Windows 7: Laptop wireless as home hotspot/access point

Win 7 pro on my laptop, one external device for internet connection, and one internal wifi device, mostly unused. I need a way to set that internal device to act like wireless router (access point, hotspot), primarily for file exchange and internet sharing with my mobile phone.

Already try to make ad-hoc network using that internal wifi device... In Windows it appears as it should, listed with "Waiting for users" status, but there is no way to find it's SSID with my mobile...



Am I missing some additional configuration, SSID broadcast swithing or such something?

Look into Your Hotspot, Your Way - Connectify. It does exactly what you're looking for.

Already try that and face some difficulties with connecting, initializing... Still I would like to try to manually configure everything, if it is possible at all? Any hints, advices, tutorials are more than welcome!

Manual set up is no problem, the link below shows you how.

Windows 7 Tip of the Week: Use Wireless Hosted Networking to Share An Internet Connection Wirelessly

Even the link that Chev65 pointed to for manual configuration recommends Connectify for ease of use.

Sometimes the connectify software doesn't work though it's probably from incorrect set up procedure.

It's important to note that the hosted wireless connection can't work unless Windows 7 approved drivers are being used.

You should see the Microsoft Virtual WiFi miniport adaptor in Device Manager after installing the approved drivers.

Thanks chev65, that article is useful and well explained! Still, it doesn't really address my problems, cause I actually have 2 network devices, only one of them won’t work as it should.

BTW, I reinstalled Connectify for the 3rd time. Immediate after installation connection is successful for few minutes, then it disappears and it is impossible to reconnect. Also its Windows service got stuck, blocking the regular Windows reset/shut down procedure.

If you can't get the hosted wireless network to work then you either aren't using a Windows 7 approved driver or you have problems with your machine that is causing this problem to occur.