PC help: Service won’t start

Q Every time I turn on my computer I have to go the Services console (clicking Start, then Run, then typing services.msc and pressing Enter) and manually start the Wireless Zero Configuration service, as it never starts automatically.

If I do not do this my wireless connection will not work. I’m using Windows XP Media Center Edition on a Compaq notebook.
Steve Walker

A You can make the Wireless Zero Configuration service (the name of the tool that Windows uses to manage your access to wireless networks) start automatically by opening the Services console as you describe, and scrolling down the list that appears until you find Wireless Zero Configuration. Double-click the entry.

In the dialogue box that appears, make sure you select Automatic from the dropdown list marked ‘Startup type’. It will otherwise be set to Manual or Disabled. Then click the Start button to start the service. Click OK, then close the Services console.

Next time you start the computer, it should start automatically. If it doesn’t, it’s likely that there’s another program installed that’s trying to manage wireless network connections. Check your start menu for any such programs (the name of the program will include wireless, network, 802.11, connection or similar words).

Check the Notification Area also, by moving your mouse pointer over each icon in turn. Don’t click the mouse, and after a couple of seconds a yellow box will appear, telling you what the icon is. If any of them refers to wireless networks, or the other words above, right-click it and select Setup, Configure, Properties or something similar. See if you can disable the program from there.