Connecting to a WiFi/Hotspot in WIN8..?

I can't tell you how angry I became...and how humiliated I felt...

I had no significant problems, at hotspots, with WIN7...and I had no problem with 8, at home, connecting to my wireless router...immediately...within about 5 seconds, the first time I turned-on this laptop. But today, for the first time, I attempted to connect to two (2) different/separate wifi-spots - to no avail...none, whatsoever...at all...nada...zilch...zip.

Anyone have any ideas...please? :confused

 

Hi David, and thanks for helping..

I "think" I may have found "part" of the problem . . . I probably turned Network Discovery "Off" in the first few hours of owning this machine (a couple weeks ago), however, that doesn't really make sense to me either, because my home "network" (1 desktop directly wired to a router) was discovered (or should I say "this laptop was/is discovered" by the router?).

This (Screenshot) seems so confusing...do I need (or should I have) different settings for these three -

1. "Private"

2. "Guest or Public"

3. "All Networks"?

It will likely be another week before I make the one hour drive back to a WiFi-Spot...I'm in the mountains, and we have a foot of snow today, still coming down (heavily) and they're calling for an additional 6-12 inches yet...

 

Okay, in Network and Sharing Centre, by clicking "Change Adapter Settings", I get "BUPKIS" (nuttin!?!) --->>> ?

The connection to the internet is relatively "well" on my wired/wireless home network. I simply don't wish to repeat (in a few days) the anxiety and humiliation I went through a few days ago, at a WiFi Hotspot, of not being able to connect (not even "finding/seeing" a connection at an establishment that I know very well was offering, and delivering-on, an internet connection)....

 

Hi David, and thanks for your offer to help.

I have been trying for several days (!) to find the very screen ("Network Connections" section) which you displayed in your last message here. I have not been able to find it.

Was always able to find it in every other version of Windows I've owned/worked with, but not in 8 (not yet at least). Actually I did "find" it (more like stumbled-across it) once...a couple weeks, but am not finding it since then.

I keep looking in "Network & Sharing Center" to no avail.

Also I "was" able to finally connect to a hotspot earlier in the week... however, was only able to connect from the Admin UA, which I understand to be a very bad idea

Did you mean this (screenshot) for the tray area?)

 

I don't know whether to start a new thread, or continue with this one, so for now will continue...

For some reason or other, I have only been able to connect to the internet through the Admin User Account when I am away from home (away from my wireless home network)..and to the best of my recollection (and long-time practice), visiting the internet while in Admin mode is just asking for trouble.

I have 1-to-2 weeks to get my wifi settings and protection tight and secure before I move to a residence where I don't think I'll have much "control" over the wireless router/network/security - beyond my own machine, that is.

This basically terrifies the living hell out of me, speaking from a banking/financial/economic perspective.

 

Hi David - thanks.

Is this (screenshot) what you meant by "accounts" that I have?

Also, this (my location/internet connection) is going to change in about a week, so am I to understand I will need to make changes then?