Force Vista To Connect To Wireless Network When SSID Is Not Broadcasting

I just installed a wireless network in my home and am having a problem with my laptop that runs vista. I noticed on my second PC which is running XP, that it will connect to the wireless network even if the SSID has been enabled or disabled to broadcast. For some reason vista will not connect if the SSID is not broadcasting.

Is there a setting in vista that will allow it to connect when a wireless network is not broadcasting?

There is actually an easy fix to force Vista to connect to Wireless Network that is not broadcasting it's SSID (Service Set IDentifier)

Just open up the Network and Sharing Center by clicking on Start, type the word network in the Start Menu search box and click on Network and Sharing Center link in the search results. Or go to Start \ Control Panel \ Network and Internet \ Network and Sharing Center.

In the left navigation pane, click on Manage wireless networks.

Then right click on your wireless network connection and select properties.

Click on the check box next to Connect even if the network is not broadcasting and click OK to save the change (no reboot is necessary).

Now when you need to connect to wireless network, when SSID is not broadcasting, Vista will make the connection all the time.

Also, as far a security goes, there is no real advantage to hiding the SSID since many programs can see you wireless device when it is not bradcasting. It does not hurt to enable it, but will not deter someone who is network savvy. At the very least it can be implement with other methods for securing your home wireless network