Wireless Ad-Hoc Network In Windows 7 Starter

When we wrote a detailed guide on setting up an ad-hoc network connection in Windows 7/Vista, some users complained that the Starter edition didn’t have an option for setting up an Ad-Hoc network in the Network and Sharing Center.

On Microsoft product page it is stated that ad-hoc connection is not available in Windows 7 Starter edition. But as it all turns out, you can in fact use the ad-hoc network in Starter edition.

Microsoft has promoted Windows 7 Starter edition in a bizarre way. Sure, it is a stripped down version of Windows 7 most suitable for netbooks but saying that it can’t create or be part of ad-hoc network is stupid and misleading.

Most guides, including the one we wrote here, ask users to head over to the Network and Sharing Center and then set up ad-hoc network. But the ad-hoc shortuct is missing from Windows 7 Starter edition(see screenshot below).

If you are using Windows 7 Starter, you are licensed to use the ad-hoc network but NOT licensed to use the ad-hoc network shortcut inside Network and Sharing Center. Read the sentence again, we are talking about ‘ad-hoc network’ and the ‘ad-hoc network shortcut’ inside Network and Sharing Center. So Microsoft is actually confusing the hell out of novice users.

Want to set up ad-hoc network? Simply head over to Start Search, type adhoc, and hit Enter. This will open up the Ad-hoc Network connection wizard. Simple as that.

[via Within Windows]

Source:Wireless Ad-Hoc Network In Windows 7 Starter