windows 7 Desktop.  You will now see a new Icon Labeled Wireless Network Connection Shortcut.

7.
To either turn your wireless radio signal on or off, Right-Mouse Click on the Wireless Network Connection Shortcut Icon and choose either Enable or Disable.

NOTE 3:
For more convenient access, you may Pin the Wireless Network Connection Shortcut Icon to the Windows 7 Task Bar.

Enjoy,

Mark