Wireless networking problem with user accounts

From: Simon Pleasants (plesbit_at_hotmail.com)
Date: 03/29/04 

Date: Mon, 29 Mar 2004 15:34:29 +0100

My home network involves a laptop and a PC workstation masquerading as
the network server. The laptop, being small and convenient, is the
computer of choice for our normal day to day usage (the workstation
being stored in the loft is not easily accessible). However, having
vast amounts of storage, the workstation as a file repository and
backing up a single file store is much easier.

For this reason, any meaningful activity requires the interaction of
both machines via a link to a wireless router. Unfortunately the
connection to this router is only possible when using an administrator
level account on the laptop. However I do not want all accounts on
the laptop to have administrator level privileges.

Although the Centrino laptop has built in 11b access it does not
interact well with the router and besides, it's too slow. I have an
11g PCMCIA card which provides a fast, stable and reliable connection
but which I have so far been able to run only on my own (administrator
level) account. Restricted accounts can open the software the
software which drives it but are unable to configure it in a
meaningful way (most of the required configuration tabs are hidden)
and are therefore unable to connect.

I have tried making the limited users into power users. I've tried
making them members of the network configuration operators group and
I've tried make them power users AND members of the network
configuration operators, I've even granted specific additional
privileges to the accounts to try to resolve the situation, but so far
nothing. The DO appear to have very limited access to the in built
networking components, but these are disabled to avoid conflict with
the PCMCIA card and besides, the connection dropped every two minutes
when using it so it was largely useless anyway.

Both laptop and workstation are running XP Pro. The built in
networking features of the Centrino laptop are disabled. The PCMCIA
card is a Netgear WG511 and is driven by Netgear's own software.

Any help appreciated.

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